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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
 MFgwCgYEVQgBAQICAf8DSgAwRwJAW2sNKK9AVtBzYZmr6aGjlWyK3XmZv3dTINen
 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 TMkq3UEq9ukCUq6m2fwX+PG4vBwNcHm22w/cvsr2wwS/wLrVaMAOO9nY6d6jYb3s
 YGjEc8bhElifiKqga2CCIA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000003327-03-000065.txt : 20030925
<SEC-HEADER>0000003327-03-000065.hdr.sgml : 20030925
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030925124802
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000003327-03-000065
CONFORMED SUBMISSION TYPE:	4
PUBLIC DOCUMENT COUNT:		1
CONFORMED PERIOD OF REPORT:	20030921
FILED AS OF DATE:		20030925

REPORTING-OWNER:	

	OWNER DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			LAVIN BERNICE E
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000904860
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05050
		FILM NUMBER:		03909553

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 ARMITAGE AVENUE
		CITY:			MELROSE PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60160

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 ARMITAGE AVENUE
		CITY:			MELROSE PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60160

ISSUER:		

	COMPANY DATA:	
		COMPANY CONFORMED NAME:			ALBERTO CULVER CO
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000003327
		STANDARD INDUSTRIAL CLASSIFICATION:	RETAIL-RETAIL STORES, NEC [5990]
		IRS NUMBER:				362257936
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			DE
		FISCAL YEAR END:			0930

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 ARMITAGE AVE
		CITY:			MELROSE PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60160
		BUSINESS PHONE:		7084503039

	MAIL ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 ARMITAGE AVENUE
		CITY:			MELROSE PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60160
</SEC-HEADER>
<DOCUMENT>
<TYPE>4
<SEQUENCE>1
<FILENAME>edgar.xml
<DESCRIPTION>PRIMARY DOCUMENT
<TEXT>
<XML>
<?xml version="1.0"?>
<ownershipDocument>
    <schemaVersion>X0201</schemaVersion>

    <documentType>4</documentType><periodOfReport>2003-09-21</periodOfReport>
    <issuer>
        <issuerCik>0000003327</issuerCik>
        <issuerName>ALBERTO CULVER CO</issuerName>
        <issuerTradingSymbol>ACV  ACVA</issuerTradingSymbol></issuer><reportingOwner>
        <reportingOwnerId>
            <rptOwnerCik>0000904860</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>LAVIN BERNICE E</rptOwnerName>
        </reportingOwnerId>
        <reportingOwnerAddress>
            <rptOwnerStreet1>C/O ALBERTO-CULVER COMPANY</rptOwnerStreet1>
            <rptOwnerStreet2>2525 ARMITAGE AVENUE</rptOwnerStreet2>
            <rptOwnerCity>MELROSE PARK</rptOwnerCity>
            <rptOwnerState>IL</rptOwnerState>
            <rptOwnerZipCode>60160</rptOwnerZipCode>
            <rptOwnerStateDescription></rptOwnerStateDescription>
        </reportingOwnerAddress>
            <reportingOwnerRelationship>
<isDirector>1</isDirector><isOfficer>1</isOfficer><isTenPercentOwner>1</isTenPercentOwner><isOther>0</isOther><officerTitle>Vice Chmn, Sec. and Treas.</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100200</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN3</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>53340</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN5</value><footnoteId
 id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>64</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN7</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>5704</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN1</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postT
ransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>53340</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN8</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>53340</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN10</value><footnoteId id="F10"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>53340</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrInd
irectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN2</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>56048</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN9</value><footnoteId id="F9"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>6000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN11</value><footnoteId id="F11"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></non
DerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2863225</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN7</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>546953</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F6"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><
postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN6</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><transactionDate><value>2003-09-21</value></transactionDate><transactionCoding><transactionFormType>5</transactionFormType><transactionCode>G</transactionCode><equitySwapInvolved>0</equitySwapInvolved></transactionCoding><transactionAmounts><transactionShares><value>715378</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F4"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></p
ostTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN4</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2645104</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN1</value><footnoteId id="F1"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Held by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 12/18/87 for the benefit of the undersigned's spouse.***</footnote><footnote id="F2">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 11/14/89 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***</footnote><footnote id="F3">Held by the unde
rsigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 10/20/72 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's children.***</footnote><footnote id="F4">Gifted by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 9/18/01 for the benefit of the undersigned's spouse to a trust for the benefit of one of the undersigned's childtren.***</footnote><footnote id="F5">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 11/14/89 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***</footnote><footnote id="F6">Gifted by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 9/18/01 for her benefit to a trust for the benefit of one of the undersigned's children.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Held by the undersigned as a co-trustee of a trust dated 12/18/87 for her benefit.</footnote><footnote id="F8">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 11/14/89 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***</footnote><footnote id="F9">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 4/25/95 for the benefit of one of the undersi
gned's grandchildren.***</footnote><footnote id="F10">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 11/14/89 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***</footnote><footnote id="F11">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 4/25/95 for the benefit of one of the undersigned's grandchildren.***</footnote></footnotes><remarks>***The filing of this report shall not be deemed an admission by the undersigned that she is the beneficial owner of these securities for purposes of Section 16 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934.</remarks><ownerSignature><signatureName>/Bernice E. Lavin/</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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