# Madge the Manicurist takes the final soak

**URL:** <https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madge-the-manicurist-takes-the-final-soak/229801>\
**Category:** Cafe Society\
**Created:** [February 18, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madge-the-manicurist-takes-the-final-soak/229801 "2004-02-18T16:14:10Z")\
**Posts on this page:** 5\
**Page:** 1

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**Author:** ![Otto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/o/bbe5ce/32.png) [@Otto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Otto)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 4:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madge-the-manicurist-takes-the-final-soak/229801/1 "2004-02-18T16:14:10Z")

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> [@](#):
>
> BETHEL, Connecticut (AP) – Jan Miner, a New York stage actress who gained fame as Madge, the manicurist in Palmolive television ads, died Sunday. She was 86.
> 
> Miner had been in failing health and died at the Bethel Health Care Facility, her agent, Michael Thomas, told The New York Times.

Well, that’s too bad. Another cultural icon (albeit a minor one, no pun intended) goes the way of all flesh.

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**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madge-the-manicurist-takes-the-final-soak/229801/2 "2004-02-18T17:48:35Z")

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I really enjoyed her performance as Sally Marr (sans escorts) in [Lenny](http://imdb.com/title/tt0071746/) as well.

So who else wonders if they embalmed her in Palmolive?

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**Author:** ![Sampiro](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/2acd7d/32.png) [@Sampiro](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Sampiro)\
**Post date:** [February 18, 2004, 5:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madge-the-manicurist-takes-the-final-soak/229801/3 "2004-02-18T17:54:32Z")

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Incidentally, I read this, then thought of Lenny, then it occurred that Joan Rivers played Sally Marr on Broadway, then it occurred that Jan and Joan were both in [The Swimmer](http://imdb.com/title/tt0063663/) together in which a middle aged Burt Lancaster had a rear nude scene, so “Madge the Manicurist is dead” led me in half a second to an image of Burt Lancaster’s sagging middle aged bum. Odd the connections your neurons will make.

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**Author:** ![Mr.Roboto](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/76d3ee/32.png) [@Mr.Roboto](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mr.Roboto)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 3:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madge-the-manicurist-takes-the-final-soak/229801/4 "2004-02-21T03:03:40Z")

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Can’t say enough about Madge…  
But I can Say…

WATCH OUT! Thats Dishwashing Liquid your soaking in!  
(Jerking my Crusty Hands out) “Oh No, really Madge?”

“That’s OK Bubba, I’ve been Soaking these Pinchers in Palmolive for Years”

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**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\
**Post date:** [February 21, 2004, 4:03am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/madge-the-manicurist-takes-the-final-soak/229801/5 "2004-02-21T04:03:31Z")

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> [@Sampiro](#):
>
> so “Madge the Manicurist is dead” led me in half a second to an image of Burt Lancaster’s sagging middle aged bum.

Gotta disagree with ya, Burt was not sagging in that nude scene. He was in top shape even in his 50s.