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PHOTO PROMPT © Trish Nankivell
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ONE FURTHER WORD! PLEASE!!!
We’ll never forget 2020, the Pandammit and the hoarding of such items as cleaning supplies and toilet paper. Many are the stories written on the subject. So…I DARE YOU! I DOUBLE-DOG DARE YOU TO NOT write a story that has to do with lockdown, quarantine or the big C-19. You won’t be chastised or kicked to the kerb if you do, but…
Without further adieu, here’s my story.
Genre: Historical Fiction
Word Count: 100
TYPECAST
Riccardo DiGuglielmo couldn’t see himself frittering away his life as a clerk. He decided to follow in his parents’ footsteps in show business.
Studying the fifteen-year-old, the Hamilton, Ontario radio director smiled. “You have a good voice for radio, son. Your name?”
“Um…” Riccardo hesitated. He didn’t want to be typecast as an Italian. “Dick Wilson.”
Years later, his character, Mr. Whipple, a store clerk who chastised anyone who dared to squeeze the Charmin, became an American household name.
The actor laughed, “I’ve done thirty-eight pictures and nobody remembers any of them, but they all remember me selling toilet paper.”
For those who never saw one of these 500 adverts, here’s one of the early ones that catapulted Dick Wilson to commercial success.
Rochelle Wisoff-Fields-Addicted to Purple 
This is so perfect and interesting history as well.
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Thank you, Sadje. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome Rochelle.
Salam
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As usual- well written and informative. Thanks!
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תודה רבה, מיכל
שלום
רחל
😀
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‘Then she squeezes the melons’ 😂😂 Love those old adverts from a more innocent time! Not a character I remember, not sure he ever made it over to the UK, but 500 adverts is some going!
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Dear Iain,
These ads were so much fun. Sometimes the commercials are more entertaining and memorable than the actual program, aren’t they? 😉 From the comments, it doesn’t look like Mr. Whipple jumped the pond, but he certainly was well known here in the States.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hi Rochelle,
I enjoyed how you managed to illustrate how a lifetime’s achievement can be second place to a simple image. A friend is better known for his moustache than his scientific break through on laser – perhaps because most people find his work a little too mundane and boring.
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Dear James,
One of my favorite lines from MASH was Hawkeye telling an investigator, “If Hot Lips Houlihan dated Joe Stalin the only thing she’d remember is that his moustache tickled.” 😉
We do remember certain traits, don’t we? Mr. Whipple is well remembered here for. alas, squeezing the Charmin. We saw him at a dinner theater in the 70’s in a play. He was charming, witty and capitalized on his fame. My dad got called to the stage that night during intermission to interact with the actor because of his resemblance. Ah…there I go babbling. At any rate, I’m glad you enjoyed and took the time to say so. Thank you very much.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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What a terrible thing to be remembered for!
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Terrible? Perhaps. However, as I’ve mentioned in other replies, Mr. Whipple was a beloved character in the US. Not terrible in my eyes. Nor do I think it was in his.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Like Iain, I am unacquainted with the gentleman in your charming and oh-so-true story, m’lady.
And thank you for your ‘ban’ on the obvious, we are, after all, supposed to be creative thinkers here on FF.
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Dear CE,
I’m not surprised you never heard of our beloved Mr. Whipple. I did meet him in person in the 70’s while he was on the dinner theatre circuit. Charming gentleman.
As for my ban…fingers crossed. I took a chance with this prompt. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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The more eccentric the better 🙂
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I agree, Reena. We loved our Mr. Whipple back in the day. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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38 pictures and countless bit characters in TV shows and, yep, I he will be remembered as the odd toilet paper guy 😉
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Dear Trent,
But remembered with affection. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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True. And he is remembered. How many small character actors can say that, no matter how many films they were in?
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That’s an essential daily product & thus people remember the seller 🙂
Interesting story, Rochelle.
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Dear Anita,
Mostly people remember him because he was charming and the ads were silly. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I shall accept your dare with joy – it’s been 11 months and I have yet to so, no way I’m breaking the chain!
That said, Mr. Whipple and his Charmin will forever be a part of my own memories. I love how you brought his story to us. He sure didn’t mind being remembered for that!
Shalom and lotsa squeezable love,
Dale
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Dear Dale,
When you’re on a roll, why mess with it? Many of us of a certain age who grew up on this continent have fond memories of him. The bears are cute but they don’t have the same charm IMHO.
Thank you for you kind words re my story.
Shalom and lotsa squeezy hugs,
Rochelle
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Nah… the bears are rather cute but they ain’t no Mister Whipple! 😀
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Nope. He was like a member of the family. My dad actually looked like him…a little. Dad had more shnozz.
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Love it. 🙂
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Haha. Toilet Paper seems to be a fetish for some. It comes and goes. I’d say the fetish has returned for 2020s, only no advertising is needed. Great take on the prompt R!
