30 most famous rallies in the history of mankind

1. frog tsunami

In 1906, the American newspaper Wichita Daily Eagle published a front-page information about the unique natural phenomenon. The publication reported that the Arkansas River to the south is moving a huge wave height of 11 feet (3 meters). To meet her, to the north, millions of frogs migrate. Both waves, water and the frog will have to meet near the city of Wichita about 10 o'clock in the morning.

At the appointed hour by the river gathered thousands of people in Kansas who wished to witness an unprecedented event. But no frogs, no waves they have not waited: three hours later, the people dispersed.

2. comic bomb

April 1, 1915, in the midst of First World WarFrench soldier rather harshly made fun of the Germans. He threw off the plane at their camp bomb. The Germans fled in panic, but there was no explosion. It turned out that the "bomb" - a soccer ball, on which is written: "From April 1!"

3. The destruction of the Capitol

In 1933, the newspaper The Capital Times, issued in Madison, Wisconsin, published a photograph of the destroyed capitol. Text reads that the building was damaged by a mysterious explosion, the cause of which - "a large amount of gas from the heated discussions in the Senate."

Subscript small letters, it's April Fool's joke, many readers have not seen. And because they believed in the news, and was later named hoax "tactless and disgusting."

4. Flyer on skis

In 1934, the German edition of Berliner Illustrirte Zeitung published an unusual photo. On it was imprinted flying through the air man, clad in skiing, with a "fin" behind. He was holding a device in which blew. Wonderful invention worked by air flow from the lungs activating rotors. Skiing served chassis, and "fin" to adjust the height and angle of flight.

Comic photo reprinted in many newspapers, including the US, such as The New York Times.

5. A giant swarm of evil wasps

In 1949, New Zealand's leading radio station reported that the move to Auckland swarm of wasps dangerous. According to him, a cloud of insects was the size of a mile. Radio advised residents, facing the street, dressed in trousers socks. What many did.

This joke positively perceived by no means all. Now, on New Zealand radio stations have a rule prescribing to speak on the air April 1 but the truth.

6. spaghetti harvest

April 1, 1957 on the BBC Panorama transmission went out plot, which tells about the harvest of spaghetti in Switzerland. Farmers have harvested them straight from the trees. Journalists reported that a bumper crop could get thanks to the mild winter and the destruction of weevil.

Viewers believe. They began to call on the BBC to issues as they grow their tree. Among them was advised to put the spaghetti in a jar of tomato sauce and "hope for the best."

7. Stockings for TV

In 1962 the Swedish television channel SVT reported on how with the help of nylon stockings to make a color image. Expert named Kjell Stensson quite seriously told about the latest technology and explained in detail how it works. According to him, the light waves are refracted through a fine mesh, so that the color appears.

In order to see the color image, you need to tilt your head at a certain angle. The audience believed and went to the store for stockings. But it did not help: color television appeared in Sweden only in 1970.

8. disease redheads

April 1, 1973 on BBC radio transmission came about Dutch Disease trees, striking redheads. Guest studio academician, said that their hair for a few days turns yellow and then fall out. The man is bald. Academician explained this feature so that the blood count redheads is similar to the composition of the soil in the forest where trees were amazed.

At the end of the ether it was found out that the role of Academician made famous Irish writer and comedian Spike Milligan.

9. awakened volcano

On the morning of April 1, 1974 residents of Sitka, Alaska, were shocked. From the crater of the volcano Edgecombe, sleeping with the XIX century, went black smoke. People are in a panic began to pack and prepare for evacuation.

Coast Guard pilots, podletevshie to the volcano, found that this is not the eruption. On the slope of the mountain was burning old tires. Nearby was the huge sign in the snow: «April Fool». It turned out that the "eruption" gave a 50-year-old local resident Oliver Bikar. For four years he was collecting old tires, and then decided to play countrymen.

10. 100-minute hour

April 1, 1975 major Australian television stations reported on the introduction of a new system of calculation time. Minute now includes not 60 and 100 seconds and hour - not 60, and 100 minutes. Local authorities said that in addition to the 20-hour working day is entered.

