“AND NOW FOR a dog on a surfboard…”

Think the wacky ‘light’ news story at the end of the evening news is a new phenomenon?

A trawl of the British Pathé newsreel archive would indicate otherwise.

And now…

The 10-Stone Baby

He’s not actually a baby – he’s three years old. And they dangle a bar of chocolate over at him at the end of the clip.

You wouldn’t get away with that on Six-One.

The Woman who Wanted a 10-year Ban on Childbirth

Mrs Margaret Slee of America’s Planned Parenthood Federation in 1947.

Actual transcript:

“What about the women who want babies now and in ten years will not be able to have babies?”

“Oh John, you do ask hard questions.”

The 8-Foot Tall 18-Year-Old Girl

Poor girl was shown off at Chiswick Baths in London in 1927. The newsreel is less pass-remarkable about the belly on her male pal.

The Girl Water Diviner Who Acts Like a Zombie

Catherine Bent causes a bit of a stir by her very physical reaction to locating water for bemused-looking farmers. Turns out she was rather good at it.

The “Museum of Animal Fantasy”

If taxidermied hamsters and cats playing mini croquet are your choice of animal fantasy.

The Snogometer

Built by a teenage boy in the Swinging Sixties. Of course.

Some major over-the-jumper action required at 0:40 in the name of science.

And now in your sports headlines…

The Angler and the Swimmer in a Human Fish Contest

All from the very excellent British Pathé Youtube archive.

7 RTÉ newsreaders we’ve known and loved>
Pics: Surviving Christmas during World War II>
Tackling Irish Christmas tree thefts in 1962>