Fall River Herald News Weighs in On Lizzie Borden Lawsuit

Other than the news that the Salem exhibit is changing its name to the “40 Whacks Museum,” this opinion piece by the Fall River Herald News seems a bit late in deciding that the two Lizzie Borden businesses should work together. I think the lawsuit was great publicity for all involved and probably well worth the cost of the lawyers’ fees. Just think, it went national quickly, as would any Lizzie Borden story, even after all these years.

OUR VIEW: Marketing the macabrem 10-10-08

The Herald News
Posted Oct 10, 2008 @ 12:00 AM

Now that the fight over who has rights to Lizzie Borden’s name has ended, the two museums purporting to tell “the true story” of Fall River’s most notorious resident need not battle over customers. In fact, the two venues would do well to work together, opening each to a new market of tourists seeking macabre entertainment and history.

The Lizzie Borden Bed and Breakfast, on 2nd Street, won a legal battle Tuesday with a new museum in Salem that was calling itself “The True Story of Lizzie Borden.” In the heart of the city’s downtown witch district, the museum tells the story of the brutal ax murders of Andrew and Abby Borden, for which Lizzie was tried and acquitted.

Bed and breakfast owner Donald Woods sued Salem entrepreneur Leonard Pickel in federal court, claiming infringement of the bed and breakfast’s trademark. The parties settled out of court and Pickel agreed to change his business’ name to The 40 Whacks Museum, a reference to the dark nursery rhyme that implicates Lizzie in the crimes.

Now that the legal battle is over, it seems natural that the two tourist attractions would join forces to advance both businesses. Woods indicated he would be willing to work with the Salem museum in the future.

No time like the present. With Halloween approaching, Salem’s tourist season is now hitting its stride. It is the perfect time for Woods to reach out to Pickel and work out a cross-promotion campaign. Many of the witch hunters streaming into Salem have surely heard the infamous Lizzie Borden story and may not be aware that the actual site of the murders is just a 90-minute car ride away. The bed and breakfast could be opened to a whole new group of tourists who happened to stumble upon 40 Whacks on their way to the Salem Witch Museum.

Similarly, when Halloween ends and Salem returns to a sleepy, seaside hamlet, Pickel will likely be looking for new clientele. The interest in Lizzie Borden on the SouthCoast is obvious, and a partnership between the two museums may be incentive enough for some local residents to make an off-season trek to Salem.

There’s no need for the two museums to fight over customers when they could easily share them.

Funny, really. I own 40whacks.com. It diverts people to my site LizzieAndrewBorden.com. Now I might get more traffic! Thanks Salem!