Happy April Fools day! Enjoy the 10 funniest pranks of all time. Also, check out what’s going on with April Fools on the web today.
10. Spaghetti Trees
In 1957, BBC news showed a fake documentary on how Swiss farmers were growing spaghetti trees. Although the premise is completely ridiculous, many called in requesting information about on how to grow one. Here is the footage:
9. Taco Liberty Bell
In 1996, Taco Bell announced its purchase of the Liberty Bell and that the name would be changed to Taco Liberty Bell. This upset a lot of squares who called up the National Historical Park in Philadelphia quite upset. We guess they never tried the Crunchwrap Supreme.
8. Metric Time Conversion
In 1975, a news program in Australia announced that all time will be converting to the metric system. There would be 100 seconds in each minute, 20 hour days, etc. Callers were very upset and one wanted to know how to convert his new digital clock to metric time.
7. Color TV Conversion
In 1962, the only TV channel in Sweden announced that televisions (all black and white at the time) could be converted to color TVs only by pulling a nylon stocking over it. Many fell for it.
6. Lesser Gravity
In 1976, astronomer Patrick Moore announced over BBC Radio that at 9:47 AM, Pluto would align behind Jupiter causing less gravity on Earth for a second. He urged the listeners that if they jumped at that exact second, they would be able to feel a floating sensation. Many called in to say they felt it, including a woman who claimed she and her friends floated around the room.
5. Death Prediction
In 1708, Jonathan Swift, under a fake name Isaac Bickerstaff, published an almanac in which he predicted the death of astrologer John Partridge. When that day came, he published a pamphlet announcing that he had been correct and John Partridge had died. The next day was April 1 and Partridge was treated as a ghost. He could not convince people he was not dead. Partridge was forced to stop publishing because he couldn’t shake his reputation.
4. UFO Landing
In 1989, on March 31st, thousands in London saw a glowing flying saucer land. The police were called and frightened to discover a small, silver-suited figure come out. It turned out to be a hot-air balloon designed by Richard Branson, chairman of Virgin Records. He planned to land on April 1 but the went blew him off course and he landed early.
3. Richard Nixon
In 1992, NPR announced that Richard Nixon was running for President again. An impersonator recorded a candidacy speech which also played on the air. Nixon’s new slogan was “I didn’t do anything wrong, and I won’t do it again.” Needless to say, there was much outrage before the prank was admitted.
2. Flying Penguins
In 2008, the BBC aired a fake documentary about the discovery of penguins that could fly. These are pretty great special effects.
1. Fake Eruption
In 1974, Mount Edgecrumb appeared to be erupting since black smoke was coming out. The residents of Sitka, Alaska were very frightened. Turns out, a man named Porky Bickar got hundreds of tires and burned them.
Much thanks to www.museumofhoaxes.com. Know any great pranks of hoaxes? Leave a comment.
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