What Is The Mad Vortex?

Welcome to the Mad Vortex, a collection of ephemera dredged out from the sewage system of time. In here, you will find a swirling tornado of  horrific recipes, frightening vintage advertisements, videos, fashion nightmares, and more, spanning the 19th-21st centuries.

At the top of the page, there are headings for different spots of the Vortex for you to visit. Like making disgusting food? Check out “Home Cooking!” Want ideas on how to make knitted cozies for your toaster or a horrible sweater for someone you hate? Go to “Style” and then click “Ripping Yarns!” There’s something for everyone in the Mad Vortex, yet nothing for anyone.

The Mad Vortex is written mostly by Celia Pleete*, a plucky orphan girl with dirty stockings, matted hair, and a heart of gold. A generous benefactor gave her the Mad Vortex site anonymously one day and they spent four years corresponding through photos of bizarre ephemera and through snarky comments. (She refers to him only as “Daddy Long-Legs”, or sometimes, when she’s feeling saucy, “Professor Peacepipe.”)

*Celia Pleete is the nom de plume for Alice.