A bit rough around the edges yet I bet this is the place to find out what really is happening here.
When younger in NYC I went to a friends shop, on 5th avenue, and had my hair cut. I also had my wallet emptied. It was a hair cut, nothing more.
Later in life I went to a small town barber. He was 300 years old, gave me his ‘regular’, and it was again a hair cut. I left with money in my pocket, had much more interesting conversations, I even got to read the original Life Magazines from the 1950’s he still had on the table.
There is something important here that will probably be lost soon.
How very true. As boys in barber shops, we learned things about life–that we weren’t special and had to wait out turn; that men are men and boys are just/still boys (IOW, in that setting we weren’t important the way we’d make ourselves be in school or at home); and we picked up things from all the men talk going on–politics, cars, women, sports–things we’d never hear at home from our mothers, or sisters, or even our dads. What got said in a barber shop was different from anywhere else.
Very good post.
Thanks. I think we all have similar memories of these old shops. 👍
That is the past and I am glad that it’s still alive and this barbershop is still standing proudly. I like your story about barbershops. It’s a great story! These are priceless photos, Ted!
The ‘rust and ruin’ of Main Street USA. Thanks.