Finding The One is hard, but it used to be even harder. Nowadays there are dozens and dozens of apps and websites that cater to increasingly specific subcultures. Like this dating website for clowns:

Photo Credit: Clown
Dating

But not too long ago, if you wanted to find love, there was one game in town: the personals section of your local newspaper. And if your romantic tastes weren’t exactly “mainstream,” tough luck. You had to put your personal preferences in a public newspaper for everyone to see. If you were a single clown looking for another clown, all you could do was put that in your ad and brace yourself for the prank calls.

Today we’re looking at the most unusual classified ads from yesteryear, all written by people who overcame shyness and put themselves out there. And that’s pretty badass. Here’s hoping they found someone!

1. Let’s Date Lance

Photo Credit: Oddee

This one originates back in 2005, when a group of friends thought it would be funny to set up a billboard on behalf of their bachelor friend Lance. It was funny, and it did net Lance some media interviews and some dates, but alas, I couldn’t find out if he ever found someone.

2. The Optimist

Photo Credit: Smosh

“You miss 100% of the shots you don’t take.” –Wayne Gretzky

3. Muppet Love

Photo Credit: Smosh

I’m not sure, but this one miiiiiight be a prank.

4. The Contradiction

Photo Credit: Smosh

Maybe he hoped women would be so puzzled by his ad that he could sneak up and marry them by surprise.

5. A boyfriend and a roommate?

Photo Credit: Smosh

I live in Los Angeles, like this man does, and this singles’ ad could have been written by about 90% of the people here. Also I love how he won’t chip in rent, yet he still refuses to live south of Wilshire.

6. Not Quite Ready To Date

Photo Credit: Smosh

Dude’s still working some stuff out.

7. Love Is In Our DNA

Photo Credit: Smosh

The key to a successful relationship is doing stuff together, like building an army of clones.

8. Must Love Farmers

Photo Credit: Oddee

Apparently there are a lot of eligible female pilots in his area.

9. Going For Broke

Photo Credit: Smosh

For their first date, he took her to his favorite restaurant, i.e. a dumpster behind a Chili’s.

10. The Philosopher’s Stone

Photo Credit: Smosh

This one just screams “I’ve started four PhD’s without finishing one.”

11. The Charmer

Photo Credit: Smosh

See, this is why we all need friends: to talk us out of doing stuff like this.

12. Anime Lover

Photo Credit: Smosh

This one’s just sweet 🙂

13. Duck Calls

Photo Credit: Smosh

You gotta know when it’s time to call in a professional.

14. Before there was Craigslist Missed Connections

Photo Credit: Smosh

After some investigating, I am positive this is not Rick Fox’s brother. I am shocked someone would lie in a personal ad!

15. The Revenge

Photo Credit: Smosh

Let’s hope she found what she was looking for.

 

h/t: Smosh