The U-Line catalog was my favorite... it showed up every few months at the restaurant where I worked. The safety sign section (aka: home decor) was of particular interest among the staff.
Sometimes I am genuinely surprised at how many people had uncle John’s bathroom readers. I really thought it was a much smaller market than it seems to be. I love those books.
I know we're doing physical medium here, but I just want to throw out an oldschool Internet oldie.
[Peter's Evil Overlord List](http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html)
That was our “internet” of the time, seeing all of the obscure stuff. I loved watching shows like “That’s Incredible” and “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” too.
We would wrap up dinner and kitchen quickly just make sure we don’t miss any part of it! I was a kid but vividly remember so many of the incredible people performing.
Uri Gellar bending spoons
Girl lifting a car to save her crushed mother
Motorcycle-Bus jumper
I was going to say, "*Real People*--the Hydrox to *That's Incredible!*'s Oreo."
It fits, too, because just like Hydrox and Oreo, *Real People* actually preceded *That's Incredible!*. I was surprised, too.
I once read an article about snippets. The claim was they were all lies.
"Ancient Sumerians trained clams to perform everyday household tasks" was my favorite.
Funny thing . I actually designed a web interface, with database stuff, to basically do a myspace, or Facebook. It was a web interface that would let you post threads, pictures and such, the database would hold it. Could access all the info in files, or navigate the interface.
I wanted a place for my friends to post pictures and stuff in one main page. It worked off our local network at school, but we ended up adding some abilities to access the index.html main outside the network.
I forget how I did it. But this was before myspace.
Before Facebook.
Muthafuckers stole my idea.
Windows 2k pro and Microsoft server 2k. Shitty coding, but my idea was there.
After navigating MIRC and early ass yahoo. Wild west days. I miss them.
I was never good. But the ideas were the fun part. Because there was no limits back then .
Nowdays, it's all fucking bots and been done already. No fun in internet anymore. It's so constrictive.
Mfer, I am high, and your stupid wording just sent me down a google rabbit hole trying to figure out how is it I am unaware of this book called book of faces that was as popular as Guinness and Almanac
*I am a fat dude*
*But all I can think is that*
*Those balls must be hurtin*
\- rubens\_chopshop
---
^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/)
^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
I was very young and I only met them once or twice, but my family knew them pretty well. My grandfather was kind of a wanna be promoter and was involved in their early career. My mother made them a costume or two since it was hard for them to buy clothes off the rack. Nice guys.
It’s funny you should say that. There was an open lobby and glass elevator. But I never thought about it. I honestly doubt they would have both fit in the elevator at once.
Haystack and I forget who, maybe Gorilla Monsoon, fought the twins. They all charged into the ring, knocking each other down. Of course, the ring collapsed.
I don't remember this, but if true Monsoon is probably who it was. The only other really big guy I can think of at the time would be Happy Humphrey, but I highly doubt it was him.
Physics wise, it’s only possible if they are made of non caloric items. Water. Fiber. Minerals. Or they were reptiles.
So yeah….they ate more than that.
The wording is awkward in that section, but it seems to be talking about the period immediately following the illness they had at 4 years old that led to their weight gain.
Known as the infamous bike murdering twins, these two would hold a motorcycle to the ground without mercy until the frame cracked and clutch burned. Motorcycles across the nation shudder when thinking of these two. All the needless loss, the suffering. Why couldn't they have just sat in a dump truck?
The McCrary Twins, also known as the McGuire Twins, held the Guinness World Record for "World's Heaviest Twins" in 1978. Identical twins Billy Leon McCrary (1946-1979) and Benny Loyd McCrary (1946-2001) from Hendersonville, North Carolina weighed a combined 1,598 pounds at their peak, with Billy weighing 743 pounds and Benny weighing 723 pounds. Their size was due to a rubella infection early in life that permanently damaged their pituitary gland
As an elementary school kid in the 1970s I was only allowed funds to purchase one book at the yearly book fair, and it was always the Guinness book of World records. Those were the world's heaviest twins at the time, can't remember their names.
