The photo looks like John Travolta or Divine playing Edna Turnblad in Hairspray.
Under the bangs of a Dynel doll wig a "floozy" with nasolabial folds, male facial features and leathery skin mugs for the camera--coquettish hair bow, mod sunglasses and gaudy plastic jewelry adorning her "look." The only thing missing is a Miami Beach style cigarette holder.
"Lady, Your Anxiety Is Showing," is pasted across her nose to leave no doubt we are laughing at her. "Over a co-existing depression" is added in parentheses.
But it's not an ad for Hairspray, Tootsie or Charley's Aunt. It's not an ad for a camp new boutique, salon or restaurant.
The full page color ad is the Journal of the American Medical Association in 1970 and it's selling the antidepressant Triavil.
"On the visible level, this middle-aged patient dresses to look too young, exhibits a tense, continuous smile and may have bitten nails or overplucked eyebrows. Symptoms of anxiety are hard to miss. What doesn't show as clearly is the co-existing depression that often complicates treatment."
On another page in the Journal we meet "Sally Wilson," also showing leathery skin and in appropriate, gaudy jewelry.
"In the last week or so, Sally Wilson's year-old reputation as an unpredictable grouch has melted away," says the ad. "She's been coming in on time and turning out more work." You see, "Sally's menopause had triggered symptoms that hormone therapy by itself apparently hadn't helped," but now her doctor has her on Valium q.i.d.
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