Litigation involving a long-dead Des Moines bartender known for her ability to serve beer from her bosom has landed in federal court amid new allegations of violent threats against a state senator.
Two years ago, the estate of Ruthie Bisignano sued Des Moines’ Exile Brewing Co. for the alleged unpermitted use of her persona to advertise the establishment’s Ruthie beer and related products.
The lawsuit, filed by Ruthie Bisignano’s nephew and administrator of her estate, Fred Huntsman of Seattle, seeks compensation and an order requiring Exile to obtain written permission from the family before using Ruthie’s name or image in future business endeavors.
From 1950 to 1971, Ruthie Bisignano owned and operated a Des Moines bar called Ruthie’s Lounge, where signs advised patrons to “ask for the well-balanced beer.” At the time, Ruthie had drawn state and national attention for her ability to fill two glasses of beer balanced on her breasts and then serve them to patrons without using her hands.
“Ruthie’s serving skill attracted significant numbers of patrons who sometimes traveled across the country for the opportunity to see her in person,” the lawsuit alleges. “For example, Cecil B. DeMille, the most commercially successful producer-director in Hollywood history, came to see her twice … Ruthie was also famous for being charged and acquitted of indecency — as a result of performing her serving trick — multiple times in 1953. Another aspect to her famous persona was her reputation as a sassy, tough, quick witted, independent and confident business operator, bartender and woman.”
Court records indicate Ruthie Bisignano died in 1993. In 2012, Exile opened its brewery and brewpub restaurant in Des Moines and featured as its flagship beer a brew called “Ruthie,” adorned with labels that featured an artist’s rendition of Ruthie Bisignano’s beer-balancing skills.
According to the lawsuit, Ruthie has since become Exile’s best-selling beer and it comprises more than half of the company’s annual beer production. With more than 7,000 barrels sold each year. the lawsuit claims, Ruthie is the best-selling Iowa-made beer in the state, and it was named the official craft beer of the 2019 Iowa State Fair.
Senator: ‘I didn’t deserve to be violently threatened’
As originally filed in state court, the lawsuit sought damages for misappropriation of Ruthie Bisignano’s name and likeness; misappropriation of trade values; consumer fraud; deceptive marketing; and right of publicity.Recently, the case was amended to include a claim of federal deceptive marketing and false designation of origin, which led to the case being transferred to U.S. District Court.
Iowa state senator Tony Bisignano embroiled in legal fight over 'buxom barmaid' of the 1950s
The estate of Ruthie Bisignano sued Des Moines’ Exile Brewing Co. for the alleged unpermitted use of her persona.
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