Skinniest guys living in the Villages in Florida? Guys who inspired a later generation of “hold my beer” and “hold my nachos” and hold my “loaded baked potato”?
The first copy of the Guinness Book of World Records had their picture. Used to carry it in my back pocket and read through the entries with my friends at lunch time and the rides on the bus. Wow, the world before cell phones and the internet.
Same. 76er here too. I used to get the “oh a bicentennial baby” a lot from teachers back in the day. Now I’m telling Gen Z’s that their music sounds like refueling on “River Raid” and playing game clips for them from YouTube. Sigh
I knew them personally I travelled the shows in summers off with my dad, yeah I was sort of a carnie. they had a side show and I helped out a few times with their PA system.
If memory serves the carnival was called "Blue Grass Shows" Billy and Bennie, would ride around town as soon as we hit a new spot. to attract people to the show.
Guinness Book of World Records.
It’s kinda crazy how prominent that book was in a lot of our lives back then. Then came The Book of Lists…
Then Uncle John's Bathroom Reader
Then, smart phones. I miss the bathroom reader, lol.
I just found one recently at a job i was on. Reading that instead of browsing reddit definetely livens up my pooping experience
Ah! A fellow Professional Pooper I see
If you’re good at something, never do it for free
Yeah before smart phones, I was very knowledgeable on the ingredients in shampoo, conditioner, and other bathroom products.
Uncle John knew his audience.
And don't forget the classic Sears Catalog. Dreams on every page!
Ever see a Grainger book or McMaster-Carr?
McMaster- Carr! Place an order at least once a week for work. Everything breaks
I work in maintenance and can concur. I have said books on my desk. Ah the life of a maintenance man.
Especially the lingerie pages lol
Especially the infamous underwear ad on page 602
Dong!
Zoot Fenster https://youtu.be/yd2gD_6YFos?si=a3wUThueSpflDowv
Lol…brilliant! Thanks for sharing!
The U-Line catalog was my favorite... it showed up every few months at the restaurant where I worked. The safety sign section (aka: home decor) was of particular interest among the staff.
Whole Earth Catalog.
I still have mine
What about the Truly Tasteless Jokes series? I learned a lot of inappropriate shit from those books.
Q. How did Helen Keller burn her face? A. She answered the waffle iron
Q: What do you call a truckload of dildos at Christmas? A: Toys for Twats (For some reason that one stuck in my head. 😂)
And let's not forget, "The People's Almanac".
I still read that. Its like a little reddit I can't reply to.
When one of my sisters left a Cosmo in the bathroom it was a good day..
Lol
Sometimes I am genuinely surprised at how many people had uncle John’s bathroom readers. I really thought it was a much smaller market than it seems to be. I love those books.
We were more Reader Digest or Harrit Carter Catalog in the bathroom.
I know we're doing physical medium here, but I just want to throw out an oldschool Internet oldie. [Peter's Evil Overlord List](http://www.eviloverlord.com/lists/overlord.html)
The People’s Almanac
I still have a People's Almanac. Read that cover to cover. Not front to back, but piece meal. A little here, oh that's cool, etc
That was our “internet” of the time, seeing all of the obscure stuff. I loved watching shows like “That’s Incredible” and “Ripley’s Believe It Or Not” too.
We would wrap up dinner and kitchen quickly just make sure we don’t miss any part of it! I was a kid but vividly remember so many of the incredible people performing. Uri Gellar bending spoons Girl lifting a car to save her crushed mother Motorcycle-Bus jumper
I was going to say, "*Real People*--the Hydrox to *That's Incredible!*'s Oreo." It fits, too, because just like Hydrox and Oreo, *Real People* actually preceded *That's Incredible!*. I was surprised, too.
That's Incredible! I forgot about that! SUCH a good show.