This information was confirmed by Premier of South Australia Desmond Corcoran, who said about the effectiveness of the new system. In the plot shown in Adelaide established a new watch with a dial on the 10 divisions. The audience was shocked.

11. The weakening of gravity

In 1976, English astronomer Patrick Moore announced on BBC radio about an unusual phenomenon. According to him, Pluto and Jupiter are located relative to the Earth in a special way - so that the combined gravity of celestial bodies weakened the gravitational field. And if the people of the earth bounce exactly at 9:47, they will experience "a strange feeling."

Listeners call the station confirmed that's what happened. Many claimed that they even managed to fly around the room.

12. Paradise country

In 1977, British newspaper The Guardian published a seven-page tab, which tells about the small republic San Serriffe, occupying several islands in the Indian Ocean. The country was described as paradise: with beautiful scenery, friendly people. The two main islands, which are located in the state, called the Upper Caisse and Lower Caisse, they took the form of a point and a comma.

Readers have torn off phones newspaper, trying to find out how to get to San Serriffe and how much is there to relax. Reporters later admitted that they were joking, with use professional terms. San Serriffe - is altered font name Sans Serif, Upper Caisse comes from upper case (capital letters), and Lower Caisse - from the lower case (capital letter).

13. Electronic Big Ben

April 1, 1980 the BBC reported that Big Ben, the famous clock will be electronic. This news caused an uproar among the audience.

Japanese BBC department, repeat this message, added that the arrows will sell four students who were the first to get through to the studio. All ahead sailor, send a request in Morse code on the teletype.

14. Mowing guards helmets

In 1980 Soldier magazine published the sensational news that the fur hats Irish Guards guarding the Buckingham Palace, the need to cut regularly. The publication reported that the bear's skin contains a hormone that is responsible for hair growth. And this discovery could radically solve the problem of baldness.

This information is believed not only Soldier readers, but also the newspaper London Daily Express, made a reprint.

15. Defective bras

April 1, 1982 in the British newspaper Daily Mail, it was reported the sale of 10,000 defective bras. The publication states that, for supporting the frame they used copper wire, which was supposed to go to the production of a fire alarm. A copper interacting with nylon and heated by body heat, can produce static electricity. Owners of defective bras thus interfere with television and radio stations.

It is said that the joke even believe experts. For example, British Telecom chief engineer allegedly ordered to check if the employee does not wear underwear company with copper.

16. Scary goryachegolovye crampons

In 1985, in the April issue of Discover Magazine published an article about the discovery of a new mammal species living in Antarctica. Biologist April Pazzi called animal goryachegolovymi ice axes: they melted the ice and attacked by penguins.

"These are disgusting: about six inches in length, weigh a few ounces, have a very high metabolic rate - their body temperature is 110 degrees, living in the maze of ice. A huge amount of heat they generate through the "plate" on the head, "- said the scientist.

Pazzi guessed that these horrible animals could cause the disappearance of Antarctica explorer Philippe Poisson in 1837. As acknowledged by the authors of Discover Magazine, this article has received the highest number of responses from readers in the entire history of the publication.

17. Dismantle the Eiffel Tower

In 1986, the French newspaper Le Parisien said the dismantling of the Eiffel Tower. Landmark must carry and reassembled in a newly built Disneyland. And on the site of the tower was planned to build a stadium for the Olympics. Many Parisians believe in the rally and were very outraged.

18. Buying Maradona

In 1988, April 1 distinguished newspaper "Izvestia". She published the news that Diego Maradona goes to Moscow "Spartak" a very decent fee - $ 6 million. The Associated Press picked up the news, it has spread throughout the world. It was the first draw in the Soviet press.

19. Discount tattoo

April 1, 1994 National Public Radio has made a statement that several large companies, including the Pepsi, decided an original way to attract young consumers. They pledged a lifetime 10 percent discount to those who will make the ears tattoo with the company logo.

Despite the clarification that it was a hoax, wishing to save attacked tattoo parlors.

20. Liquor bars

Another rally arranged in 1994, ITAR-TASS news agency. It reported on the issue specifically for the new Russian chocolates - "vodka bars." It was the kind of response, "Mars" and "Snickers".

