Ask Ann Landers

Ann Landers was a pen name created by Chicago Sun-Times advice columnist Ruth Crowley in 1943 and taken over by Eppie Friedman in 1955.^[1] For 56 years, the Ask Ann Landers syndicated advice column was a regular feature in many newspapers across North America. Due to this popularity, 'Ann Landers', though fictional, became something of a national institution and cultural icon.

Ruth Crowley: the original 'Ann Landers' (1943-1955)

The creator of the 'Ann Landers' pseudonym was Ruth Crowley, a Chicago nurse who had been writing a child-care column for the Sun since 1941. She chose the pseudonym at random — borrowing the surname 'Landers' from a family friend — in order to prevent confusion between her two columns. Unlike Lederer, Rowley kept her identity as Landers secret, even enjoining her children to help her keep it quiet.^[2] Crowley took a three-year break from writing the column from 1948 until 1951. After 1951 she continued the column for the Chicago Sun-Times and in syndication (since 1951^[2]) to 26 other newspapers until her death, aged 48, on July 20, 1955. Crowley spent a total of nine years writing advice as 'Ann Landers'.

Interim writers (July - October 1955)

In the period after Crowley’s death, various writers, including Connie Chancellor, took over the column. ^[2]

The Esther Lederer years (1955-2002)

Esther "Eppie" Pauline Friedman Lederer, a.k.a. 'Ann Landers', 1961

Lederer won a contest to become the new writer of the column, debuting on October 16, 1955.^[3] The column opened with a letter from a "Non-Eligible Bachelor", who despaired of getting married. Her advice was "You're a big boy now... don't let spite ruin your life".^[4] Lederer went on to advise thousands of other readers over the next several decades. Eventually, she became owner of the copyright. She chose not to have a different writer continue the column after her death, so the "Ann Landers" column ceased after publication of the few weeks' worth of material which she had written before her death.^[5]

Lederer, as Landers, used a writing style that was direct, and often critical. She would often upbraid a letter-writer with the quip, "Watch it, bub!"^{[citation needed]} Sometimes she expressed unpopular opinions. She repeatedly favored legalization of prostitution and was pro-choice, yet denounced atheist Madalyn O'Hair.^[6] In 1973, she wrote in support of the legalization of homosexual acts, saying that she had been "pleading for compassion and understanding and equal rights for homosexuals" for 18 years. Nevertheless, she described homosexuality as "unnatural", a "sickness", and a "dysfunction".^[7][8][9] At one point, however, she wrote "Those people are born that way."

Controversies

Pope John Paul II insult

In 1995, Eppie commented thus in The New Yorker about Pope John Paul II: "He has a sweet sense of humor. Of course, he's a Polack. They're very anti-women." Polish-Americans responded with outrage. She issued a formal apology, but refused to comment further. The Milwaukee Journal Sentinel canceled her column after that incident. In that same article, she had noted that President John F. Kennedy's father, Joseph P. Kennedy, Sr., was anti-Semitic (among other undesirable traits).^[10]

Halloween candy panic

A 1995 "Ann Landers" column said, "In recent years, there have been reports of people with twisted minds putting razor blades and poison in taffy apples and Halloween candy. It is no longer safe to let your child eat treats that come from strangers." The vague warning was criticized for causing needless fear, as there have been no documented cases of children receiving poisoned candy during door-to-door Halloween trick-or-treating.^[11]

Mistaken legal advice

In her March 28, 1965, column, regarding ownership of wedding gifts, Lederer wrote that "the wedding gifts belong to the bride". She went on to state that the bride should "consult a lawyer about the checks. In some states this could be considered community property". The advice was mistaken because only gifts given after the marriage would be considered community property in some states (or else because wedding gifts -- if so designated -- can be considered back-dated gifts to the bride). The column has provided teaching material for law professors and law students.^[12]

Further reading

• Aronson, Virginia. Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren. Women of achievement. Philadelphia: Chelsea House Publishers, 2000. ISBN 0791052974. (children's book).
• Howard, Margo. Eppie: The Story of Ann Landers. New York: Putnam, 1982. ISBN 0399126880.
• Landers, Ann, and Margo Howard. A Life in Letters: Ann Landers' Letters to Her Only Child. New York, NY: Warner Books, 2003. ISBN 0446532711.
• Pottker, Janice, and Bob Speziale. Dear Ann, Dear Abby: The Unauthorized Biography of Ann Landers and Abigail Van Buren. New York: Dodd, Mead, 1987. ISBN 0396089062.
• Gudelunas, David. Confidential to America: Newspaper Advice Columns and Sexual Education. Edison, NJ: Transaction, 2007. ISBN 1412806887.^[2]

References

1. ^ "Ann Landers: Biography from Answers.com". Answers Corporation. (c) 2009. http://www.answers.com/topic/ann-landers. Retrieved 2009-06-06. 
2. ^ ^{a b c d} Gudelunas, David (2007). Confidential to America: Newspaper Advice Columns and Sexual Education. Edison, NJ: Transaction. pp. 234. ISBN 978-1412806886. http://books.google.com.au/books?id=3T04lJRxDeQC&pg=PA87&lpg=PA87&dq=ruth+crowley+journalist&source=bl&ots=7VhHO3e8sN&sig=0sptrAVfY1tfkiY6SXv3jvUhFC4&hl=en&ei=WTcqStLjDpeIkQW8yqjoCg&sa=X&oi=book_result&ct=result&resnum=1#PPA88,M1. 
3. ^ Jack Shafer (February 5, 2009). "What Would Ann Landers Advise? Ann's daughter, advice columnist Margo Howard, gets ugly with advice columnist Amy Dickinson". Slate Magazine. http://www.slate.com/id/2210627/. 
4. ^ "Ann Landers," The Post-Register (Idaho Falls), October 16, 1955, pB-2
5. ^ Advice for the Lonely Hearts Time, January 19, 1981. Accessed online May 24, 2007.
6. ^ Ann Landers in favor of legalizing Prostitution Sex Worker Support Cyber Center. Accessed online January 10, 2008
7. ^ The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973). Washington, D.C.: Jan 9, 1973. p. B11. Available on ProQuest.
8. ^ The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973). Washington, D.C.: Mar 2, 1973. p. B8. "I am with the psychiatrists who believe homosexuals are sick and that sex between two men or two women is unnatural."
9. ^ The Washington Post, Times Herald (1959-1973). Washington, D.C.: Apr 24, 1973. p. B6. "I have rethought my position and I believe my original conclusion is correct. Homosexuality is unnatural. Individuals who prefers members of their own gender as sex partners are sick."
10. ^ http://www.nytimes.com/1996/01/17/books/book-notes-074594.html
11. ^ Halloween Poisonings Snopes.com, October 27, 2005. Accessed online January 10, 2008.
12. ^ Reppy & DeFuniak, Community Property in the United States, pages 137-138 (Bobbs-Merrill 1975).