‘Got Weird’: 50 Things From The Past That Are Hard To Believe If They Weren’t Photographed (New Pics) ~ VOUXi MAG

'Got Weird': 50 Things From The Past That Are Hard To Believe If They Weren't Photographed (New Pics)

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'Got Weird': 50 Things From The Past That Are Hard To Believe If They Weren't Photographed (New Pics)

Gabija PalšytėJuly 1, 2025 at 7:54 AM

The history of the world is far deeper, broader, and stranger than just political backstabbing, epic battles, and dusty treaties. Every day, people around the globe find themselves in weird, amusing, and interesting situations. And our ancestors were no different.

The 'Got Weird' Instagram page, managed by the curator of the 'Vintage Everyday' project, offers a fascinating collection of bizarre and unusual snapshots from history. We've collected some of the coolest photos and stories they've featured to show you just how vivid history can be. And just how much all of this contrasts with life now, aesthetically. Scroll down for a big dose of education and entertainment.

More info: Instagram | Vintag.es

#1 In 1972, Dr. John Fryer Risked His Career To Tell His Colleagues That Gay People Were Not Mentally Ill. His Act Sent Ripples Through The Legal, Medical, And Justice Systems

On the second day of the annual convention of the American Psychiatric Association in 1972, something extraordinary happened. While the assembled psychiatrists, mostly white men in dark suits, settled into rows of chairs in the Danish Room at the Adolphus Hotel in Dallas, a disguised figure had been smuggled through the back corridors. At the last minute, he stepped through a side curtain and took his place at the front of the room. There was an intake of breath in the audience. The man's appearance was grotesque. His face was covered by a rubber Nixon mask, and he was wearing a garish, oversized tuxedo and a curly fright wig. But the outlandishness of his outfit diminished in importance once he began to speak. "I am a homosexual," he began. "I am a psychiatrist." For the next 10 minutes, Henry Anonymous, M.D. — this is what he had asked to be called — described the secret world of gay psychiatrists. Officially, they did not exist; homosexuality was categorized as a mental illness, so acknowledging it would result in the revocation of one's medical license, and the loss of a career. In 42 states, sodomy was a crime. The reality was that there were plenty of gay people in the A.P.A., psychiatry's most influential professional body, the masked doctor explained. But they lived in hiding, concealing every trace of their private life from their colleagues. "All of us have something to lose," he said. "We may not be under consideration for a professorship; the analyst down the street may stop referring us his overflow; our supervisor may ask us to take a leave of absence." This was the trade-off that had formed the basis of the masked man's life. But the cost was too high. That's what he had come to tell them. "We are taking an even bigger risk, however, in not living fully our humanity," he said. "This is the greatest loss, our honest humanity." He took his seat to a standing ovation

Image credits: gotweird

#2 A Shoe Doll That Belonged To A Child In The Slums Of London, Ca. 1905

The fact that it was found in an Edwardian London slum, and is made from the heel of a man's shoe, a black sock and some scraps of household fabric, makes it at once the most heartbreaking and marvelous of toys.

Image credits: gotweird

#3 In 1928, 16-Year-Old Elizabeth "Betty" Robinson Schwartz Became The First Woman Ever Awarded An Olympic Gold Medal For Track And Field

A few years later, in 1931, Schwartz was in a plane crash. Mistakenly identified as dead, she was placed in the trunk of a car, and driven to the morgue where it was discovered that she was still alive but in a coma. It took her years to walk normally again but she returned to track and field and was part of the US relay team at the 1936 Summer Olympics where her team won gold.

Image credits: gotweird

Human history embodies more of the grimdark grittiness and chaos of 'A Song of Ice and Fire' than the nobledark heroism of 'The Lord of the Rings'... unfortunately.

That's not to say that all of history is just misery and endless suffering. Far from it. There's a lot of joy and beauty to be found as well. But it's a mix of thoroughly positive and quirky events happening alongside miserable ones. Humor and quirkiness have been around since, well, forever. They're not recent inventions.

#4 A Man Posing With A Donkey In His Lap, Ca. 1910s

Image credits: gotweird

#5 A Giant Snowman Measuring 17 Ft., Made By Two Girls In Aberdeen, Scotland, 1963

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#6 The La Public Library's Bookmobile Program For The Sick, 1928

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The common thread between good journalists and historians is that they fundamentally care about the truth. Or at least getting as close to it as possible.

