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"'Feejee Mermaid' has become the generic term for the many fake mermaids that can be found around the world..."
This article contains information relating to a hoax. According to Cambridge dictionary a hoax is "a plan to deceive a large group of people; a trick." |
| Giant Grasshoppers | |
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| Background | |
| Type | Hoax |
| First Sighting | N/A |
| Last Sighting | N/A |
| Country | United States |
| Habitat | Kansas |
| Possible Population | N/A |
Giant Grasshoppers were popular subjects for tall-tale hoax postcards, particularly in the Great Plains during the 1930s, when grasshoppers were a common pest.
Description
Giant grasshopper photos were created by taking two photos showing a wide shot and a close shot. The enlarged image from the close shot would be cut and glued over the wide shot to create the illusion. At the same time when giant grasshopper exaggerations were popular, exaggerated large fruit and vegetables were as well.
Frank D. "Pop" Conrad of Garden City, Kansas was considered to be the master of the giant grasshopper genre of postcards. He referred to them as "hooper whoppers". "The idea," Conard said, "came to me after a flight of grasshoppers swarmed into Garden City attracted by the lights, and it was impossible to fill an automobile gasoline tank at filling stations that night. I went home to sleep, but awoke at 3:00 a.m. and all I could think about was grasshoppers. By morning I had the idea of having fun with the grasshoppers, and took my pictures and superimposed the hoppers with humans. I didn't do it for adverse impressions of Kansas, but as an exaggerated joke."
Gallery
