Dear Abby
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
 |
This article or section is incomplete and may require expansion and/or cleanup. Please improve the article, or discuss the issue on the talk page. |
 |
It has been suggested that this article or section be merged with Pauline Esther Friedman Phillips. (Discuss) |
Dear Abby is the name of the notable advice column founded in 1956 by Pauline Phillips (born July 4, 1918) under the pen name, Abigail Van Buren, and carried on today by her daughter, Jeanne Phillips, who now owns the legal rights to the pen name.
According to Pauline Phillips, she had come up with the pen name, Abigail Van Buren, by combining the name of the biblical character, Abigail, in the Book of Samuel with the last name of former U.S. President Martin Van Buren.
Dear Abby's syndication company, Universal Press Syndicate, the column is known for its "uncommon common sense and youthful perspective", and is read by more people than any other newspaper column worldwide.[1]
Contents |
[edit] The column's popularity
Every Web site mentioned in Dear Abby receives an immediate onslaught of viewers, and organizations mentioned are routinely encouraged to gear up to accept millions of hits. After a recent mention in Dear Abby almost 2 million publications were shipped from the Federal Citizen Information Center (FCIC) at the request of her readers—an unprecedented response for the FCIC. (http://www.amuniversal.com/ups/features/dearabby/bio.htm)
The U.S. General Services Administration has recognized Abby twice in ceremonies in both Los Angeles and Washington, D.C., and both times memorialized her achievements in the Congressional Record. (http://www.amuniversal.com/ups/features/dearabby/bio.htm)
[edit] Mentions in popular culture
- The day after Lyndon Johnson's landslide victory in the 1964 U.S. Presidential election, nationally syndicated editorial cartoonist Bill Mauldin drew a cartoon captioned "Dear Abby..." in which he showed Johnson's defeated opponent Barry Goldwater writing a letter. This incident is illustrative of the column's popularity.
- In 2002, Nick Portokalos in "My Big Fat Greek Wedding, " noted "Yeah that dear Abby really knows what she's talking about. ..." http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0259446/quotes
- In 1964, "Dear Abby" was also the subject of a pop song with the same title, sung by The Hearts.
- In 1974, John Prine recorded a song called "Dear Abby" on his Sweet Revenge album.
- In 1986, the Californian punk group Dead Kennedys recorded "Dear Abby" for their album Bedtime For Democracy.
[edit] References
 |
This article does not cite any references or sources. (December 2006) Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources. Unverifiable material may be challenged and removed. |
[edit] External links
|
|||||
