Category:
1910s

Whiz Soap



Perhaps you recall the commercials with Madge the Manicurist, where she recommended Palmolive soap for its skin-softening qualities.

Well, Madge had nothing on a campaign from early in the century, for Whiz Soap, which informed customers that they could use Whiz to clean, oh, filthy farm equipment, and then use the same stuff for their personal bathing.

image

image
[Click to enlarge for readability]

There seem to be lots of antique Whiz containers around for sale, if you want to commemorate this product in your home.

image

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sun Jul 01, 2012 - Comments (4)
Category: Body, Business, Advertising, Products, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1910s

The Wellingborough Carnival

image

image image

The town of Wellingborough, UK, has been holding a carnival for over 100 years. The old affairs certainly featured things that look weird to us today. Here's a photo album to peruse.

And the Wellingborough Carnival home page reveals this year's affair is on July 7th! Plenty of time to make your plans to attend!

Posted By: Paul - Fri Jun 22, 2012 - Comments (4)
Category: Awards, Prizes, Competitions and Contests, Holidays, Parades and Festivals, Weird Theory, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, 1940s, 1950s, 1960s, 1970s, 1980s, 1990s, Europe

Famous Cat

image

Why was this cat once famous? Hint: it involves a mode of transport.

Take your best guess, then find out after the jump.



More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Wed Jun 06, 2012 - Comments (7)
Category: Celebrities, Cats, 1910s

Lenin’s Cats

imageimage

"Don't trust anyone who doesn't like cats."

Okay.

But does that imply "Trust everyone who likes cats"...?

Posted By: Paul - Tue Apr 24, 2012 - Comments (12)
Category: Historical Figure, Cats, 1910s, 1920s, Russia

The WWI Plot That Failed

image

Chances are, this man's face is totally unfamiliar to you. And yet he came within a hairsbreadth of altering the course of global history in the aftermath of World War I.

Take your best guess as to his claim to fame, then find out his story after the jump.



More in extended >>

Posted By: Paul - Thu Apr 12, 2012 - Comments (5)
Category: Daredevils, Stuntpeople and Thrillseekers, Disguises, Impersonations, Mimics and Forgeries, Government, Diplomacy and Foreign Relations, Politics, 1910s

Whiskey for Health

image

Such was the medical wisdom of 1912.

Original ad here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Mar 03, 2012 - Comments (9)
Category: Health, Advertising, 1910s, Alcohol

Long Lance



I'm trespassing on Alex's territory here, with an hour-length documentary on what was once a famous hoax.

Here's the story in a nutshell.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Jan 21, 2012 - Comments (1)
Category: Eccentrics, Hoaxes and Imposters and Imitators, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, North America, Nineteenth Century, Native Americans

The Extraordinary Catalog of Peculiar Inventions

image

image

I've just finished reading the fine book about weird fraternal lodge devices from a century ago. It would make a fine gift for any WU-vie.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 10, 2011 - Comments (5)
Category: Clubs, Fraternities and Other Self-selecting Organizations, Inventions, Books, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, 1930s, Pranks, Nineteenth Century

Dr. Olgierd Lindan’s Collection of Unusual Medical Devices & Antique Electronics

image


WU-vies will find much to amuse them on this page of weird medical gadgets.

One of the prime charlatans whose stuff is on display was a fellow named Dr. Albert Abrams pictured to the right.

You can read a book he wrote here.

Posted By: Paul - Sat Nov 05, 2011 - Comments (5)
Category: Body, Frauds, Cons and Scams, Medicine, Body Fluids, 1900s, 1910s, 1920s, Nineteenth Century

Violet Healing Rays

image

Original ad here. (Scroll down a bit.)

Read the history here.

Posted By: Paul - Thu Jun 23, 2011 - Comments (4)
Category: Frauds, Cons and Scams, Health, Technology, Appliances, 1910s

Page 20 of 21 pages ‹ First  < 18 19 20 21 > 




weird universe thumbnail
Who We Are
Alex Boese
Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

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.

Contact Us
Monthly Archives
October 2024 •  September 2024 •  August 2024 •  July 2024 •  June 2024 •  May 2024 •  April 2024 •  March 2024 •  February 2024 •  January 2024

December 2023 •  November 2023 •  October 2023 •  September 2023 •  August 2023 •  July 2023 •  June 2023 •  May 2023 •  April 2023 •  March 2023 •  February 2023 •  January 2023

December 2022 •  November 2022 •  October 2022 •  September 2022 •  August 2022 •  July 2022 •  June 2022 •  May 2022 •  April 2022 •  March 2022 •  February 2022 •  January 2022

December 2021 •  November 2021 •  October 2021 •  September 2021 •  August 2021 •  July 2021 •  June 2021 •  May 2021 •  April 2021 •  March 2021 •  February 2021 •  January 2021

December 2020 •  November 2020 •  October 2020 •  September 2020 •  August 2020 •  July 2020 •  June 2020 •  May 2020 •  April 2020 •  March 2020 •  February 2020 •  January 2020

December 2019 •  November 2019 •  October 2019 •  September 2019 •  August 2019 •  July 2019 •  June 2019 •  May 2019 •  April 2019 •  March 2019 •  February 2019 •  January 2019

December 2018 •  November 2018 •  October 2018 •  September 2018 •  August 2018 •  July 2018 •  June 2018 •  May 2018 •  April 2018 •  March 2018 •  February 2018 •  January 2018

December 2017 •  November 2017 •  October 2017 •  September 2017 •  August 2017 •  July 2017 •  June 2017 •  May 2017 •  April 2017 •  March 2017 •  February 2017 •  January 2017

December 2016 •  November 2016 •  October 2016 •  September 2016 •  August 2016 •  July 2016 •  June 2016 •  May 2016 •  April 2016 •  March 2016 •  February 2016 •  January 2016

December 2015 •  November 2015 •  October 2015 •  September 2015 •  August 2015 •  July 2015 •  June 2015 •  May 2015 •  April 2015 •  March 2015 •  February 2015 •  January 2015

December 2014 •  November 2014 •  October 2014 •  September 2014 •  August 2014 •  July 2014 •  June 2014 •  May 2014 •  April 2014 •  March 2014 •  February 2014 •  January 2014

December 2013 •  November 2013 •  October 2013 •  September 2013 •  August 2013 •  July 2013 •  June 2013 •  May 2013 •  April 2013 •  March 2013 •  February 2013 •  January 2013

December 2012 •  November 2012 •  October 2012 •  September 2012 •  August 2012 •  July 2012 •  June 2012 •  May 2012 •  April 2012 •  March 2012 •  February 2012 •  January 2012

December 2011 •  November 2011 •  October 2011 •  September 2011 •  August 2011 •  July 2011 •  June 2011 •  May 2011 •  April 2011 •  March 2011 •  February 2011 •  January 2011

December 2010 •  November 2010 •  October 2010 •  September 2010 •  August 2010 •  July 2010 •  June 2010 •  May 2010 •  April 2010 •  March 2010 •  February 2010 •  January 2010

December 2009 •  November 2009 •  October 2009 •  September 2009 •  August 2009 •  July 2009 •  June 2009 •  May 2009 •  April 2009 •  March 2009 •  February 2009 •  January 2009

December 2008 •  November 2008 •  October 2008 •  September 2008 •  August 2008 •  July 2008 •