Scalping is often depicted in old-timey cowboy-and-Indian movies with lots of quavering music and dramatic pauses. But then you see the real scalp under a bell jar and it isn’t so melodramatic anymore. William Thompson’s scalp, archived at the Main Library in Omaha, Nebraska, looks more like some sort of rodent than an impactful partContinue reading “Scalped in 1867 by Cheyenne in Nebraska, Here’s the Story Behind William Thompson’s Scalp”
Category Archives: strange and wtf
30 Haunting Photographic Self-Portraits by Francesca Woodman From the 1970s
Francesca Woodman (April 3, 1958 – January 19, 1981) is best known for photographing herself. But her pictures are not self-portraits in the traditional sense. She is often nude or semi-nude and usually seen half hidden or obscured – sometimes by furniture, sometimes by slow exposures that blur her figure into a ghostly presence. TheseContinue reading “30 Haunting Photographic Self-Portraits by Francesca Woodman From the 1970s”
In the 1920s, People Thought Radioactive Water Was Good for the Health
Back in the 1920s, people thought that drinking radium, and thorium, infused water was healthy. One of the more famous varieties of this water was sold under the brand name Radithor. It was eventually famously implicated in the illness and subsequent death of an industrialist named Eben Byers, which was accompanied by the headline ofContinue reading “In the 1920s, People Thought Radioactive Water Was Good for the Health”
Alfred Langevin, the Man Who Could Smoke Through His Eye
Here’s Alfred Langevin (1885–1974), French-Canadian, aka the “Eye Smoker,” who could smoke a pipe through his eye. In the 1930s, he resided in Detroit, Michigan but was under the employ of Robert Ripley. Mr. Langevin was featured not only in the Believe-It-Or-Not cartoons of Ripley, but also appeared in Ripley’s renowned Odditorium from 1933 toContinue reading “Alfred Langevin, the Man Who Could Smoke Through His Eye”
Earthmen From the South of Africa, Exhibited in England, 1853
Flora and Martinus, a 14-year-old boy and 16-year-old girl from South Africa, were exhibited as ‘earthmen’ in private drawing rooms in 1853, in central London. As so-called ‘human curiosities’, the orphaned San children posed in traditional costume, danced, sang and mimed to entertain visitors… Different to most other variety acts of the time, they performedContinue reading “Earthmen From the South of Africa, Exhibited in England, 1853”
Curious Pair of Shoes Called “Soles” Ardèche From the Late 19th Century
This footwear, called “Soles”, made in the Ardèche region of France in the 19th century. The soles are heavy duty shoes whose soles are studded with sharp blades. They were in wood for the sole, leather for the portion covering the foot and metal for the dents. The soles were used to peel the chestnuts,Continue reading “Curious Pair of Shoes Called “Soles” Ardèche From the Late 19th Century”
Self Portrait as a Drowned Man: The First Hoax Photograph Ever Shot in 1840
The first hoax photograph was taken in 1840 by Hippolyte Bayard. Both Bayard and Louis Daguerre fought to claim the title “Father of Photography.” Bayard had supposedly developed his photography process before Daguerre introduced the daguerreotype. However, the announcement of the invention was held off, and Daguerre claimed the moment. In a rebellious move, BayardContinue reading “Self Portrait as a Drowned Man: The First Hoax Photograph Ever Shot in 1840”
25 Vintage Lucky Strike Advertisements from the 1920s
These vintage Lucky Strike cigarette ads tell both women and men that they can lose weight if they reach for a smoke instead of a sweet. Launched in 1928, this highly successful campaign targeting women was eventually derailed by threats of litigation from the candy industry. The tobacco industry later promoted candy cigarettes. The firmContinue reading “25 Vintage Lucky Strike Advertisements from the 1920s”
Fritz Dietl the Stilt-Man
Born on July 11, 1911 in Vienna, Austria, Fritz Dietl was educated in the Vienna schools and held a Master’s Degree in Engineering. An internationally known and respected figure skater, professional skating instructor and judge, Dietl began ice skating at age 12 on the Old Danube River in his hometown of Vienna. Though he trainedContinue reading “Fritz Dietl the Stilt-Man”
The Evinrude Flying Saucer Fishing Boat, 1957
The Flying Saucer fishing boat was designed by maritime company Evinrude and was said to be the work of Brooks Stevens. It was the first of its kind to be built and had seen trial runs, reportedly on Milwaukee River and had even graced the 1957 New York Boat Show, but was never commercially manufactured.Continue reading “The Evinrude Flying Saucer Fishing Boat, 1957”
