Pay Toilets Faced Organized Revolt

Most public restrooms in the United States became free partly because of the 1970s activism of the Committee to End Pay Toilets in America. A 19-year-old man named Ira Gessel founded the group in Dayton, Ohio, in 1970, charging members $0.25 and sending them a newsletter called The Free Toilet Paper. The committee grew to as many as 1,500 members and pressured governments to ban coin-operated toilet locks, with Chicago approving a ban in 1973. By June 1976, twelve states had enacted bans, and the committee disbanded after declaring that it had largely achieved its mission.

Previous Fact Next Fact