April Fools

[poliphilo]

Back in the early days of TV the BBC ran a spoof news story about spaghetti growers in Switzerland. It's probably the last time an April Fools Day hoax actually fooled people in large numbers. We were used to the BBC being all Reithian and responsible so, yeah, they got us. But only that once. It remains the only hoax of its kind that people can remember without having to resort to Google. I see they've put the clip up this morning on the Indy's website.

When I was about four I crept up on my mother as she was digging in the garden and told her there was a giant standing behind her. She obligingly turned round and looked. I was so pleased at my success I waited a minute and tried the exact same thing again....

Comments

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

That's the one I always think of - I didn't hear of the spaghetti one until years later.
My next favourite is the one about minitiuarizing railway travellers - complete with photograph
There was one about the sun in the Guardian - completely given away by dotting pictures of the sun on every page. I can't remember what the sun was supposed to be doing
Today's in the Times must be the cathedral, mustn't it?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

There a link to a website with pictures of the cathedral and its maker. If it's a hoax it's one that's had a lot of work put into it.

[ooxc.livejournal.com]

Yes - but the Times is very good at graphics - and if that isn't it, where is it?

[poliphilo.livejournal.com]

I haven't yet seen any reporting of a hoax in the Times. Most of the other papers- yes, but the Times- no.