The agency has promised that the bars let out with three flavors: salted cucumber, lemon and coconut. And soon soluble vodka will be in stores in tea bags.

21. Buying Lenin's body

Irish Times in 1995, decided to "relocate" the embalmed body of Lenin from the mausoleum. The newspaper published the news that the leadership of the Disneyland wants to buy it back for any amount, and negotiations are already underway. The new mausoleum was to be an original attraction in the park under construction.

22. General cleaning Internet

In 1997, users of the Internet on behalf of the service network of the Group at MIT Institute letters came by e-mail that from March 31 to April 2, will be "general cleaning". The authors recommended disconnected from the network all the computers.

As stated in the letter, large-scale maintenance work needed to cleanse the internet of electronic waste that has accumulated over several years. Five powerful Japanese robots Toshiba ML-2274 had to delete inactive email addresses, non-performing websites and web resources hackers.

Similarly previously played subscriber telephone stations. They were asked to wrap up the phone in plastic bags to collect the dust that could sleep in the prevention of the time.

23. as amended by Pi

In 1998, Alabama legislators have decided to "change math forever, science and the world." And said that from now on the number Pi is equal to 3.14159... and not 3.0. This solution is argued that corresponds more 3 'biblical value of pi. "

Legislators themselves have learned that they took such a decision, after a flurry of angry calls and letters that they were attacked. The news about the number Pi was published in local newspapers. Thus the scientist Mark Boslough decided to protest against attempts to abolish the study of the theory of evolution in school.

24. Hamburger for left-handers

In the same 1998 in USA Today there was a Burger King advertisement. The company has announced a special offer on the menu - hamburger for left-handers. Bun and toppings in it turned 180 degrees to make it easier to dine.

Advertising believe: at Burger King for a long time to come Visitors wishing to book "left-handed burger."

25. Time for Guinness

And another big rally in 1998. Breweries Guinnes sent on the eve of April 1 press release in which it announced that it has become a sponsor of the Royal Observatory in Greenwich. And because of this the whole year GMT will be renamed during a Guinness. This news was solid printed edition of The Financial Times.

26. Viagra to hamsters

In 2000, no less respectable British newspaper The Independent published the information on the establishment of "Viagra" for shy hamsters and other rodents. Scientists from Florida so decided to save pets who suffer from feelings of sexual inadequacy. Animal rights activists were shocked.

27. Carrots with holes

In 2002, the British supermarket chain Tesko said at Sun newspaper about a new form of carrots - with holes, so you can root through the whistle. A retail chain Waitrose advertise hybrid pineapple and banana - PIN. Readers of the newspaper have been searching for new products in stores.

28. Unrealized dream

In 2003, more than 3 thousand people gathered in Prague for the opening of the supermarket "Czech Dream". Shortly before that, in the city there were billboards, promising to record low prices. As a result, cut the ribbon in front of a huge poster, set in the middle of the field.

Raffle staged Film Director Student. They decided to conduct a social experiment to create a utopia and removed the "Czech Dream" film.

29. flying penguins

In 2008, the BBC in an episode of the program "Miracles of Evolution" talked about flying penguins. They were found near the Antarctic. Video posted on YouTube on March 31, quickly became a hit.

Terry Jones told the presenter that penguins have decided to escape from the cold and flew away into the forests of South America to bask under the tropical sun.

30. Google Inventions

It was marked by rallies and Google. In 2011, the company has posted a video telling about Gmail Motion - the new tool for e-mail. The users need to demonstrate in front of the webcam certain gestures.

In fact, it was a joke, many could not believe the news about Gmail Motion quickly spread throughout the media. But the idea quickly implement. Employees ICT wrote a program that really allows you to manage mail service Gmail using gestures and Kinect controller.

In 2013, Google announced the launch of the service Google Nose, which aired smell to the user's device. The video, which tells about the new product, is made quite convincingly.

see also

• 25 simple April Fools jokes →
• All Google April Fools' joke of the year 2015 →
• 30 products from AliExpress for practical jokes on April 1 →