3rd Avenue elevated train, 6th Avenue elevated train, Ads, West Village

Tutt’s Liver Pills

Here are two ghost signs for Tutt’s Liver Pills. The featured one is uptown at 2026 Third Ave. between 111th and 112th Sts. The other shown below is downtown in the West Village at 12 Cornelia St. between 6th Ave. and Bleecker St. Both would have been placed to take advantage of the passing elevated trains that ran up and down 6th Ave. and 3rd Ave.

I must have walked past this ghost sign a thousand times before noticing it one cloudy afternoon. I wonder how much longer it will be before it fades completely.

Tutt’s Liver Pills were manufactured by Dr. William H. Tutt. He was born in Augusta, GA in 1823 and was a wealthy druggist and prominent physician in the south becoming a manufacturer of patent medicines in both Augusta and New York City. His concoctions included not only his liver pills but also Dr. Tutt’s Expectorant, Dr. Tutt’s Sarsaparilla and Queens Delight, Dr. Tutt’s Improved Hair Dye, and Dr. Tutt’s Golden Eagle Bitters.

Dr. Titt’s Liver Pills-1907
THE METROPOLIS OF TODAY – 1888
A curious publication by the Dr. Tutt Mfg. Co. from the early 1900’s.

Dr. Tutt was a fraud, of course! Although he wasn’t alone in this respect during this time period. See below for the result published in the Notices of Judgment Under the Food and Drugs Act from a 1915 lawsuit against the Dr. Tutt’s Mfg. Co. alleging them of misbranding their products. You can see the actual ingredients of the pills—basically nothing of medicinal value. They did plead guilty. I’m not sure when they went out of business but I’m sure it wasn’t this suit that did them in with the total fine being only $30! 

Below are a couple photos of the Cornelia St. from around 1900. You can clearly see the Tutt’s ad in the first photo.