Teddy Siegel

And then she takes a sledgehammer to that toilet.

And then she takes a sledgehammer to that toilet.

Pretty soon, newspapers started writing about Michael's Club.

Pretty soon, newspapers started writing about Michael's Club.

Pretty soon, newspapers started writing about Michael's Club.

After a few years, Michael and his friends all went off to college and started club chapters in different cities. And in 1973, they decided to hold a press conference in Chicago where they spoke of biological function and discrimination and the indignity of pay toilets. By that time, there were already local officials in Chicago pushing to ban them. Some even came to Michael's event.

After a few years, Michael and his friends all went off to college and started club chapters in different cities. And in 1973, they decided to hold a press conference in Chicago where they spoke of biological function and discrimination and the indignity of pay toilets. By that time, there were already local officials in Chicago pushing to ban them. Some even came to Michael's event.

After a few years, Michael and his friends all went off to college and started club chapters in different cities. And in 1973, they decided to hold a press conference in Chicago where they spoke of biological function and discrimination and the indignity of pay toilets. By that time, there were already local officials in Chicago pushing to ban them. Some even came to Michael's event.

And soon after, the mayor banned pay toilets in public places in Chicago.

And soon after, the mayor banned pay toilets in public places in Chicago.

And soon after, the mayor banned pay toilets in public places in Chicago.

We kept on going. Michael's movement went the 70s version of viral. Over the next few years, legislators in many states started banning pay toilets. Now, the pay toilet companies obviously hated this. So did businesses like Greyhound. They didn't want to offer free toilets that they would have to clean and maintain and stock. So they sued. They fought it.

We kept on going. Michael's movement went the 70s version of viral. Over the next few years, legislators in many states started banning pay toilets. Now, the pay toilet companies obviously hated this. So did businesses like Greyhound. They didn't want to offer free toilets that they would have to clean and maintain and stock. So they sued. They fought it.

We kept on going. Michael's movement went the 70s version of viral. Over the next few years, legislators in many states started banning pay toilets. Now, the pay toilet companies obviously hated this. So did businesses like Greyhound. They didn't want to offer free toilets that they would have to clean and maintain and stock. So they sued. They fought it.

The biggest toilet lock company was called Nickel Lock. And in their lawsuit, they predicted what economists call an unintended consequence. They wrote that getting rid of pay toilets would actually encourage the deterioration and closing of the free toilets. But they couldn't stop it. At the height of paid toilets, when Michael was in high school, there were about 50,000 of them.

The biggest toilet lock company was called Nickel Lock. And in their lawsuit, they predicted what economists call an unintended consequence. They wrote that getting rid of pay toilets would actually encourage the deterioration and closing of the free toilets. But they couldn't stop it. At the height of paid toilets, when Michael was in high school, there were about 50,000 of them.

The biggest toilet lock company was called Nickel Lock. And in their lawsuit, they predicted what economists call an unintended consequence. They wrote that getting rid of pay toilets would actually encourage the deterioration and closing of the free toilets. But they couldn't stop it. At the height of paid toilets, when Michael was in high school, there were about 50,000 of them.

By 1980, there were just about none. And just as Nickel Lock predicted, the public toilets started going away too.

By 1980, there were just about none. And just as Nickel Lock predicted, the public toilets started going away too.

By 1980, there were just about none. And just as Nickel Lock predicted, the public toilets started going away too.