Unlike what you see on TV and the silver screen, the real world isn't quite as neat. There's lots of nuance. There are plenty of shades of gray. Heroes aren't completely heroic. And most tales don't have a happy or tidy ending.

#7 An Early Ambulance Operated By St John, In The U.k., 1920. The Patient Was Placed In A Coffin-Like Sidecar And The Lid Was Closed For Transport

Image credits: gotweird

#8 A Japanese Woman Carrying Her Children In A Bucket On Her Head, Japan, Ca. 1900s

Image credits: gotweird

#9 The Woman Was Photographed On The Background Of Painted Canvas Covering The Destroyed Buildings, Warsaw, 1946

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Getting to the bottom of things that happened in the past is hard enough as it is, with so many years, decades, and centuries between you and the events.

Unfortunately, quite often, you also have to sift through a ton of misinformation, biases, agendas, bad assumptions, and misinterpretations of sources.

#10 A Few Seconds After This Photo The Pair Were Struck By Lightning. They Both Survived

This is the picture of two brothers named Michael and Sean McQuilken. The photo was taken by their sister, using an old Kodak Instamatic camera, on August 20, 1975 in Sequoia National Park in California.

Image credits: gotweird

#11 Mourning Mask And Veil Worn By Empress Elisabeth Of Austria After The S*****e Of Her Only Son, Crown Prince Rudolf, At His Hunting Lodge At Mayerling, 1889

Image credits: gotweird

#12 Emile Leray (Born 1949) Is A French Electrician Who Is Most Noteworthy For Transforming A Car Into A Motorcycle While Stranded In The Sahara Desert

In 1993, Emile Leray set off on a solo journey across the Moroccan desert in a Citroën 2CV, a lightweight French economy car. During his trip, he encountered a military checkpoint that prohibited him from continuing on his planned route. Wanting to bypass the checkpoint, he attempted to take a remote off-road path through the Sahara Desert—a risky decision that would soon lead to an incredible challenge. "I had travelled round Africa about 10 times, so I knew the region well and therefore had no concerns," said Leray "I decided to do it in a 2CV because, although it is not a 4×4, it is tough. In Africa they call it the 'Steel Camel' because it goes everywhere — provided you drive it gently. I obviously was too rough." Not long after, Leray's 2CV broke down in the middle of the desert, far from civilization. With no way to call for help and limited supplies, he realized he had to take drastic action if he wanted to survive. Over the course of 12 days, using only the tools and parts he had with him, Emile Leray disassembled his car and built a makeshift motorcycle from the chassis, engine, wheels, and suspension of the 2CV. He created a bare-bones, motorized bike using the rear wheels for traction and mounted the engine in a way that allowed it to drive the wheels. He used parts of the car body as protection and fuel storage. He rationed his food and water carefully, using just 0.5 liters of water per day. After completing the bike, Leray was able to ride out of the desert and eventually reached safety. Yet the police who met him were less excited, and especially unimpressed with his makeshift vehicle which failed to conform with the specifications of the Citroën 2CV Leray had registered. They slapped him with a hefty fine, worth 4,550 dirhams (450 euros). Emile Leray's story has been featured in engineering circles, survival magazines, and even in automotive history as one of the most extreme examples of field improvisation. His modified 2CV-motorcycle still exists and has been shown in various exhibitions.

Image credits: gotweird

According to Margot Note Consulting LLC, if you want to produce sound historical research, then you need reliable primary sources.

"Records created at the same time as an event, or as close as possible to it, usually have a greater chance of being accurate than records created years later, especially by someone without firsthand knowledge of the event."

#13 Cause Of Deaths In London In 1632

Image credits: gotweird

#14 This Isn't Just A Superb Example Of Dorothea Lange's Documentary Photography Of Hand-Painted Signs (A Frequent Subject Of Hers), But An Example Of How She So Poignantly Captured Snapshots Of America's Sociopolitical Landscape

Image credits: gotweird

#15 French Knife Grinders In Thiers From The Early 20th Century. They Would Work On Their Stomachs To Save Their Backs From Being Hunched All Day And Had Dogs Sit On Their Legs For Warmth

Image credits: gotweird

"When you are conducting research, you want to corroborate the contents of the document you are working with information from other sources that have been proven to be legitimate," archival expert Note writes.

