Hoaxes throughout history…

1. Big Ben goes digital: On April 1st, 1980, the BBC in the UK announced on its radio station that the iconic clock tower, Big Ben, would be replaced by a digital clock. They even promised to give away the clock hands to the first four listeners who called in. However, the announcement turned out to be a prank, and many people fell for it, leading to widespread anger and confusion. The BBC had to quickly clarify that it was just a joke.

2. Eruption in Alaska?: In 1974, the residents of Sitka, Alaska were alarmed when they noticed signs of eruption activity from their long-dormant volcano neighbor, Mount Edgecumbe. They immediately contacted the local authorities and the Coast Guard. The Coast Guard sent a chopper to investigate the situation, but instead of finding lava, the pilot discovered a pile of old tires burning, with the words “APRIL FOOLS” spray-painted beside it. It turned out that local prankster Oliver “Porky” Bickar had executed this hoax, which he had planned for three years. Although Porky had informed the local authorities about his prank, he had forgotten to notify the Coast Guard. Fortunately, the residents and the Coast Guard took the joke positively since it was nice to know no actual threat was in place.

3. The Taco Liberty Bell: In April 1996, Taco Bell made an announcement claiming to have purchased a symbol of freedom in America: The Liberty Bell. They published this statement as full-page ads in notable newspapers, citing the reason for their decision as the debt crisis. The U.S. was going through a debt crisis and had decided to close all monuments to the public to reduce expenses. Taco Bell wanted to make it easier for the government and even renamed the bell the Taco Liberty Bell. However, this move was met with negative reactions from the public, who criticized the fast food chain for dishonoring the nation. Some people were still impressed by the news and flooded the Taco Bell Headquarters and the National Park Service with calls and complaints. The commotion was so much that PepsiCo., Taco Bell’s partners, had to clarify that the company did not buy the bell and that it was a prank. Freshman Abi Maja commented, “That’s disappointing, I wish they actually bought it.” However, they did want to help the national debt by raising funds to support the Liberty Bell. The funniest part is that even some government officials believed that this hoax was real.

4. Colored TV Hack: In 1962, Swedish television provider, Sveriges Television (SVT), proposed a way to transform black and white televisions into TVs with wide color ranges. The hoax was carried out by Kjell Stensson, as the station presented him as the expert who would broadcast this breakthrough to Sweden. He acted effectively, looked serious, and presented numerous scientific facts and theories to make the hoax seem real. He then proposed that to make TVs colored, they’ll have to use nylon stockings and tape it on the screen, claiming that due to its tiny holes, it can alter the wavelength of the colors. Funny enough, people believed him, and Swedish people still give an account of how family members were fooled as they scavenged for stockings.

5. Spaghetti trees: In 1957, the BBC aired an episode entitled “Panorama” featuring a group of spaghetti farmers in Switzerland. During the episode, the farmers discussed how to harvest the crops and what to do afterward. They even made up traditions and pests associated with the crop. The hoax was successful, as numerous viewers called the BBC for tips on cultivating the crop. One reason for the hoax’s success was the limited knowledge of pasta in the UK at that time. Ms. Benson, an OM science teacher, commented, “To be honest, I think I would fall for this. I never grew up on a farm or had a garden. You could convince me spaghetti grew on trees any day of the week.”