If you google the name Dr. John Brinkley you'll find no shortage of articles on this character. The words "charlatan," "quack" and "ripoff" are all adjectives that appear with his name. What I find interesting is that he realized early on the power of radio and started up with one of the first radio stations in Kansas advertising his quack medicine. He had to be delicate because his specialty was E.D., which is a topic one really couldn't bring up in the 1920s.

I ran across one of his catalogs at a local auction last month. It dates from 1939. The one-time millionaire died broke and bankrupt less than three years after this catalog was issued.

If you believe truth is stranger than fiction, do a little reading up on Dr. John Brinkley.

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    Dr. Brinkley Catalog 1939

    After being run out of Kansas, the doctor relocated to
    Texas and later opened this hospital in Arkansas. Notice the little yellow tab on the right. It asks you not to break the seal until you're ready to answer the questionnaire inside. Adding a little intrigue, he didn't miss a trick, did he?

    Tamara Townsquaremedia
    Tamara Townsquaremedia
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  • 2

    Questionnaire

    I won't go into details, but if you want to know how the doctor treated Erectile Dysfunction in the '20s, just google his name. I wonder what these questions had to do with his treatment.

    Tamara Townsquaremedia
    Tamara Townsquaremedia
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  • 3

    Warranty

    Ever heard of a doctor that offered a warranty on his work? One kind of wonders what he charged for room and board at his hospital. See bottom of warranty.

    Tamara Gruhot Townsquaremedia
    Tamara Gruhot Townsquaremedia
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  • 4

    XERA Radio

    Here's the story on the Dr. Brinkley's radio station in Mexico.

    Tamara Gruhot Townsquaremedia
    Tamara Gruhot Townsquaremedia
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  • 5

    XERA Radio

    For a brief period, XERA radio blasted out 1 million watts, reaching listeners in Philadelphia and New York. There are even reports of the station being received in Russia. For comparison, WCCO in Minneapolis is broadcasting at 50,000 watts. Programming consisted of music by someday household names Gene Autry and June Carter Cash. Interspersed between the music were sermons, Nazi propaganda and, of course, ads for his medical services.

    Tamara Gruhot townsquaremedia
    Tamara Gruhot townsquaremedia
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