It's not just documents that can be considered primary sources. Non-textual sources like photographs work, too.

As per the archival expert, you have to consider two main aspects of reliability. The first one is the record itself. And the second is that you need to consider the individual pieces of evidence within the source itself.

#16 Serving A Snack On Scandinavian Airlines Flight, 1969

Image credits: gotweird

#17 A Champagne Inspector Wearing A Special Mask To Protect Against Accidental Discharges, Ca. 1933

Image credits: gotweird

#18 A Man Checks His E-Mail Over A Public Pay Telephone Using A Panasonic Rl-P4001 Acoustic Coupler Dial-Up Modem Attached To A Panasonic Rl-H1400 Hhc (Hand-Held Computer) In The Early 1980s

Image credits: gotweird

Note emphasizes that some of the main things that you should ask yourself when considering the reliability of a source include:

Who made the record, when, and why?

Was the source created at the same time as the event it describes?

Who is the informant, and were they taking part in the original event, were they using secondhand information, and did they have an agenda?

Is the information presented in the record logical, and does it all make sense in the context of the time, place, and people researched?

#19 This Is A Cover Of Life Magazine From 1914. They Predicted What People Would Be Wearing In 1950. There Is A Caption Under The Illustration Saying, "Weren't They Funny?"

Image credits: gotweird

#20 In 1965, A Group Of Six Tongan Teenage Boys Who Shipwrecked On The Uninhabited Island Of ʻata And Lived There For 15 Months Until Their Rescue

The boys ran away from their boarding school on the island of Tongatapu, stealing a boat in their escape. After a storm wrecked the boat, they drifted to the abandoned, remote island of ʻAta and managed to keep themselves in good order during the duration under the circumstances. Long thought dead, they were discovered and rescued in September 1966 by Australian lobster fisher Peter Warner.

Image credits: gotweird

#21 An Original Car Wash Designed To Mainly Clean The Undercarriages Since Most Roads Were Still Dirt Roads In Chicago, Us In 1924

Image credits: gotweird

Other important questions to raise when evaluating source reliability are the following:

Is there more than one reliable source that provides the same info? Is there reliable evidence contradicting the info?

Does the source contain any discrepancies, and if so, were these mistakes the work of the creator of the document or the informant?

Is the source original, or is it a copy? Is the source in any way damaged or poorly reproduced?

#22 Window Cleaners On The World Trade Center, 1979

Image credits: gotweird

#23 An Interesting Vintage Image Of Mary Anne Hawkins Surfing The Flooded Streets Of Long Beach, California, Ca. 1938

Image credits: gotweird

#24 Close-Up Portrait Of Canadian Actor Donald Sutherland As He Poses, Half Clean-Shaven And Half With Chin-Length Hair, New York, 1970

Image credits: gotweird

'Got Weird' was initially created over a decade ago. Since June 2014, the Instagram account has grown to become the home of 249k history-loving followers from around the globe.

The tagline for the account is 'Everything old is new again!' The curator of the account is the same person who manages the popular and informative 'Vintage Everyday' website and socials. We've reached out to them for comment, and we'll update the article as soon as we hear back from them.

#25 German Black Cat Fan, Early 20th Century

Image credits: gotweird

#26 Flashback To 1988 When A 25-Foot Shark From "Jaws" Rode Through Boston En Route To The Museum Of Science To Be Part Of A Science Of Movie And Television Magic Exhibit

Image credits: gotweird

#27 A Sailor In Drag, 1906

The man in drag is apparently Able Seaman Arthur Roach, a crew member of the H.M.S. Prince of Wales. He poses as a milkmaid behind a wooden fence and in front of a painted background. He is wearing a rather odd hybrid fancy-dress outfit, part showgirl/courtesan (ruffles and jewelry), part little girl at the seaside (very short skirt, bucket and spade). (Photographic postcard by H.J. Bond, 1906)

Image credits: gotweird

Which of these vintage photos and facts did you enjoy the most, Pandas? Which ones genuinely surprised you the most? What historical periods have captivated your curiosity so much, you can't help but dig deeper and deeper?

We'd like to hear your opinions. Share your thoughts in the comments below.

