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Proc-Type: 2001,MIC-CLEAR
Originator-Name: webmaster@www.sec.gov
Originator-Key-Asymmetric:
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 TWSM7vrzLADbmYQaionwg5sDW3P6oaM5D3tdezXMm7z1T+B+twIDAQAB
MIC-Info: RSA-MD5,RSA,
 HB5HvK06FMWtobq5/uNIkl8rEzTQuDT/LVj58/xlaamG4VJgmXbtwTmiBINMn6E7
 pjt6N7EX3XoFjrCR/n26rA==

<SEC-DOCUMENT>0000003327-03-000068.txt : 20030925
<SEC-HEADER>0000003327-03-000068.hdr.sgml : 20030925
<ACCEPTANCE-DATETIME>20030925125513
ACCESSION NUMBER:		0000003327-03-000068
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:			BERNICK CAROL L
		CENTRAL INDEX KEY:			0000904530
		STATE OF INCORPORATION:			IL
		FISCAL YEAR END:			1231

	FILING VALUES:
		FORM TYPE:		4
		SEC ACT:		1934 Act
		SEC FILE NUMBER:	001-05050
		FILM NUMBER:		03909574

	BUSINESS ADDRESS:	
		STREET 1:		2525 ARMITAGE AVENUE
		CITY:			MELROSE PARK
		STATE:			IL
		ZIP:			60160
		BUSINESS PHONE:		708-450-3051

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

	FORMER NAME:	
		FORMER CONFORMED NAME:	BERNICK CAROL L/LEONARD H LAVIN GRANTOR ANNUITY TRUST ET AL
		DATE OF NAME CHANGE:	19930513

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>
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<?xml version="1.0"?>
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    <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>0000904530</rptOwnerCik>
            <rptOwnerName>BERNICK CAROL L</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>V-Chmn, Pres.A-C Co.and A.Sec</officerTitle></reportingOwnerRelationship></reportingOwner><nonDerivativeTable><nonDerivativeTransaction><securityTitle><value>Class A 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>111475</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F15"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>D</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>0</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnersh
ip><natureOfOwnership><value>FN15</value><footnoteId id="F15"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100200</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN6</value><footnoteId id="F6"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>18500</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN10</value><footnoteId id="F10"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securit
yTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>41040</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN11</value><footnoteId id="F11"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>39048</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><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>64</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTrans
action></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN13</value><footnoteId id="F13"/></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>FN12</value><footnoteId id="F12"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>477291</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>314405</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><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>361809</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN4</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class A Common Stock</value></sec
urityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>26536</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN14</value><footnoteId id="F14"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>482562</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN7</value><footnoteId id="F7"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>88682</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipN
ature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN5</value><footnoteId id="F5"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>100000</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN4</value><footnoteId id="F4"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>8455</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN8</value><footnoteId id="F8"/></natureOfOwnership></owne
rshipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>11699</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN9</value><footnoteId id="F9"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>104476</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN2</value><footnoteId id="F2"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedF
ollowingTransaction><value>1026982</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN3</value><footnoteId id="F3"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2863225</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN13</value><footnoteId id="F13"/></natureOfOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeHolding><nonDerivativeHolding><securityTitle><value>Class B Common Stock</value></securityTitle><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>2645104</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</
value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN12</value><footnoteId id="F12"/></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>1262331</value></transactionShares><transactionPricePerShare><footnoteId id="F16"/></transactionPricePerShare><transactionAcquiredDisposedCode><value>A</value></transactionAcquiredDisposedCode></transactionAmounts><postTransactionAmounts><sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction><value>1262331</value></sharesOwnedFollowingTransaction></postTransactionAmounts><ownershipNature><directOrIndirectOwnership><value>I</value></directOrIndirectOwnership><natureOfOwnership><value>FN16</value><footnoteId id="F16"/></natureO
fOwnership></ownershipNature></nonDerivativeTransaction></nonDerivativeTable><footnotes><footnote id="F1">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 3/21/00 for the benefit of her son.***</footnote><footnote id="F2">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 4/23/93 for her benefit. </footnote><footnote id="F3">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 10/31/98 for the benefit of her sister.***</footnote><footnote id="F4">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 4/17/02 for her benefit. </footnote><footnote id="F5">Held directly by the undersigned's spouse.***</footnote><footnote id="F6">Held by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 10/20/72 for her benefit.</footnote><footnote id="F7">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 9/15/93 for her benefit.</footnote><footnote id="F8">Held by the undersigned as a participant in the Alberto-Culver Company Employees' Profit Sharing Plan.</footnote><footnote id="F9">Held by the undersigned's spouse as a partic
ipant in the Alberto-Culver Company Employees' Profit Sharing Plan.** *</footnote><footnote id="F10">Held  by the undersigned's spouse as one of three co-trustees of a trust dated 7/7/97 for the benefit of their children.***</footnote><footnote id="F11">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 3/7/99 for the benefit of her son.***</footnote><footnote id="F12">Held by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 12/17/87 for the benefit of her father.***</footnote><footnote id="F13">Held by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 12/18/87 for the benefit of her mother.***</footnote><footnote id="F14">Held by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 3/25/03 for the benefit of their daughter.***</footnote><footnote id="F15">Gifted by the undersigned as trustee of a trust dated 9/18/01 for her benefit to a trust for the benefit of their children.</footnote><footnote id="F16">Acquired by the undersigned as co-trustee of a trust dated 9/18/01 for her benefit.</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>/Carol L. Bernick/</signatureName><signatureDate>2003-09-23</signatureDate></ownerSignature></ownershipDocument>

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</DOCUMENT>
</SEC-DOCUMENT>
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