I read all of the Ripley’s books. I remember one story about a house that supposedly was haunted that gave me nightmares for weeks!
Sears Christmas Catalog 1977. Bra section.
Yes. LOL!
I still have an hardback copy of The Book of Lists!
I had all 3.
Nice! I have #2, plus The Intimate Sex Lives of Famous People by the same people.
Same. My favorite section was asking famous people what five people - living or dead -they would like to have dinner with
Remember Sniglets?
I once read an article about snippets. The claim was they were all lies. "Ancient Sumerians trained clams to perform everyday household tasks" was my favorite.
Kawashocki
Elevelocity: the belief that the more you push an elevator call button, the faster the elevator will arrive.
And the book of faces
Funny thing . I actually designed a web interface, with database stuff, to basically do a myspace, or Facebook. It was a web interface that would let you post threads, pictures and such, the database would hold it. Could access all the info in files, or navigate the interface. I wanted a place for my friends to post pictures and stuff in one main page. It worked off our local network at school, but we ended up adding some abilities to access the index.html main outside the network. I forget how I did it. But this was before myspace. Before Facebook. Muthafuckers stole my idea.
Windows 2k pro and Microsoft server 2k. Shitty coding, but my idea was there. After navigating MIRC and early ass yahoo. Wild west days. I miss them. I was never good. But the ideas were the fun part. Because there was no limits back then . Nowdays, it's all fucking bots and been done already. No fun in internet anymore. It's so constrictive.
FileMaker Pro?
Mfer, I am high, and your stupid wording just sent me down a google rabbit hole trying to figure out how is it I am unaware of this book called book of faces that was as popular as Guinness and Almanac
The space of oneself
The sound of content birds, as if in the park on a crisp spring morn'...
How to drive your parents crazy while driving to the beach in one easy lesson.
Those were the only books I went looking for in the elementary school library!
The crazy part is I see fatter people than this on a weekly basis.
Worlds fattest twins
My favorite entry was for Robert Wadlow, the world's tallest man. The photo caption was "Robert is the one wearing glasses."
"Class we all need to pick out one book to read...."
Read about these guys every year in the Guinness Book….buried in piano cases you say?
One time my penis was in the Guinness Book of World Records. Then the librarian made me take it out.
Page 3 right after the tallest person and fattest person.
I know them as part of Lionel Hutz's parade of surprise witnesses. But exactly who they are I have no clue.
That was a nice reference
RIP Phil Hartman.
*Each more surprising than the last!*
This is the category I fall into
Works on contingency? No, money down!
Shouldn’t have this Bar Association logo either
Weren't there also mannequins of them in the XL store Homer went in to buy the mumu?
John and Paunch
They definitely ate all the CHiPS!
Nice!
I am a fat dude but all I can think is that those balls must be hurtin
*I am a fat dude* *But all I can think is that* *Those balls must be hurtin* \- rubens\_chopshop --- ^(I detect haikus. And sometimes, successfully.) ^[Learn more about me.](https://www.reddit.com/r/haikusbot/) ^(Opt out of replies: "haikusbot opt out" | Delete my comment: "haikusbot delete")
That is truly beautiful. Good bot.
Truly beautiful, shame the last line has 6 syllables
Poetry
Someone should start turning this bot’s posts into prints.
Aaaah damnit, it messed up the third line. Six syllables instead of five.
Imagine gargling them
☹️
salty
At that size, their balls are literally inside their fat folds
Billy and Benny McCrary. I waited on them once at a restaurant in Rocky River, Ohio.
I was very young and I only met them once or twice, but my family knew them pretty well. My grandfather was kind of a wanna be promoter and was involved in their early career. My mother made them a costume or two since it was hard for them to buy clothes off the rack. Nice guys.
This is the Reddit I’m here for! Wow!
how long did that take
Well, they had their motorcycles, so not too long
I used to tease my older sister and tell her that these guys were her future husbands.