#28 A Steam Locomotive Is Transported Across The Rio Grande River Via A Cable In New Mexico, USA, 1915

Image credits: gotweird

#29 It's The Christopher Walken "Deer Hunter" Doll You Never Knew You Wanted!

Image credits: gotweird

#30 In The 1930s, If You Wanted To Travel In Air-Conditioned Comfort, You Needed A "Swamp Cooler" Attached To Your Car Window

Image credits: gotweird

#31 3 Kids Wearing Their Halloween Costumes, Circa 1900

Image credits: gotweird

#32 Audi Workers Demonstrating The Body Strength Of The Audi 920 In 1938

Image credits: gotweird

#33 1973 Mattel "Mod Hair" Ken Doll With Facial Hair

Image credits: gotweird

#34 Contestants In A Dolly Parton "Look Alike" Competition In Phoenix, 1979

Image credits: gotweird

#35 This Is The Last Known Photo Of Michael Rockefeller, The 23-Year-Old Son Of Former Vice President Nelson Rockefeller, Pictured With A New Guinean Tribe Known For Cannibalism

Michael disappeared without a trace during his 1961 New Guinean expedition and his body was never found.

Image credits: gotweird

#36 Boo-Koo Hamburger Stand In Harlingen, Texas. Burgers 5 Cents, Chili A Dime, Breakfast Two Bits, The 7up Is Real. (Photo By Russell Lee. February 1939)

Image credits: gotweird

#37 The Future Of Flight (According To An Artist From 1928)

Image credits: gotweird

#38 Typical 'Aussie' Humor Is Reflected In This Sign Erected On The El Alamein Road By Australian Troops, 1942

The Australians are famous for all their well-developed sense of humor. At the wire along the El Alamein road, they have erected a number of signs which are calculated to take all the desire from anyone with ideas of proceeding further west at the present time.

Image credits: gotweird

#39 Marion Liebig, Miss Hesse 1959, Keeps Warm Under The Artificial Sunshine Of An Infra-Red Lamp, During A Promotion For The Lamp, In A Snow-Covered Park In Wiesbaden, Germany, 1960

Image credits: gotweird

#40 In 1963, A German Cookbook Offering Bananas Wrapped In Pickled Herring

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#41 Home Prices In The 1950s

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#42 No Truer Words Have Ever Been Written

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#43 Before The Invention Of Radar During World War II, Incoming Enemy Warplanes Were Detected By Listening With The Aid Of "Sound Locators" That Looked More Like Musical Instruments Than Tools Of War

Image credits: gotweird

#44 Photojournalist Marjory Collins Snapped These Two Women At O'Reilly's Bar On Third Avenue, New York City In 1942

The sign reads, "Positively no gentlemen served in booths unless accompanied by a lady. – The Management." It's possible the women are covering their faces to avoid being seen out in public at a bar –– or, perhaps, in the day before selfies and cellphones, they simply didn't want their picture taken. Marjory didn't identify them, but then she only captioned the photo as "O'Reilly's bar on Third Avenue in the 'Fifties,'" not giving the exact name or cross street. Marjory Collins (1912–1985) covered the home front extensively in World War II, having studied at Sweet Briar College and the University of Munich. She started her documentary photographic career after selling her wedding silver to buy a camera. From 1942-1943, Collins traveled the United States, completing 50 assignments that captured American life.

Image credits: gotweird

#45 Giant Inflatable 'Pinocchio' From The 13th Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade In New York City, 1937

Image credits: gotweird

#46 A Young Woman Holds Her Arms And Legs In Four Water Bathes With Electric Current, To Improve Blood Circulation, Circa 1938

Image credits: gotweird

#47 The "Michelin Band" Performs At The Inauguration Of The Michelin Hour Radio Show, April 17, 1928

Image credits: gotweird

#48 The Winner Of The Neatest Figure Competition At The Lido In Margate, England Wears A Hood So That The Judges Could Not Be Influenced By Her Face And Instead Only Judge Her Body, 1946

Image credits: gotweird

#49 Before Sending The First Human Yuri Gagarin To Space, Russian Scientists Made A Lot Of Experiments With Animals

The most well known are two dogs who were sent in Russian rocket just before the first human made his flight. This launch of the first space pig is less known to public. And look how this hero was treaded with humanity – they gave him some wine before the launch in order to bring it in relaxed state.