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Dear Tanille,
It was dangerous to advertise TP in the 2020’s. 😉 Thank you for your kind words.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I remember when it was a big thing for companies like P&G to have everyman spokes-characters. Mr. Whipple, Madge with the dish soap, the Maytag repairman. Now we’re stuck with CGI geckos with shifting accents. Well told!
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Dear Josh,
We were soaking in it. 😉 Don’t forget Mrs. Olson who carried a spare can of Folgers in her handbag. We still have the likes of Flo and family for Progressive Insurance. Thank you for jogging my memory. Hm. Fodder for more stories? We’ll see.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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That’s true! And wasn’t Margaret Hamilton in some commercials too?
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Yes. Maxwell House. Helped her shed that Wicked Witch persona.
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It’s certain quirks that set apart a person and make his memory embedded in the collective psyche. Your lovely story showed just that. I simply love it when you weave such historical fiction, Rochelle. I know i have said this umpteen times, and i know I will say it again and again: You are the very best when it comes to weaving marrying history with fiction.
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Dear Neel,
I’m glad the message came across in my very American story. Thank you for such a magnificent comment. I’ll have to shrink my head after this one. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Hey he’s now a piece of everyone’s(from that specific era) history even if it is for a weird reason
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He is indeed, Larry. And that’s why I wanted to share his story.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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A great story here but, a life lesson as well. If we put our best efforts into little things, such as Charmin ads, it can eclipse the larger, or, main things and become a lifetime achievement that pays the bills and puts you in the books of well remembered people. Good job M’Luv.
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Dear Jan,
That’s certainly a true story. 😀 Mr. Whipple became an American icon and that’s not a bad thing, is it? Thank you, M’luv.
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I hadn’t heard that you had the Toilet Paper Rush in US too!
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Dear Liz,
Oh boy, did we ever? Toilet paper, paper towels, cleaning supplies and prefab dinners. I guess the TP glut was to take care of the after effects of the less than standard “food.” 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Who could forget “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin!” There were some great ads made around that sentence. What a character 🙂
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Dear Linda,
He was just part of the fabric of life back then, wasn’t he? Although I can’t say I’ve ever been tempted to squeeze the Charmin. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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No, neither have I. I suspect there were plenty who did squeeze it, though 🙂
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Adverts are a lost art; I miss the good ones (and the chance to run and get a drink / etc with that threat of someone shouting “It’s back on”). I think many actors probably feel the way he did, but getting people to understand and love a character in a few seconds is a skill. … a bit like writing a story in 100 words, I guess!
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Dear Jen,
I doubt that Mr. Wilson regretted his fame as a beloved toilet paper salesman. 😉 It certainly put him on the map. I remember seeing him in a few sitcoms or movies and saying, “Hey! That’s Mr. Whipple.” Some ads were better than the programs, weren’t they?
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Like others from this side of the pond, I’d not heard of him – I now wish I had! As for your challenge … no I won’t! I made up my mind early on that my blog would make no reference to the C-word or its knock-on effects. If I still had my pub, and I was allowed to be open, anyone that mentioned it inside my doors would have to pay a fine just like they used to if they used a certain swear word!
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Dear Keith,
Thank you for avoiding all references to you-know-what. You’re a man after my own heart. Mr. Whipple was an American icon. 😀 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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But who can forget Mr. Whipple look of guilty pleasure?! Even now after all these years. 😉
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Dear Dora,
He was such a sweetie. I didn’t realize he’d done over 500 of those commercials. No wonder he became a household name. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Isn’t that something though. He made 38 movies but that’s the only thing people remember him for! Interesting story, Rochelle.
Shalom,
Lisa
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Dear Lisa,
And Mr. Whipple was a household name. Guess you take success where you can. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Rochelle, you are very welcome.
Shalom,
Lisa
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That might be the most bizarre commercial I have ever seen.
It’s a shame that no one remembers his classic characters like Man in multiple series or Drunk in multiple others or Bartender another character he brought to multiple series or the ever-popular drunk in bar or the composite character man in bar. I was thinking, “I wouldn’t want to be remembered for selling toilet tissue.” Then, I read, “He made 504 commercials as Mr. Whipple, earning U.S. $300,000 annually and working only 12–16 days a year.” Sign me up. At least he had a name selling toilet tissue, and he wasn’t in a bar.
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Dear Nobbin,
Let’s not forget that Mr. Whipple was a household name and an American icon. Not a bad thing. I do remember seeing him as the drunk in a few bar scenes. 😉
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’d never heard of this but now my knowledge of a small part of toilet roll history is cemented! Great stuff Rochelle!
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Glad to expand your grasp on history…or useless trivia. 😉 Thank you, Shrawley.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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most definitely, he’s an unforgettable icon like lily of at&t and flo of progressive
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True story, Plaridel. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Adorable, hilarious story!
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Thank you, Anne. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Well, all I can say is that I’m happy to use THAT stuff and not, say, leaves. Or something. 😉
So, yay to the TP!
