Trazee In-Depth: Crazy Conspiracy Theories That Stood the Test of Time

Conspiracy theories come in all shapes and sizes; some evoke great conversation and open our minds with critical thinking, while other theories are so off-the-wall, you wonder how they ever garnered an audience.

Throughout history, these theories have come and gone, from apocalypse predictions to government cover-ups, but a few stood the test of time and even took on a life of their own.

When President John F. Kennedy was assassinated Nov. 22, 1963, a wormhole of conspiracies opened up. Although struck by two bullets in two locations from seemingly different locations, Lee Harvey Oswald, alone, was charged with the assassination of JFK. The assassination was shocking and incredibly upsetting to the nation and, it seems, not many people buy the idea it was a lone shooter or even Lee Harvey Oswald at all. The conspiracies theories of who really killed JFK, why and how seem just as prevalent now, if not more so, then they were back in the 1960s.

ABC News took a poll in 2003, discovering nearly 70 percent of Americans believed Kennedy’s assassination was not as it seemed. Only 32 percent of Americans believed Oswald acted alone in assassinating the President of the United States — and this was 40 years later.

Some conspiracy theorists and skeptical citizens believe the trajectory of the bullets never matched with the sixth floor of the Texas School Book Depository ledge, from where Oswald was believed to have shot. Other ideas include a second gunman, KGB spies, CIA agents working for Vice President Lyndon Johnson and even the mafia. There have been countless films, documentaries and books dedicated to the JFK assassination and all the theories behind it, furthering the lore and mystery of what might have actually happened.

Another horrific event in our nation’s history, Sept. 11, 2001, has also been considered a government cover-up. Conspiracy theorists believe the United States government failed to investigate aspects of the attack that would uncover the reason behind it; therefore, they have something to hide. The theory 9/11 was an inside job has little to stand on and almost no evidence to support it, but the theories keep flowing nonetheless.

Current Beatle fans and any living person with a record player in the 1960s may have heard the Paul-is-Dead theory. According to this albeit outlandish theory, the real Paul McCartney died in 1966 and the man going by that name today is an imposter — known to Paul-is-Dead believers as Billy Shears. This theory comes from fans having possibly too much spare time, as most of the “clues” are hidden messages in Beatles album covers, lyrics and messages in songs you can only hear when played backwards.

Released in 1967, the “Sgt. Pepper’s Lonely Hearts Club Band” album is supposedly littered with Paul-is-Dead clues. The song “A Day in the Life” was written by John Lennon, featuring lyrics “he blew his mind out in a car” believed to allude to McCartney’s demise.

For those who believe this conspiracy, the words “Paul is dead, miss him, miss him” can apparently be heard when the same song is played backward. Lennon denied there were any backward messages in an interview later, but that doesn’t stop the theorists from believing a man named Billy Shears replaced Paul McCartney. Other visual theories supporting the idea Paul is dead includes symbols of the accident killing Paul featured on the original “Yesterday and Today” album artwork.

Supposedly if you put a mirror in front of the album “Sgt. Pepper.” the words “Lonely Hearts” on the drum logo reveal a secret message, as well as the “Abbey Road” cover symbolizing a funeral procession with Paul out of step and without shoes. There is also a chance the Beatles had a sense of humor about the theories and leaned into them, but who is to say — well, Lennon did, but even that didn’t kill the theory.

A surefire way to spread an outlandish theory? Scare people and take advantage of a vulnerable political climate —exactly what Rush Limbaugh did on the Rush Limbaugh Show. The conservative radio-show host believed Hurricane Irma to be a liberal hoax and, not in fact, a devastating hurricane.

The death and destruction caused by Hurricane Irma was clearly not a hoax, but Limbaugh’s theory was the attention put on the hurricane was purely for liberal gain. Limbaugh believed the concern regarding the hurricane coverage was to bolster the liberal climate change agenda through fear and panic — which Limbaugh presented to his audience using fear and panic. Although a more recent theory, I think it is safe to say this one won’t stick and stand the test of time.