1920s
Pistol-packing Teacher
I'm very proud this incident is part of my home state's history.
From The New York Times for January 12, 1923.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Nov 15, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Confusion, Misunderstanding, and Incomprehension, Education, 1920s, Alcohol
Mystery Gadget 14
The answer is here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Nov 09, 2012 -
Comments (10)
Category: Technology, 1920s
Flora Marian Spore
Original story here.
The woman depicted above went from female dentist to occult artist. Not the most common career path. She turned out many paintings "inspired" by ghosts.
Unfortunately, despite a fairly substantial career, none of her paintings seem to have survived or been recorded, except for the one depicted below.
Photo from the blog of Jim Linderman.
Wikipedia entry.
Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 16, 2012 -
Comments (10)
Category: Art, Outsider Art, New Age, Paranormal, Unsolved Mysteries, 1920s
The Sport-Briar Pipe
"Is that an Indian Club between your lips, or are you just glad to be smoking?"
No wonder this never caught on.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Oct 01, 2012 -
Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Chindogu, Smoking and Tobacco, 1920s
Wolverine Soap
Even before a certain blade-wielding comicbook character pre-empted the name of "Wolverine," could it possibly have been a good idea to name your product after a vicious, pint-sized killer beast?
"Wolverine Soap--it will rip the dirt off your skin, and your skin with it!"
No wonder the pitchman in the ad below is working so hard to find sales reps.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Sep 21, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Animals, Business, Advertising, Products, Death, Destruction, Hygiene, Baths, Showers and Other Cleansing Methods, 1920s
Crippled Children
[Click to enlarge]
Sometime we forgot how much civilization has advanced in 90 years. What was common becomes weird.
Of course, at my age I still recall childhood polio as a danger.
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Aug 13, 2012 -
Comments (3)
Category: Body, Feet, Medicine, Advertising, Children, 1920s
Good For What Ails You
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Thu Jul 12, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Medicine, Self-help Schemes, Advertising, 1920s, Alcohol
Witches, USA
A big theme of NOTW is the persistence of belief in witches in foreign countries, right down to the present. Hardly a week goes by without a report of some poor soul being put to death for occult suspicions.How far back in the history of the USA are such beliefs--among the non-immigrant population?
Try at least as recently as 1929. Original article here.
Posted By: Paul - Fri Jul 06, 2012 -
Comments (8)
Category: Death, Superstition, 1920s
The Wellingborough Carnival
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
Mystery Gadget 10
What purpose will this rolling device achieve?
Find the answer here.
Posted By: Paul - Sun Jun 17, 2012 -
Comments (5)
Category: Technology, 1920s
| 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 |