Only got to this FF this morning, but as soon as I saw the prompt photo I knew it’d be essential fun … 😉
Left mine with the precious … 😉
Na’ama
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Na’ama Y’karah,
I’m told people used to use the Sears and Roebuck catalogue or pages for the phone book. I say yahoo for tp and indoor plumbing. 😀 Thank you
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Yeah, well, some of us in other corners of the … um … modern’ish world, didn’t HAVE the luxury of Sears catalogues or Farmer’s almanacs or such stuff. So … Yeah, TP is FAR superior to anything else that might’ve been ‘available’ before that … 😉
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Dear Fyllis Dilla W(T)Ph,
Poor Mr. Whipple would be at wit’s end with this toilet paper hoarding. My mother used to watch a lot of soaps. The commercials were as phollows, Diarrhea, Constipation, Hemorrhoids, and Toilet Paper. As they say, no job’s ever phinnished until the paperwork is done.
Punxsutawney Phlush
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Dear Punxatawney Phlush,
Can you imagine what Mr. Whipple’s commercials might be like today? Yep the ads back in the day were all about butt and gut. Phine state of aphairs. Phang says hi. Thanks for rolling by.
Shalom,
Fyllis Dilla W(T)Ph
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Querida Rochelle,
This is the perfect example of type-casting. He was stuck as that character despite whatever talents he may have had. I remember him well. I always thought they were silly commercials. Now-a-days, there’s nothing silly about toilet paper. They’re still hoarding them here in Florida. LOLOL I’m sure Mr. Whipple aka Ricardo DiGuglielmo didn’t mind that type-casting everytime he cashed a check. LOLOL Fun facts, mi amiga ….
Abrazos y Carino,
Be Safe 😷 … Isadora 😎
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Querida Isadora,
No doubt Mr. Wilson lamented all the way to the bank. 😉 Things seemed to have eased up with the hoarding here in Missouri. Although I think some in the Midwest are also too complacent. Gracias para sus palabras amables mi amiga..
Shalom y abrazos,
Rochelle
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Loved your Golum and Edna! It’s true, I don’t remember the actor but I remember his line, “Please don’t squeeze the Charmin.” I always enjoy walking down memory lane with you.
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Dear Brenda,
Mr. Whipple always gave me a chuckle. Never could understand why it was such a temptation to squeeze a roll of toilet paper. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I’ve not heard of him, though we do have Charmin. It’s always going to be a popular ad people are remembered for rather than any other accomplishments!
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Dear Ali,
Not sure why Mr. Whipple never made it across the pond. Tanks for rolling by.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I admit to not having heard of Riccardo DiGuglielmo at all, or watched any of his 38 pictures, or his sketch selling loo paper. He looks and sounds as if he was a delightful man. Thank you for introducing him to me. I very much enjoyed your story and the video about the toilet rolls!
Thanks for making me smile
Looking forward to our chat on Sunday :-).
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
if you’d heard of the actor at all it would have been Dick Wilson. 😉 It doesn’t look like Mr. Whipple commercials made it to your neck of the woods. I did get to meet him in person when he was doing the dinner circuit.
Looking forward to our chat, too.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
It might be that they did make it to my neck of the woods, but my father hated commercials, so we rarely got to see them! He used to get really cranky if any of us in the family turned on a commercial channel on tv, thus I was raised on the BBC. I did get to see commercials at the cinema, though, which was rather fun, as they were a novelty. I don’t like them these days, as they’re too noisy and in-your-face, with flashing lights and garish bright colours. There’s something to be said for the Mr Whipple type of advert. Much more mellow and quietly amusing 🙂
All best wishes,
Sarah
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Dear Sarah,
Judging from the comments from across the Pond, I’d say you wouldn’t have seen Mr. Whipple if your dad hadn’t been cranky. 😉 It seems most of the ads over here are for pharmaceuticals. ugh. See you in a few.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I always learn about such interesting people via your pieces! Another great one.
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Thank you, Laurie. 😀
Shalom,
Rochelle
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I often find ads more interesting than the main show. I had never heard of him so I watched the ads instead, good fun.
And thanks for the double dare too 😉
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Dear Subroto,
I think we’ve all had enough of you know what, hence the dare. 😉 I’ve made a point of NOT writing about it for the past 11 months. While Mr. Whipple was an American staple, like toilet paper, he didn’t make it around the world. Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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Dear Rochelle,
I remember Mr. Whipple. Thanks for sharing how he got his fame with Charmin.
Shalom,
Adele
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Dear Adele,
He was memorable. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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You’re welcome, Rochelle. I really liked the way you brought his story to life 🙂
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When you gotta squeeze, you just have to. Mr Whipple didn’t reach these shores, so this is the first I’ve seen off him. Seems like a fun guy, Rochelle.
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Dear Michael,
You folks on the other side of the Pond missed out. 😉 Thank you.
Shalom,
Rochelle
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We had an old English sheep dog to do the adverts here. I wonder who got paid the most.
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I remember the commercials from when I was little. Had no idea he was in so many movies, but then, I was small and I can’t read the credits of movies.
Shalom,
Ronda
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