Friday 31 May 2013

"Scarfolk Drop" Tourism poster. 1970

Decades before 'assisted suicide' was offered by organisations such as Switzerland's Dignitas, Scarfolk Council had its own kind of 'suicide tourism.'

The mayor and his councillors were always torn between the economic benefits of the tourist industry and not particularly liking outsiders. To balance the dichotomy, advertising man and stand-up arsonist Taylor Church suggested that the tourism board considerably exaggerate how exciting Scarfolk's tourist attractions were and then advertise them to depressives, the terminally ill, etc.

The plan was to raise the hopes of despairing tourists, so that when they arrived at an attraction it was an extreme disappointment - just the nudge they needed to 'take a plunge into the ocean'.

Cleverly, Church also recommended that tourists be guided through gift-shops before visiting the attractions, before disillusionment took too strong a hold.  

After the tourist season ended, Scarfolk children would comb the beaches for washed-up snow globes, key-rings, tea towels and other items which were then resold in the shop.


6 comments:

  1. The natural beauty of that pass is permanently etched into their memories, I'm sure.

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  2. Brilliant, especially the beach-combing children!

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  3. We especially liked finding teeth, real and dentures, for re-sale.

    Scot

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  4. I've just stumbled onto your wonderful blog - perhaps you can help.... I'm looking for a rare childrens' book published by Macmillan in 1977 titled 'Teddy and the Fatal Rubbing Adventure' written and illustrated by Carol Osman Spare.

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  5. Now you've let the secret out!

    The geological survey have been keeping north West England's only chalk outcrop secret for the past 156 years.

    any who publicly revealed its existence got to view it on the way down.

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  6. I can't believe that in 1974, there is still so much people who don't give a s**t about pollution ! "No one is serious and that makes me furious" as the young Curtis Mayfield sings in 'Freddie's jump'.

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