February 2023
February 23, 2023
Nudists eject clothed parson
Dr. Braxton B. Sawyer was an anti-nudist activist. In August 1954 he attempt to gain entry into the American Sunshine Bathing Association Convention in order to film the people inside and thereby expose "the national threat of nudism." Guards at the door told him he was welcome in but only if he followed the rules that applied to everyone — that he first remove all his clothes. He refused and was eventually forcibly ejected.
San Francisco Examiner - Aug 6, 1954
In addition to crusading against nudism, Sawyer was also well known as a dog breeder and American Kennel Club judge. His article, The Value of the Brood Bitch, is available online.
Posted By: Alex - Thu Feb 23, 2023 -
Comments (2)
Category: Censorship, Bluenoses, Taboos, Prohibitions and Other Cultural No-No’s, 1950s
FINNEGANS WAKE on Audio
Ease yourself into this famously baffling masterpiece by listening to Joyce himself proclaim a passage. Then queue up the whole book on your car's sound system for a relaxing commute!
Posted By: Paul - Thu Feb 23, 2023 -
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Category: Literature, Unexplained Historical Enigmas, 1920s, Cacophony, Dissonance, White Noise and Other Sonic Assaults
February 22, 2023
Fishky
Reputed to be the worst whisky ever made for sale. It started out as a Bruichladdich single malt, but was then matured for three months in a cask that had previously contained salted herring. Why? Because according to legend (possibly urban legend) early Scottish distillers occasionally used herring casks to mature their whisky. So a German whisky maker decided to see what it would taste like. From a review:
Posted By: Alex - Wed Feb 22, 2023 -
Comments (1)
Category: Inebriation and Intoxicants
Dermal Steaming Apparatus for the Head
Full patent here.
Posted By: Paul - Wed Feb 22, 2023 -
Comments (0)
Category: Hygiene, Patents, 1900s
February 21, 2023
The Paper House
I think that hoarding newspapers used to be very common. I base this assumption on the fact that I know of two Depression-era relatives in my extended family who never threw away newspapers and ended up with stacks of them in their house. And if I had two in my family, I'm guessing many other families also had paper hoarders.Elis F. Stenman of Pigeon Cove, Massachusetts put his paper hoarding habit to good use by constructing his house, and all the furniture in it, out of the newspapers he refused to throw away. The house still exists and is open to the public.
Of course, now that newspaper deliveries are becoming a thing of the past, paper hoarding must be on the decline.
Images from The Pittsburgh Press - Sep 8, 1938.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Feb 21, 2023 -
Comments (4)
Category: Architecture, Newspapers
Unauthorized Dwellings 28
Posted By: Paul - Tue Feb 21, 2023 -
Comments (1)
Category: Police and Other Law Enforcement, Unauthorized Dwellings, 1980s, Europe
February 20, 2023
Miss Grill of 1949
If no one is selling that hot-dog hat, someone should be.
Life - Nov 14, 1949
Posted By: Alex - Mon Feb 20, 2023 -
Comments (2)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Headgear, 1940s
I Dream of Madonna
Thirty years ago, Madonna seemed to be invading the psychic spaces of sleepers. The phenomenon was recorded in I DREAM OF MADONNA, which may be read here, at the Internet Archive.One wonders if today those dreams might tend towards the disturbing.
Read a contemporary review here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 20, 2023 -
Comments (0)
Category: Celebrities, Dreams and Nightmares, Music, Books, 1990s
February 19, 2023
Assault with a chocolate cream pie
1974: Seabee Leon L. Louie explained that the reason he hit his commanding officer in the face with a chocolate cream pie was to boost the morale of his battalion. However, the Navy failed to see the humor in what he had done and court-martialed him.Comedian Soupy Sales testified in Louie's defense, arguing that hitting someone in the face with a cream pie is comedy, not assault. Nevertheless, a jury of five officers found Louie guilty, though they gave him the lighter sentence of demotion, restriction to base, and a fine — rather than a dishonorable discharge.
Muncie Evening Press - Nov 26, 1974
Redding Record-Searchlight - Dec 6, 1974
Tampa Bay Times - Dec 7, 1974
Posted By: Alex - Sun Feb 19, 2023 -
Comments (3)
Category: Military, Misbehavior, Rebellion, Acting-out and General Naughtiness, 1970s, Pranks
Wild Hog Hop
The sound effects make it special.Encyclopedia entry on the musician.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Feb 19, 2023 -
Comments (0)
Category: Animals, Music, 1950s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction books such as Elephants on Acid. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Chuck Shepherd Chuck is the purveyor of News of the Weird, the syndicated column which for decades has set the gold-standard for reporting on oddities and the bizarre. Our banner was drawn by the legendary underground cartoonist Rick Altergott. Contact Us |
