in Funny, Weird

A Secret History of Laughter: The Weird, Wacky, and Joyful Photos from the Past

In times of great hardship, looking through the visual records of the past reveals more than just solemn faces and historic events. It uncovers a current of deliberate, strange, and joyful absurdity. It was a brand of humor used as a shield, a way for people to carve out a moment of laughter when the world outside was grim.

This spirit often showed itself through outlandish inventions and gadgets. People would create bizarre contraptions not to solve a serious problem, but to embrace a comical idea. These were homemade devices for simple tasks, built with a playful disregard for practicality. It was the joy of creation and the shared chuckle at the wacky result that mattered, turning everyday life into a stage for lighthearted engineering.

Public spaces also became arenas for this playful spirit. Communities would come together for impromptu and peculiar contests, celebrating silly achievements with mock seriousness. A strange fad might sweep through a town, with people enthusiastically participating in a new, goofy activity for no other reason than that it was fun and different. It was a way to connect with neighbors and strangers alike through a shared moment of organized nonsense.

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The animal kingdom was often invited to join in the fun. People formed unique bonds with animals, treating them not just as pets, but as partners in comedy. These relationships went beyond simple companionship, with animals often included in human-like scenes and activities. This created a whimsical, shared world that offered a gentle and funny escape from daily troubles.

In front of the camera, people made a conscious choice to be goofy. At a time when having a photograph taken was a more deliberate act, they chose to create memories of laughter. Instead of standing stiffly, they would pull exaggerated faces, create ridiculous poses, and stage elaborate jokes with their friends. These images were not just records of what people looked like, but of their desire to remember a moment when they felt light, free, and wonderfully strange.

#3 Schoolyard children learning how to swim despite their lack of access to water, 1922.

Schoolyard children learning how to swim despite their lack of access to water, 1922.

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#4 Stockholm’s Telefontornet, connecting over 5000 telephone lines in the city, 1890.

Stockholm’s Telefontornet, connecting over 5000 telephone lines in the city, 1890.

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#5 Sean Connery signing a coconut for a little Jamaican fan on the set of Dr. No, 1962.

Sean Connery signing a coconut for a little Jamaican fan on the set of Dr. No, 1962.

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#6 Elephant used to load supplies onto an American plane, 1945.

Elephant used to load supplies onto an American plane, 1945.

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#7 The Ku Klux Klan attending a carnival in Canon City, 1925.

The Ku Klux Klan attending a carnival in Canon City, 1925.

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#8 President Lyndon B. Johnson in his amphibious car, with which he used to prank visitors at his ranch by driving it straight into the lake, 1965.

President Lyndon B. Johnson in his amphibious car, with which he used to prank visitors at his ranch by driving it straight into the lake, 1965.

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#9 British soldiers with captured German Goliath tank busters, c. 1939-1945.

British soldiers with captured German Goliath tank busters, c. 1939-1945.

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#11 12,500 officers, nurses, and soldiers from Camp Gordon form a human eagle, 1918.

12,500 officers, nurses, and soldiers from Camp Gordon form a human eagle, 1918.

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#12 A few months later their record is overtaken by 30,000 men from Camp Custer.

A few months later their record is overtaken by 30,000 men from Camp Custer.

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#13 Four horsemen riding down the streets of Amsterdam during a ‘motor-less day’ due to the oil crisis, 1973.

Four horsemen riding down the streets of Amsterdam during a ‘motor-less day’ due to the oil crisis, 1973.

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#14 After realizing that poor women were using the flour sacks to make clothing for their children, some flour mills started using flowered fabric for their sacks, 1939.

After realizing that poor women were using the flour sacks to make clothing for their children, some flour mills started using flowered fabric for their sacks, 1939.

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#15 Ringling Brothers Circus elephant exiting a train car, 1963.

Ringling Brothers Circus elephant exiting a train car, 1963.

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#16 British Bulldog guards his home barricaded during the Blitz, c. 1939-1945.

British Bulldog guards his home barricaded during the Blitz, c. 1939-1945.

