# The Straight Dope on..... Cecil Adams **URL:** \ **Category:** About This Message Board\ **Created:** [September 24, 2003, 6:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-on-cecil-adams/203597 "2003-09-24T18:07:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 3
**Author:** ![JohnBckWLD](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/d6d6ee/32.png) [@JohnBckWLD](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/JohnBckWLD)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 10:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-on-cecil-adams/203597/41 "2003-09-27T22:22:58Z")
Whether Cecil Adams is a trademarked name of a real individual (ala Tiger or Billy Joel), or a trademarked nickname (ala Mr. October or Shaq), or simply a nom de plume shared by several writers, there’s no denying the fact the writings exist. Hence the name earns its reality from the text. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 10:41pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-on-cecil-adams/203597/42 "2003-09-27T22:41:54Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Walloon \* > \*\*The late Eppie Lederer was the third and last person to write the column “Ann Landers”. \*\* As far as I know, her daughter writes it now. ---
**Author:** ![C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/b2d939/32.png) [@C\_K\_Dexter\_Haven](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/C_K_Dexter_Haven)\ **Post date:** [September 27, 2003, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-on-cecil-adams/203597/43 "2003-09-27T22:44:25Z")
Some have speculated that “Cecil Adams” is not his real name, but that his real name is kept secret for the same reason that he doesn’t want photos made availabe – fear of loss of privacy. I’ve told you that he gets a real giggle out of these threads. Consequently, I’ve not said anything that Cecil himself hasn’t revealed upon occasion. Nor will I. ---
**Author:** ![Lisa-go-Blind](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/7c8e57/32.png) [@Lisa-go-Blind](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lisa-go-Blind)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 5:49am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-on-cecil-adams/203597/44 "2003-09-28T05:49:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*As far as I know, her daughter writes it now. \*\* Actually, they are written by two of Lederer’s former editors, Kathy Mitchell and Marcy Sugar. You may be thinking of “Heloise,” a title passed on through three generations. ---
**Author:** ![Walloon](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/fbc32d/32.png) [@Walloon](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Walloon)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 6:06am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-on-cecil-adams/203597/45 "2003-09-28T06:06:49Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by dantheman \* > \*\*As far as I know, her daughter writes it now. \*\* Not under the name Ann Landers. That name was retired upon Eppie Lederer’s death. ---
**Author:** ![dantheman](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/dantheman/32/9421_2.png) [@dantheman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/dantheman)\ **Post date:** [September 28, 2003, 11:34am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-on-cecil-adams/203597/46 "2003-09-28T11:34:55Z")
[You guys are right](http://www.creators.com/Lifestyle_Shell.cfm?pg=statement.html&ColumnsName=alc), although her daughter did write a farewell column and does (or did) pen the Dear Prudence advice column. According to the link, “classic” Ann Landers columns were to be reprinted under the names of a couple of people who worked with her for a long time. Dear Abby, on the other hand, is probably what I was thinking of. That one’s currently written by Jeanne Phillips, the daughter of the original Abby, Pauline ([http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/](http://www.uexpress.com/dearabby/)). [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-straight-dope-on-cecil-adams/203597.md?page=2)