A Blast From The Past: Episode 19

A collection of interesting articles from Amusing Planet’s archives.

Tall Tale Postcards of the Twentieth Century

During the early years of the twentieth century, the tall-tale postcard flourished in the American Midwest, especially within the boasting, expansive atmosphere of the American frontier. Around the turn of the last century, when postcards came to function as surrogates for travel, people soon realized that they could be used to create or sustain a certain utopian myth about a town or region. Crafty photographers began to physically manipulate their photographs.

The Tunnel People of Las Vegas

Deep beneath Vegas’s famous strip of glittering lights lies a sinister labyrinth of underground flood tunnels. These 200 miles of flood tunnels is home to a secret community of nearly 1,000 homeless people who eke out a living in the strip’s dark underbelly.

World’s Largest Shipyard Grave at Nouadhibou

The city of Nouadhibou is the second largest city in Mauritania and serves as the country's commercial center. The port of Nouadhibou is the final resting place of over 300 ships which were abandoned by their owners. These ships rusting in the shallow waters has given the port of Nouadhibou the notorious name of being the world’s largest ship graveyard. Unlike the en masse arrival of ships at Mallows Bay, here the number of craft has built up over time, as corrupt officials accepted bribes from boat owners to allow them to dump their vessels in the area.

Photographing A Town That Never Was: Michael Paul Smith’s Incredible Models

Few people put so much time, effort and craftsmanship into a project that results in photos which are totally believable, as Michael Paul Smith. Sixty year old Michael creates realistic 1/24 scale models of an imaginary town from memories of his youth. His photos tell a story that takes you back to that time and place. “What started out as an exercise in model building and photography, ended up as a dream-like reconstruction of the town I grew up in. It's not an exact recreation, but it does capture the mood of my memories”, he says.

Dekotora: The Ridiculously Decorated Trucks of Japan

The Dekotora or Decotora an abbreviation for "Decoration Truck", is a kind of loud and flashy decorated truck most commonly found in Japan. Dekotora commonly have neon or ultraviolet lights, extravagant paints, and shiny stainless or golden exterior parts. These decorations can be found on both the cab and the trailer, and not only on the exterior but also in the interior.