Fads Capture the Essence of Eras

By: Charles Bowen By definition, I suppose, we dismiss fads as trivial. And yet, as writers discover when they're trying to capture the essence of a time period, a fad often can provide a better snapshot of a decade than scores of more significant historical events.

What says 1950s better, for instance, than the hula hoop? Need a fast sketch of the goofiness we associate with the Roaring '20s? How about recalling the fad of flag-sitting? And can you think of the sexy '60s without also remembering all those psychedelic tie-dye T-shirts?

A site that seems custom-made for feature writers trying to conjure up remembrances of wackiness past, CrazyFads.com knows all about Cabbage Patch Kids and PacMan, goldfish swallowing, panty raids, and streaking. Sorted by decade, this breezy site invites you to get re-acquainted with the tacky trends that marked the 1920s to the 1990s.

Visit http://www.crazyfads.com, where a bright, appealing home page invites you to explore "silly to serious fads that helped to change our society and create a pop culture."

For each decade, there is an illustration and a brief description of one of its better known fads. More importantly, a "click here" link enables you to view more fads for that decade. For instance, while flagpole-sitting is the featured fad for the 1920s, clicking the link for more brings up discussions of conk hairdos, flappers, Mahjongg, Freudianism, the Cloche hat, Pez dispensers, and dance marathons.

Each description is followed by a "Learn More" link for extensive additional information about that fad. This supporting material is for assorted resources, including Web sites and news articles. The trivia available in this rich corner on the Net is priceless.

Dig into the 1940s and you'll probably be drawn to the discussion of goldfish swallowing on college campuses. But where else would you learn that Harvard freshman Lothrop Withington Jr. was the first person on the record to actually swallow a live goldfish and start the fad? Son of a Boston lawyer and Harvard's 1919 football captain, Lothrop boasted about having once eaten a live goldfish during a bull session and was offered $10 by a fellow student to do so again. He agreed and set a time and place while allowing classmates to spread the word. The rest, as they say, is history.

Other considerations for using CrazyFads.com:

1. If you write about this site in your news columns or Internet features, you might want to alert readers that they are invited to interact with the site. A "Share with Us" link on the site's front page lets visitors share information about fads not already covered in the site or elaborate on fads that are.

2. The site is produced by the same folks who operate Bored.com, a wonderful network of alternative Web creations, from sites devoted to chicken-crossing-the-road jokes to others that help you find rare videos. My personal favorites in the Bored.com empire are FreakyDreams.com, Television Without Pity, and WhichIsWorse.com. But then, DancingBush.com isn't bad either.

3. Bored.com has some useful bookmarkable resources too, including a nutrition calculator, a celebrity birthday database, a collection of urban legends, song lyric resources, and assorted band lists.
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