Madge The Manicuristâ„¢

About Me

The Colgate-Palmolive Company used me, Madge the Manicurist as their spokesperson in a series of successful television spots from 1966-92. Working in the Salon East Beauty Parlor, I pre-soaked all my hapless customer's fingernails in Palmolive's green dish washing detergent and advised them "Palmolive softens hands while you do the dishes." My catchphrase was "You're soaking in it." My character was popular around the world. The French called me Francoise; the Germans called me Tilly; and the Finnish called me Marissa.

My Interests

I also made for excellent and lasting camp: Gay men of three decades have especially enjoyed telling one another, Madgelike, just how much "you're soaking in it," whether "it" was a metaphor for something emotional, political, fashionable or simply circumstantial. It's a gentle reminder that things aren't quite what they seem, Miss Thing. It's comeuppance. It's surprise. You think you're above all that, but you're soaking in it. Madge knows.

I'd like to meet:

Josephine The Plumber, Mr. Whipple, Pillsbury Doughboy, Morris The Cat.

Television:

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