Famous Sisters

[IlliniMeg]

Originally Posted by AOII Angel

Joe Biedenharn was the first bottler of Coca cola. His daughter Emy-Lou was an AOII. I have never heard that she asked him to make the label Red and white, but who knows? Emy-Lou was an active alumna member of AOII, who let her home be used for Preference party for the NLU or now ULM chapter of AOII (Lambda Tau.) As the story goes, she would sit at a window overlooking the ELsong gardens where the lovely sisters of AOII would stand and sing for rushees. I was in the last group of rushees allowed to use the site for preference party. We still used it for other events, but all rush parties had to be on campus after 1993. There indeed is a fountain that is in the shape of the badge. An A surrounded by an O of potted plants is secured to a red brick wall. The PI is a fountain (that I never saw working) that would shoot out water to complete the symbol. Emy-Lou's will stated that AOII would always be allowed to use her home, which is now a museum, for special events. Her badge and other AOII paraphenalia is on display in the museum.

Yep! The lovely ladies of Lambda Tau took me there when I was a CC as a sisterhood event. It's an amazing home.

Everyone knew the story ahead of time so everyone was on the lookout for sheafs of wheat in crown molding or roses in wallpaper and paintings. Even though every thing is what you make it and we really got carried away (Is that a picture of a panda, no just the family dog!) it was a great time. I don't remember the fountain as vividly though... they were my last chapter of the year and the memories sort of blur together by that point. But I do remember their amazing hospitality and they held formal chapter in a church so my last ritual of the year was in such a beautiful place, quite fitting.

And I believe that the family was a major manufacturer of coca-cola and distributor which is different than being at their corporate office. So this is why coca-cola's stance is what it is.

[IlliniMeg]

Also some more random stuff that I just thought of:

- I had heard that Sheryl Crow's sister is an AOII (although Sheryl is a Theta).

- Frank Capra (director of It's a Wonderful Life, pretty big in the golden age of Hollywood), his wife was an AOII (Kappa Theta, UCLA chapter). I believe, but don't quote me, that she is the one that came up with PiOA concept. If you look in old To Dragmas there is mention of PiOA's, which are the reference to AOII's husbands or significant others - because when an AOII hugs her husband with her badge on, it makes Pi - on top of the O on top of the A. The reverse of our badge. I always thought that was really cute.

And Phyllis Diller was not an AOII nor was Mary Tyler Moore for some reason those are the most ill-quoted.

The neighbor from Married with Children is also an AOII. And of course there is an AOII who was on the Apprentice and on Survivor.

[AOII Angel]

Originally Posted by IlliniMeg

The neighbor from Married with Children is also an AOII. And of course there is an AOII who was on the Apprentice and on Survivor.

I'd heard she was an AOII from Pi chapter at Tulane.

As for It's a Wonderful Life...my dad is obsessed with that movie. My older sister and I watched it so many times that we tied at a church lockin for a prize about It's a Wonderful Life trivia (they showed the movie and then asked really specific question like what was on the mailbox infront of the old house in the scene where she loses her dress.) We had actually fallen asleep during the showing, but we knew the movie by heart! Ha! Nice to know Capra was a IIOA!

[AOIIalum]

That's the first time I've ever heard that one! Beryana, you've been in the archives, ever see or hear like this?

[AOPiGammaBaybee]

I heard that a very funny lady named Phyllis Diller is an AOII... Please correct me if I'm wrong.

[Beryana]

Originally posted by AOIIalum
That's the first time I've ever heard that one! Beryana, you've been in the archives, ever see or hear like this?

Never heard of anything about that! I'm going to assume it is an 'urban legend' which can be verfied with some info. . . when was Coke founded and when was the earliest Georgia chapter founded (I'm going to assume a GA chapter but that could be wrong, too. . . ). It would be interesting if it were true, though!

Sarah

[AOIIalum]

Jess, I have heard that one but have never ever been given any facts to support that rumor. (Yes, I know I could be wrong though!)

I'm sure we have plenty of famous AOII connections out there, like every other GLO does. Just remember that our Fraternity believes that each one of us is notable in our own way. No sister is held in a higher esteem within the bonds of AOII due to her personal celebrity, fame or fortune. Do ya'll know how much I truly love that about us?

[pandarose18]

Earliest GA chapter was at UGA in 1935. This still makes it difficult to know for sure because even though coke has been around since the 1880's it was originally just sold at soda fountains and pharmacies. It was a long time before it was bottled and sold nation/world wide. I can't find a specific date for the red and white logo design for Coke. Maybe someone else might know. I'll also try to see what I can find out next time I go to the World of Coke!

Roses,
Sarah

[AOII_Luv]

After reading this thread, I got curious (also bored to tears at work!) and looked at the Coke website. I sent out an email asking for information about this, so as soon as I hear back, I will let you all know!

[AOII_Luv]

Coke's reply:

Almost from the beginning, the colors red and white have been used in visual advertising for Coca-Cola to dramatize the trademark. The earliest use of red in our advertising was by Atlanta drug stores selling Coca-Cola. They would hang a white oil cloth sign on the store front or awning with slogans printed in red that stated "Drink Coca-Cola, Delicious and Refreshing 5 cents" or "Coca-Cola Sold Here 5 cents."

In 1890, the trademark "Coca-Cola" began to appear in red in
newspapers. During the late 1920s, the trademark "Coca-Cola" was used in white on a "Standard Red" background. The color arrangement of red on white and white on red has been used alternately over the years. In 1970, the Dynamic Ribbon Device was introduced, and the "Standard Red" became brighter.

[sunfloweria]

During my chapter's last Founder's Day celebration I heard the story about the Coke connection to AOII. The Alumnae Relations chair themed our lunch around a "Coke Date." If I'm remembering correctly, the story about the Coke connection was learned at last year's Leadership Institute and the women wanted to bring it back and utilize it somehow. Do you guys want me to doublecheck with my collegians? Did anyone here attend last year's LI?

AOP

[AOIIsilver]

I never heard that at LI....But, then again, I was so overwhelmed with the whole awesome experience that it may have just gone over my head.
Silver

[OleMissGlitter]

We do have some connections to the Coke family. We have a transfer AOII who joined our chapter this fall. She was from U of LA at Monroe. She told me how there was and still is a very prominent family in Monroe, the Bedienheimer(spelled wrong) and they were bottlers of Coca Cola. Their daughter left her home to become a historic landmark. However, she was an AOII. At her home, her badge is on display and her garden resembles some very familiar AOII stuff. Anyway, I think that is where our Coca Cola connection came from. And hey, my father worked for 15 years for Coca Cola in New Orleans, does that count?

Also, Heather Soriano was in Miss USA and Miss America pagents representing the great state of Mississippi. She was a member of AOII at Nu Beta chapter at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).

[NeonPi]

Originally posted by OleMissGlitter
Also, Heather Soriano was in Miss USA and Miss America pagents representing the great state of Mississippi. She was a member of AOII at Nu Beta chapter at the University of Mississippi (Ole Miss).

Here is her picture - courtesy of http://www.globalbeauties.com/gb/cov...a02_gowns2.htm

[BobraFCD]

THe Chi Psi Chapter of AOPi at Cal Ply has a link on their site to famous greeks. It lists Phyllis Diller as an AOII