Origin of the Species

Oldest friend JW - who routinely introduces me as someone he has known "Since I was a fetus" - passed along one of the rare, but oh-so-cool Fels-Naptha Soap ads and background on the origins of "Tattletale Gray."
Thanks, Jay-Dub, for the history, kitsch and Americana!




The term “tattle tale” wasn’t exactly a very nice name to associate with people who intentionally got a friend, acquaintance, family member, and even adversary in trouble. It also wasn’t a very nice name for the laundry, either.

Husbands immediately knew their wives were washing the laundry with inferior soap. How did they know? Their (supposedly) white shirts were an awful shade of “Tattle Tale Gray.” When this happened, husbands weren’t bashful in letting their wives know about the error of their ways--- in a less than happy manner. Although Tattle Tale Gray wasn’t the major reason for divorces back then, it sure did make life miserable.

This dingy looking color was awful, but it could easily be dealt with. Actually, there were 2 possible solutions for the wife. First (and it’s an excellent thought), let hubby wash his own shirts. Guaranteed, it prevented him from complaining further on this subject, but it didn’t exactly solve the overall problem of Tattle Tale Gray. The practical solution was to wash the laundry with Fels-Naptha. It didn’t matter if it was the original Fels-Naptha Soap Bar or Fels-Naptha Soap Chips--- as long as it said Fels-Naptha on the wrapper or box. When Fels-Naptha was used, the white clothes were actually white. That meant white shirts and happy husbands. With Tattle Tale Gray an unpleasant, but distant memory, husbands and wives were getting along very well, thanks to Fels-Naptha.




(Photo above is JW, posing with his patented "People Mover" golf cart trailers. He can build you a way-cool ride for less than it takes to buy an Illinois Zoning Commissioner seat from Rod Blagojevich. Plus, you can customize the trailer with hot rod wheels, hot colors and graphics and even a stereo or cooler! Full feature to come, along with a shameless promotional link!)