Stranger Than Fiction, #19 Review: 1930s TikTok Is Real

If you have nine minutes to spare and love dusty, weird history, yes, this is absolutely worth your time. History nerds who collect useless trivia will love it, but anyone expecting a real story with, you know, actors and a plot will probably turn it off in thirty seconds.

It is basically a 1930s version of a TikTok feed. Just a bunch of random people doing odd things in front of a camera while a guy talks really fast over them.

The Salt Shaker King

First of all, the guy with the salt cellars is my hero. He has thousands of them, and he holds them up to the camera with this intense, deadpan pride that you just do not see anymore. 🧂

I wonder where those salt cellars are now. Probably in some attic, which is kind of sad to think about.

Then we get the boy genius with his miniature gasoline engine. The kid looks about twelve but has the posture of a forty-year-old accountant.

The engine actually works, though, which is pretty cool. It makes this tiny, angry buzzing sound that probably drove his parents crazy.

Dangerous River Crossings

My favorite part is the auto ferry on cables over the Colorado River. It looks incredibly unsafe, like a stiff breeze would dump the car right into the water.

You can see the driver looking slightly terrified as the camera rolls. I do not blame him one bit.

• The barber who is also a justice of the peace is a vibe. Talk about multitasking.
• Jimmy Wallington's narration is so fast it feels like he is running out of air.
• The whole thing feels like a time capsule from an era where people were easily amused.

It is a far cry from the heavy dramas of the era like Night Nurse. But honestly? I think I prefer this weird little reel of nonsense.

It is short, it is stupid, and it is totally charming in its own forgotten way. Go watch it if you want to see a guy show off his tiny plates.