When the Whoopee Cushion was invented in 1930 (see page 59), it added a whole new dimension to the ordinary act of sitting down. Since then, other flatulence-producing devices have been invented, including a remote-control version that Johnny Depp reportedly used on the set of Pirates of the Caribbean: On Stranger Tides every time Penélope Cruz went in for a close-up. You can add to your arsenal of pranks by making your own hand-operated fart machine.
what you need
* 1 large paper clip
* Pliers (optional)
* 2 medium-size rubber bands or hair elastics
* 1 keychain ring or 1-inch metal washer (available at hardware stores)
* A paperback book
what you do:
THE SETUP
1 Carefully unbend the paper clip until it forms a C shape.
2 Ask an adult to help you bend each end so it makes a 90-degree angle about 1 inch from the end. You can use your hands, but it’s easier if you use pliers.
3 Now bend the ends back the other way to form little u-shaped hooks.
4 Pass each rubber band through the keychain ring or washer.
5 Hook the rubber bands over the bent ends of the paper clip.
6 Now wind up the washer until the rubber bands are twisted tight.
7 Practice using the fart machine until you get the best possible sound. Sit on a sofa or another cushioned seat and place the machine on a paperback book with your hand over it. You’ll need to keep your hand pressed down to hold the wound-up washer in place. Lift your hand slightly so the washer starts flipping. Adjust how high you lift your hand to get the most authentic-sounding fart. You can also experiment with different sized washers to get lower- or higher-pitched sounds.
1 Use your fart machine when you’re hanging out with friends or family. Wind up the machine and hide it in your hand before you enter the room. Bring a paperback book with you, and casually set it down beside you. Place the hand with the fart machine facedown on the pad.
2 Wait for a pause in the conversation and lift your hand slightly when you’re ready to let it rip. Look at someone in the room or just away from your hand so you don’t seem connected to the sound.
3 When people look in your direction or start laughing, there are several ways you can react. Here are a few examples:
* Act embarrassed and exclaim, “Excuse me!” Then leave the room with the machine hidden in your hand. Wind it up, return to the room, and “fart” again. Use your judgment as to how many times to repeat this.
* Look at the person next to you and say, “Whoa! What did you eat for lunch, dude?!”
* Act completely oblivious, as if nothing happened. Then leave the room, rewind your machine, and repeat.
Whoopee!
For the Whoopee Cushion!
Sometimes the best ideas for pranks happen when you’re not even trying. The trick is to keep your mind open to the possibilities around you. That’s what the workers at a rubber company did in 1930, and the results were explosive. Employees at the JEM Rubber Company in Toronto, Canada, were playing around with leftover pieces of rubber one day when they accidentally produced a sound much like a fart. The workers had so much fun playing with the homemade prank that the company decided to bring the idea to S. S. Adams, the pioneering manufacturer of gags and practical jokes (see page 75). Adams turned his nose up at the idea because he thought it was “indelicate,” but he probably kicked himself later. Another company, Johnson Smith, took a chance on the rubber device. They called it a Whoopee Cushion and said it gave forth “noises that can be better imagined than described.” It was music to the ears of delighted pranksters across the country. Sales took off—and they’re still powerful to this day.
Scientist Trevor Cox tries out his giant whoopee cushion.
