Comments on: In the Archives: 10 Least Persuasive Ads

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:50:44 +0000

Murph: I am not someone to listen to for book recommendations as I recently cheerfully polished off 500 pages’ worth of “History of Protestantism in Michigan, Being a Special History of the Methodist Episcopal Church and Incidentally of Other Denominations” for an Ann Arbor Observer story. I also love poring through old Michigan Board of Health reports and industrial inspection reports, &c. I did start reading the baking powder war magnum opus before deadlines forced me to snap out of it. Yet I hear its siren call….rising….

By: Murph

Murph — Mon, 14 Jun 2010 01:34:54 +0000

Laura – would you recommend Morrison’s book to your readers, or should we wait for the film adaptation?

Is your artifact a bracket for hanging & adjusting pocket doors?

By: Al Feldt

Al Feldt — Sun, 13 Jun 2010 18:04:03 +0000

Members of the University of Michigan Sailing Club were singing the praises of Lydia Pinkham, (for its a boon to the human race) in 1951-53. We found other things to drink but never any real Lydia Pinkham. I recall a few of the mildly scandalous verses but cannot divulge them here.

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:39:27 +0000

From one Amazon review of the 16 oz. size of the compound: “It tastes like compost tea mixed with alcohol, in a fruity kind of way…but if you down it in a shot glass and drink water for a chaser, it’s not that horrible.” Sounds delightful.

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:36:03 +0000

cmadler: Hmm, could be. :)

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:34:26 +0000

Tom Brandt: That is fascinating. I had had no idea that that song was still remembered. And voila, here is a performance of "Lily the Pink," which Wikipedia says is a modification of "The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham," by the Irish Rovers on Youtube: [link] "The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham" lyrics: [link] "Lily the Pink" lyrics: [link]

By: Laura Bien

Laura Bien — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 12:22:44 +0000

Pete: Amazingly, Lydia Pinkham's Herbal Compound is still for sale today: [link] I am tempted to cynically interpret the two five-star reviews as evidence of the placebo effect.

By: cmadler

cmadler — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 09:58:52 +0000

“there are no silly guesses” – that sounds like a challenge! :-)

By: Tom Brandt

Tom Brandt — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 03:27:54 +0000

Anyone who remembers the Irish Rovers remembers their version of The Ballad of Lydia Pinkham.

By: Pete Richards

Pete Richards — Fri, 11 Jun 2010 02:19:16 +0000

That pinkum nostrum’s a bummer man, anything that helps has gotta make for a good advert.