The Ullage Group’s sixth public outing attracted our largest turnout yet.  We ran out of chairs and pews; some had to stand, fidgeting.
After an introductory sermonette, Lisa uncorked the ullage, and poured out the traditional offering to our hosts at the Jalopy Theater, Geoff and Lynette Wiley.  She then discussed the cultural history of toy […]

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For your listening pleasure, the Ullage Group returns this coming Sunday, January 24th with a cacophonous and fun-filled afternoon of unusual, under-appreciated, forgotten, and one-of-a-kind musical instruments. Part show-and-tell, part performance, all noise! Your ears will never be the same again.
Doug Skinner will discuss and demonstrate some of the patent instruments and “gizmo harps” manufactured […]

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First, we apologize for the hiatus.  Hiatus happens.
Our next event, devoted to marginal and obsolete musical instruments, is scheduled for January 24th.  Details will follow.
As you may have noticed, holidays have reared their troublesome heads.  You can soothe the angst with Skinner holiday songs here and here.
We remind you that our tribute to John Keel […]

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A holiday weekend marred by beautiful autumn weather and massive transit disruptions didn’t keep the curious from turning out for the Ullage Group’s presentation, “Straight Talk About Hoaxes.” Anthony Matt’s multimedia exegesis of the 1969 “Paul is Dead” hoax was a rousing success. Original tapes of radio shows and phone calls, furnished by the DJ […]

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The Ullage Group excitedly presents its fifth hodgepodge, “Straight Talk About Hoaxes.”  Doug Skinner will talk about pseudo-hoaxes, botched fictions, and accidental lies: stories intended as fiction, but accepted as fact by those bent on belief.  Lisa Hirschfield will discuss storytelling and seduction in Nigerian love letters.  Anthony Matt will discuss the intricacies of the […]

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I’m happy to inform you that “The Puppet Show,” a vastly entertaining traveling exhibit of puppet-related art, is now at the Frye Museum in Seattle.  The show includes a number of the videos that Michael Smith and I did over the years; the Frye Museum is at 704 Terry Avenue.  Further particulars can probably be […]

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About forty fine citizens assembled at Jalopy for our fourth event, eager to see how the Ullage Group would screw up this time.
I performed the ceremonial ullage-uncorking, and poured out a shot of chianti for our host, Geoff Wiley; and invoked the Italian proverb “Chi beve it vino prima la minestra, saluta il medico dalla […]

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The Ullage Group offers its fourth afternoon of cultural curiosities, “Medi-Vaudeville.”  The title refers to the book that Charles Fort planned to write, during his final days in the hospital; for, this time around, it’s all medical.
Doug Skinner and Dr. Mamie Caton will talk about alternative medicine, evidence-based medicine, and the difficulty of applying scientific methodology to […]

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The Ullage Group is hard at work on its next public appearance, “Medi-Vaudeville.”  The title is taken from the book Charles Fort planned as his next; we hope to cover a number of medical topics.  It will take place on April 19 in Brooklyn’s gem-like Jalopy Theatre; details will follow.  Meanwhile, we’ll stimulate your appetite with […]

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In 1923, the USSR was established; the earworm “Yes, we have no bananas” was released; Firestone began selling inflatable tires; a ‘talkie’ made its first public debut; New York revoked Prohibition; insulin became widely available; the Walt Disney Company was founded; the first planetarium opened in Munich; the first electric shaver was patented (by […]

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