Seattle Times and Entire City Punk'd by Advertising Hoax
source: http://seattletimes.nwsource.com/html/localnews/2010253767_ivars12m.html
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- uroborus8
- added this
This summer, Ivar's restaurant claimed to pull an old sign out of Pudget Sound. They claimed Ivar placed the signs in the sound in the 1950s because he believed the future of travel in Seattle would include submarines. We were told Ivar wanted to advertise to future sub-commuters.
The Seattle Times bought the story, and so did the rest of the city. I even believed it. Seattle is a quirky city, with a ridiculous history. At one point people had to clime ladders to get up to street level. Horses and people regularly fell off the streets and died. When it rained, enormous puddles would form and people drowned in them.
Considering our past's insanity, a submarine advertising campaign seemed plausible. Particularly because Ivar was known to engage in absurd publicity stunts when he was alive.
This hoax had the help of notable historians and business people who supported the myth while secretly knowing the truth. Documents were forged by Ivar's marketing agency. The sign appeared weathered and even had barnacles.
It was all a farce, and today the Seattle Times is reviewing it's relationship with the historian who helped prank the city. Unfortunately.
Seattle residents are unscathed. Most of us are enjoying the joke. It is nice to know our culture still has a sense of humor, even if it is fueled by corporations and huge advertising agencies. Rarely do we get to laugh when we read the Times, or any news paper for that matter. I'm grateful for today's laugh.
The Seattle Times bought the story, and so did the rest of the city. I even believed it. Seattle is a quirky city, with a ridiculous history. At one point people had to clime ladders to get up to street level. Horses and people regularly fell off the streets and died. When it rained, enormous puddles would form and people drowned in them.
Considering our past's insanity, a submarine advertising campaign seemed plausible. Particularly because Ivar was known to engage in absurd publicity stunts when he was alive.
This hoax had the help of notable historians and business people who supported the myth while secretly knowing the truth. Documents were forged by Ivar's marketing agency. The sign appeared weathered and even had barnacles.
It was all a farce, and today the Seattle Times is reviewing it's relationship with the historian who helped prank the city. Unfortunately.
Seattle residents are unscathed. Most of us are enjoying the joke. It is nice to know our culture still has a sense of humor, even if it is fueled by corporations and huge advertising agencies. Rarely do we get to laugh when we read the Times, or any news paper for that matter. I'm grateful for today's laugh.
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- Community, Comedy, Current Tonight, Art, 4 more
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- tags:
- WTF, Funny, Advertising, Odd News, 5 more
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pjacobs51
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Only in Seattle, he he.
- 2 years ago
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pjacobs51
