The lie detector was created and popularized early in the 20th century by psychologist William Moulton Marston, who perhaps more than any other individual promoted public belief in it. Later, writing under the pseudonym "Charles Moulton," he created the comic book character Wonder Woman, whose magic lasso would compel anyone held within its coils to speak nothing but the truth.

In 1938, Dr. Marston was featured in a series of razor blade advertisements by the Gillette Safety Razor Company.

One of these razor blade ads is now available for download as a PDF file. It's headline banner proclaims, "NOW! LIE DETECTOR CHARTS EMOTIONAL EFFECTS OF SHAVING!" and goes on to declare, "Only those who dare to know the truth willingly submit to Dr. William M. Marston's Lie Detector test...for the Lie Detector reveals the facts." The file is suitable for printing and taping to the wall at your workplace, university, or other location as a humorous reminder of the huckster who sold America on the lie detector:

• Marston Razor Blade Ad (high res 5.2 mb)
• Marston Razor Blade Ad (low res 1.8 mb)

Here's a preview: