Last of the Old-Time Barber Shops

This is how barber shops have looked since before I was a child,

which is a very long time, with shelves lined with exotic bottles

and 'girlie magazines' in racks or scattered about for the nearly

all-male customers (equal opportunity laws say women can get their

hair barbered here too, if they don't mind the atmosphere). Now

the 'man talk' is considerably cleaned up since I was a youth, as

well as the discriminatory phraseology that once was the maintstay

of such institutions. (There has been 'some' progress.) Your

ratings and critiques are invited and most welcome. If you rate

harshly or very critically, please submit a helpful and constructive

comment; Please share your superior knowledge to help improve my

photography. Thanks! Enjoy! John

But the proprietor, here, giving a haircut, until not many years prior, was a star in the (ahem) adult film industry, where he made his living before he took up barbering in his rather old age.

(This is NOT speculation, but borne out by discussions with him, by a skeptical me, after a claim of his verified by his partner and several customers). Funny, whom you'll run across when you go to get your hair cut. (this photo is just over one year old -- resurrected because of the 'kitsch' in the barbershop -- indicative of a scene which soon will pass from Americana forever.)

In slow times, before this barber's partner retired on Social Security, they passed the time without customers watching the 'tube' on a tiny black and white TV with a broken wire antenna jury-rigged, with a barely watchable picture, tuned to daytime TV programs -- strictly the lowest possible tech.

A dreary scene in a dreary place, but still a place where people of all walks of life could come in and mingle as they got their hair cut.

John (Crosley)

This is a strange photo for me, taken I think with an HP camera, if my guess is correct -- just a point and shoot (if I am correct) One of my very rare attempts at doing so -- they're much too slow for my taste. But this one worked, so no complaints, but easy use soon buried it for my brand of photography -- too fragile.

Best to you -- continued good taste on your part.

John (Crosley)