Painless Parker

Edgar R.R. "Painless" Parker (1871–1951) was a flamboyant street dentist and huckster. He attended Philadelphia Dental College which would become Temple University dental school, and began his practice as a street dentist in New York City. He went on to manage a combination traveling circus/dental clinic, promoting "painless dentistry". At one point he claimed to have pulled 357 teeth in one day, which he strung on a necklace. He legally changed his first name to "Painless", when he was accused of breaking a false advertisement law by claiming that his dentistry was truly painless. In the end, Parker ran about 30 West Coast dental offices, employing over 70 dentists, and grossing $3 million per year.

Parker is mentioned in the song 'Orange Claw Hammer', by musician and poet Don Van Vliet.

Further reading

• "Early Adventures of Painless Parker" by Peter M. Pronych and Arden G. Christen, Miramichi Books, Canada.

Persondata
Name	Parker, Painless
Alternative names
Short description
Date of birth	1871
Place of birth
Date of death	1951
Place of death