Wow, the electronic tweezers! I started my electrology practice in 1975, the year the first ET exploded on the scene. What a nightmare; what a battle. I was involved in the State’s investigation posing as a purchaser. Depilatron’s main office was in, of course, Beverly Hills. Two cops hid in the building’s bathroom (with recording devices), and I recorded all the insanity with a hidden microphone.
Then, all of a sudden, somebody came in and said: “Hey, there are two guys in the same bathroom stall.” The cops took off — they heard it through the recording device — and I made my uncomfortable exit. Later, when it became known that I was involved, I got a couple telephone death threats. Yeah, I sure do remember Depilatron — that morphed into Removatron — that morphed into Depillex and a hundred other nonsense items.
BTW, the thing was “invented” by an electrologist (I think her name was Marion Fouzzard). She brought her first machine to Hinkel (a primitive wood cabinet). He still had it when I attended his school. He used to show it in his “fraud lecture” — and then the thing went “big time!”)
Everybody was involved in the fight, but the FDA, in actuality, let us all down. I suppose if the thing doesn’t kill someone they’re not interested.
I suppose in some way “we” did win. Back in 1975 Depilatron sold for $12,000 (what would that be in today’s dollars?) Now, finally, the ET is relegated to sleazy ads and slick websites. The fancy salons are GONE! Sadly, people continue to be scammed — this thing will never die.
I have a funny story about Judith Steven. She actually visited me in Santa Barbara. She was, in Texas terms, a “hoot!” I took her to a semi-fancy restaurant in Montecito and she ordered a stuffed pork chop. She picked the “dang” thing up and waved it around like a pointer. She called the waiter over waiving the pork chop high in the air and a few onions went flying. Funniest thing I’d ever seen. She used to call electrologists: “Needle Nazis!” Sort of a catchy name?