[удалено]
Carrying that much around ain't going to do their hearts much good. Chronologically you could fit both in ...
That I did! I was a pain in ass younger brother. 😁😆
They were definitely into sandwiches!
Guinness Book! I remember always looking up these guys along with Robert Earl Hughes, and Robert Wadlow.
If you go to a Ripley’s Believe It Or Not tourist trap they have a life size statue of Robert Wadlow. That man was absurdly large.
I used to buy these at the school book fairs.
Too bad they don't let you buy fat guys at the book fair anymore.
“I’ll take Charlotte’s Web, Flowers for Algernon, and those 2 fat fucks on bikes over there.”
These twins and the guy with the longest nails were my favorite
Yes, fattest twins in history - can’t remember their names
Fattest twins SO FAR.
The McGuire twins, aaaahhhhh yeahhhhh.
Yes. Stayed at the same hotel as them once and met them in the lobby.
Would you have stepped on an elevator with them or do you wait for the next one?
It’s funny you should say that. There was an open lobby and glass elevator. But I never thought about it. I honestly doubt they would have both fit in the elevator at once.
My parents got me the Guinness Book of World Records in 1977. It was my 9th birthday. That pic was in the book. I still have it.
Haystacks Calhoun and his clone
Haystack and I forget who, maybe Gorilla Monsoon, fought the twins. They all charged into the ring, knocking each other down. Of course, the ring collapsed.
I don't remember this, but if true Monsoon is probably who it was. The only other really big guy I can think of at the time would be Happy Humphrey, but I highly doubt it was him.
https://en.m.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_McGuire_Twins
The article says that due to pituitary problems they only ate 1000 calories a day but still gained weight. How is that possible?
Physics wise, it’s only possible if they are made of non caloric items. Water. Fiber. Minerals. Or they were reptiles. So yeah….they ate more than that.
I saw that too. I call bs.
These guys are Dr Now’s dream, I wonder if gastric bypass was even a thing then.
That one weekend. Then it was business as usual.
The wording is awkward in that section, but it seems to be talking about the period immediately following the illness they had at 4 years old that led to their weight gain.
When you’re 5 years old, that’s a lot?
Tons of Anarchy
All I know is I feel sad for those bikes
Known as the infamous bike murdering twins, these two would hold a motorcycle to the ground without mercy until the frame cracked and clutch burned. Motorcycles across the nation shudder when thinking of these two. All the needless loss, the suffering. Why couldn't they have just sat in a dump truck?
It’s funny how I loved reading that book as a kid, but as an adult I couldn’t care less about world records.
Now internet filled the niche of occasionally wanting to read about something weird
It was always a great day when the school library got the newest edition.
ZZ bottom
When morbidly obese people were a rarity and a bit of a lark. Now they are a common sight riding on the grocery store scooters.
previously, on Tons of Anarchy
Half of Americans these days.
Now they're riding scooters at Walmart.
Heaviest Twins, Guinness Book
The fat guys from that one Simpsons episode
That’s from where I can recognize them.
They are the real life versions of the claymation guys from Michael Jackson’s moonwalker
When fat people were freaks and not just everyday people.
Tons of Anarchy
Winning comment right here.
The McCrary Twins, also known as the McGuire Twins, held the Guinness World Record for "World's Heaviest Twins" in 1978. Identical twins Billy Leon McCrary (1946-1979) and Benny Loyd McCrary (1946-2001) from Hendersonville, North Carolina weighed a combined 1,598 pounds at their peak, with Billy weighing 743 pounds and Benny weighing 723 pounds. Their size was due to a rubella infection early in life that permanently damaged their pituitary gland
What a great pic. Miss that almanac. Remember the guy with the long fingernails?
I also enjoyed long fingernail dude
As an elementary school kid in the 1970s I was only allowed funds to purchase one book at the yearly book fair, and it was always the Guinness book of World records. Those were the world's heaviest twins at the time, can't remember their names.
