Drugnerd has a video about the arrest of Germs drummer Don Bolles. Police searched his van earlier this year and found a bottle of Dr. Bronner’s liquid soap, which tested positive for the drug GHB.
This is the incredible true story of the Germ and Soap Company that teamed up to fight drug charges. David Bronner President of Dr. Bronner’s Magic Soaps shows how natural soaps test positive for the date rape drug GHB using police field kits while detergent based fake soaps always test negative.
Reader comment:
Stefan says:
Saw, last Saturday, a wonderful documentary called Dr. Bronner’s Magical Soapbox.
It is about the Emil Bronner, the German emigrant behind the liquid soap that comes in bottles whose labels are packed with bizarre religious ranting. If you’ve never been in a health-food store or knew counter-culture types you may never have seen the stuff, but here’s a sample:
Quote:
“2nd, every body in God’s tremendous Universe must eat or there is no body! To shine on, eat must even the sun, consuming every second 4 million metric ton! To shine on, eat must even the sun! Exceptions eternally? Absolute none!”and
Quote:
“8th: God’s Eternal Discipline, save! 9th: Nine lives, self-reliant, brave! 10th: Dignity, beauty, relaxation, fun! 11th: Tenacity gets it done! 12th: Perfect sense of direction, ESP!”“Doctor” Bronner was nuts. In fact, he was committed to an asylum in the late 40s. (In his delusional universe, it was a communist concentration camp.) He got away (when his sister checked him out for a few hours so they could have lunch) and left his kids behind (well, they were in orphanages and foster homes anyway) to go to California and start his soap company. Apparently, his work ethic was as strong as his desire to rant, and his liquid soap became a hit with counter-culture types.
Bronner’s kids and their families eventually took over the business. They’re an interesting bunch too; hard working and off-beat.
The digitally-shot movie is low budget but well crafted. It combines old documentary and interview footage, visits to the Dr. Bronner factory, and excerpts from old documents and letters. There are also comments from Dr. Bronner fans, interviewed at a health food trade show.
The real star of the show is Ralph Bronner, who is the company’s goodwill ambassador. He’s kind of nuts too, but in a really nice way. He travels around putting on a one-man tribute show to his dad, dispenses free samples of soap, and offers hugs. He is unworldly, saintly nice. Like a Health Store guru version of Mister Rogers.