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#17 Edward Llewellen catches the world’s Biggest black sea bass, weighting in at 425 lbs, bringing it home by himself, 1903.

Edward Llewellen catches the world’s Biggest black sea bass, weighting in at 425 lbs, bringing it home by himself, 1903.

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#18 Woman riding a very early electric scooter, 1916.

Woman riding a very early electric scooter, 1916.

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#19 Patricia O’Keefe, a female bodybuilder, gives a 200-pound man a piggyback ride, 1940.

Patricia O’Keefe, a female bodybuilder, gives a 200-pound man a piggyback ride, 1940.

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#20 Testing a new prototype for a football helmet, 1912.

Testing a new prototype for a football helmet, 1912.

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#21 Miss Perfect Posture contest winners at a chiropractors convention, 1956.

Miss Perfect Posture contest winners at a chiropractors convention, 1956.

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#22 Soldiers using gas masks to stop themselves from crying while peeling onions, 1941.

Soldiers using gas masks to stop themselves from crying while peeling onions, 1941.

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#23 Doctor Moody Jacobs shows a giant bruise on the side his patient, Ann Hodges, the only person in history to have been struck by a meteorite, 1954.

Doctor Moody Jacobs shows a giant bruise on the side his patient, Ann Hodges, the only person in history to have been struck by a meteorite, 1954.

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#24 The day Sweden switched which side of the road they drive on, 1967.

The day Sweden switched which side of the road they drive on, 1967.

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#25 Police officer judging an ankle competition in London, 1930.

Police officer judging an ankle competition in London, 1930.

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#26 Australia’s New South Wales police turn their motorcycles into chariots and race each other, 1936.

Australia’s New South Wales police turn their motorcycles into chariots and race each other, 1936.

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#28 Boy Scouts examining their boots after the 8,000-mile hike towards the first Boy Scout Jamboree, 1920.

Boy Scouts examining their boots after the 8,000-mile hike towards the first Boy Scout Jamboree, 1920.

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#30 US Marine, Pacific Islands, poses for the camera, c. 1941 – 1945.

US Marine, Pacific Islands, poses for the camera, c. 1941 – 1945.

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#51 Female sailor drinking while embracing the other beer bottles.

Female sailor drinking while embracing the other beer bottles.

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#58 Man suspended in a basket as part of a celebration.

Man suspended in a basket as part of a celebration.

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#62 Three men cramming their heads into a life preserver.

Three men cramming their heads into a life preserver.

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#63 Three young men riding on each others’ shoulders.

Three young men riding on each others' shoulders.

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#70 Young men mourning their friend buried in the sand.

Young men mourning their friend buried in the sand.

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#73 Lord Dundonald’s servants posing with their pets, Ottawa, Ontario, 1904.

Lord Dundonald's servants posing with their pets, Ottawa, Ontario, 1904.

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#74 “Bathing beauties” at Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, ca. 1909.

"Bathing beauties" at Muskoka Lakes, Ontario, ca. 1909.

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#76 “Taking our Geese to market”, Toronto, Ontario, 1910.

"Taking our Geese to market", Toronto, Ontario, 1910.

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#78 Woman drinking from a bottle, England, ca. 1914-1919.

Woman drinking from a bottle, England, ca. 1914-1919.

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#79 Calisthenics at Convalescent Hospital, Epsom, England, ca. 1914-1919.

Calisthenics at Convalescent Hospital, Epsom, England, ca. 1914-1919.

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#81 Silver-black foxes raised by a cat, Tignish, Prince Edward Island, 1914.

Silver-black foxes raised by a cat, Tignish, Prince Edward Island, 1914.

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#82 Dogs pulling carts, Montmorency Falls, Quebec, 1915.

Dogs pulling carts, Montmorency Falls, Quebec, 1915.

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#85 Portrait of Henri Groulx and his rooster, Paris, France, ca. 1920.

Portrait of Henri Groulx and his rooster, Paris, France, ca. 1920.

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Written by Sarah Johnson

Sarah Johnson is a freelance writer and photographer with a passion for exploring the world. Her writing is both informative and engaging, offering unique perspectives on travel, food, and lifestyle.

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