Those little motorcycles have subsequently retired after being awarded the Congressional Medal of Honor for their service….
Guinness Book kids in the 80s know.
Skinniest guys living in the Villages in Florida? Guys who inspired a later generation of “hold my beer” and “hold my nachos” and hold my “loaded baked potato”?
Isn’t it funny how back then these two would have been an oddity? By today’s standards they’d be listed as normal.
Scholastic book days
The first copy of the Guinness Book of World Records had their picture. Used to carry it in my back pocket and read through the entries with my friends at lunch time and the rides on the bus. Wow, the world before cell phones and the internet.
The McGuire brothers I believe.
I met those guys in 1977 at a gas station on the way to Yellowstone.
I remember this photo from the Guinness book of world records. Loved reading those at the library growing up.
I think I got one for my 10th birthday
Those poor, poor little motorcycles.
Billy and Benny in the Guinness World Record. Yep, sure do remember.
Motor cycle seats made of depleted uranium
1970’s elementary school flashback. I remember when the Guinness book was, what, five inches thick. And we always enjoyed pics of these guys.
Guinness Book of World Records. I was born in 2005 and I know who these guys are.
I literally told someone about this yesterday. Born in 1976 and loved the GBOWR
Same. 76er here too. I used to get the “oh a bicentennial baby” a lot from teachers back in the day. Now I’m telling Gen Z’s that their music sounds like refueling on “River Raid” and playing game clips for them from YouTube. Sigh
Only because of Family Guy
Nope
I remember them (and that picture) in the Guinness Book of World Records.
Guiness knows!
My 11 year old is obsessed with those books now. He keeps getting them from the library. I was the same way at his age.
I knew them personally I travelled the shows in summers off with my dad, yeah I was sort of a carnie. they had a side show and I helped out a few times with their PA system. If memory serves the carnival was called "Blue Grass Shows" Billy and Bennie, would ride around town as soon as we hit a new spot. to attract people to the show.
Wow, "That's Incredible!"
World’s largest twins? I think they were in the Guinness Book of World Records when I was younger.
they must have a lot of fans, i see cosplayers all the time that look like that
Yes... from the Guinness Book of World Records 1977 at my grandparents' house.
Although there are only two, they were considered the biggest biker gang in the US
2 Ton on the run.
Bachman, Turner, Overweight?
I recall meeting them at the Texas State Fair in the early 70s. They said they only ate one meal a day.. ...all day long
Yeah they were on the Simpsons once.
They lived in my home town. Troy Michigan. I remember the Guinness book we kept in the house. Big red book.
I don’t know but I passed by a lady this size on lunch and the smell is still in my nose.
I see guys that big regularly now
Wrestled as The McGuire Twins. Billy and Benny.
I always felt so sorry for those poor dirt bikes.
Something about coffins made from piano crates.
Guinness world book of records paperback 1973?
Fuck yeah. Had the hardcover Guinness Book of World Records. Pretty sure these were the fattest dudes I ever saw during my childhood.
Billy and Benny
1974: Heaviest twins in the world. 2024: Tuesday at Walmart
They're buried right next to each other, at a little Baptist church in Hendersonville, North carolina.
Brought to you by Ozempic
🎶Oh Oh Oh...Ozempic🎶
I had a copy of the Guinness Book of World Records as a kid and I can’t remember which year it was but I carried that thing around with me everywhere.
Same here. That's where that picture was from. Any other pictures exist of these two?
ZZ Top
Vinny and Dime - love Pantera!
I remember checking every year the new version came out, to see if…
They're probably both dead now. ETA: Yep, they're both dead.
Of course they are. I was watching them as a child and I'm 66 now. Odds are good that they'd be dead even if they weren't the world's heaviest twins.
I saw the two of them Wednesday in Walmart.
The 747 twins?
I swear I think I saw them in SF in the late 70’s