Althouse: "It's Floyd the barber, not Floyd the beautician."

March 20, 2012

"It's Floyd the barber, not Floyd the beautician."

"Back off, all you beauticians, cosmetologists and stylists. The pole is our thing, just like how we used to fill our shops with girlie magazines."

18 comments:

edutcher said...: And barbers are a dying breed.

The Blonde will tell you the barber I had gave me a 10 times better haircut than any of the hairstylists, male or female, I've tried since he had to quit (health).

Finally found a place run by 2 US Army vets and Herself is of the opinion they're not bad.

So, yeah, let the barber do his thing.; 3/20/12, 10:05 PM
Wally Kalbacken said...: Navis is sporting a fine cut there.; 3/20/12, 10:29 PM
Carnifex said...: The Barbershop up the street used to hold a raffle every month, leave your card to enter. Gave away a AK47. Drove the liberals nuts. Now he gives CCL lessons.

The guys that ran it when I was a child were a couple paisons and as such it was very male-centric. As the 60's faded to the 70's all the old Italian immigrants started dying off, and made way for more female friendly ownership. But now it's back to old school, and much more masculine.

I like the atmosphere in the old barbershop, but it's tough for me to turn down having PYT's playing with my hair for long periods of time. They all compliment me on how nice and thick it is, and I leave bigger tip.

Hint to women, there would be less cheating if you spent half as much time petting your husbands head as you do the dogs.; 3/20/12, 10:44 PM
Wince said...: This comment has been removed by the author.; 3/20/12, 10:47 PM
Chip Ahoy said...: I feel pity in my heart, true pity. Had to reach for a single pun, pole-arized, and that among such a rich and available field, pole-ice, polemic, pole-itics, pole-iticize, and what seems to be hundreds more.

There is a Floyd's a block away. The guy at the bottle shop said he doesn't go there because it is too expensive. It isn't too expensive, and it is very convenient but I didn't want to argue so instead I said, "It reminds me of Andy of Mayberry." I wasn't sure the guy knew what I was talking about but then he burst out laughing. I don't know why he thought that was so ridiculous. It's a rock and roll place which is oddly likewise and otherwise anachronistic.

But there is a place in Englewood that is exactly like Floyd's in Mayberry. Run by Father and son. My dad was in one chair and I was in the other chair. The son was cutting my hair and he was asking me a series of dumbass questions that prevented me from just sitting there and shutting up. He asked what nationality I am. My father in the adjoining chair is mostly Scottish, so I said, Scot. He goes, "Oh, so you must like bagpipes then, eh?"

I did not want to talk. I did not want to answer these stupid chat-like questions. I do not like bagpipes. I whispered real low so that my father would not be offended, "No. They sound like cats fighting."

The guy roared. Totally overacted. He yells to his father who is at the next chair as if he were hard of hearing and filled the whole place which is small with his voice, "HEY GET THIS GUY! HE SAID HIS NATIONALITY IS SCOTTISH AND HE DOESN'T LIKE BAGPIPES! HA HA HA HA HA"

I wanted to punch him in the face.

Then my dad goes, "Shit yes! They sound like two cats with their tails tied together tossed over a clothesline and set on fire."

So I got out of that one. I never went back. They have bottles on a shelf, all the same type bottle but different color water in them. Haircuts cost $2.50, I think, or something really low. Crap haircuts for people without much hair.; 3/20/12, 10:47 PM
Wince said...: I can't believe how apolitical the issue seems: "at least we don't brawl over barber poles".

Think about it, the barber pole is one of few literal phallocentric symbols intended to perpetuate the patriarchy through sex segregation and gender norming in public accommodation.

And nobody is making fuss? In Wisconsin?

Color me pleased at the hint of tolerance in the air.; 3/20/12, 10:51 PM
traditionalguy said...: Interestingly, the Black Barber Shops were the commercial center of African American society as the churches were the social center.

Many black millionaires started out as owners of barber shops in Atlanta before the Civil War. The financing of the boom town based on railroad commerce included black lenders at the black barber shops. The Gambling industry also required a centrally located and trusted Bookie.

Today's outlying counties also have a well known white barber/gossip as the political opinion leader in the communities. You do not cross them and keep a good reputation.; 3/20/12, 11:39 PM
Rick said...: Here in Ventura county I get a good haircut for $10, with plenty of girly mags and pictures on the wall in case I have to wait a few minutes.; 3/21/12, 12:10 AM
Known Unknown said...: Where else am I going to find a decent bookie?; 3/21/12, 12:36 AM
tim maguire said...: It sounds like they want the legislature to fashion a sort-of trademark right in the barber pole.

Maybe it is their thing, but unless they can cite some examples of men accidentally walking into a nail salon thinking it's a barber shop and unintentionally getting a manicure, they have no right to this.; 3/21/12, 6:33 AM
Roger J. said...: loved the old all male barbershop==the girlie magazines were usuall "Stag" featuring ladies in bikini like outfits. After your hair cut, the barber would apply lilac vegital for scent.

When I was on the road a lot in the rural south, I would usually stop at the local barber shop to find out what was going on--That was a trip back in time.; 3/21/12, 6:40 AM
rhhardin said...: Licensing is rent seeking in any case.

If you want more barbers, get rid of the license altogether.; 3/21/12, 7:05 AM
Anonymous said...: What blue? I grew up at a time when there actually were motorized barber poles. Always red and white stripes. No blue.; 3/21/12, 7:19 AM
David said...: We still have two barber shops in our little South Carolina town--the white one and the black one. They are both thriving. The white shop is tucked in the end of Main Street. It is the only barber shop I have ever seen that sells lottery tickets.

The black shop is one of the last of what were numerous small shops in the historic black district of town, which was created when many local blacks acquired real estate during and immediately after the Civil War. The owner of the shop is Prince Rivers, age ninety something, namesake and descendant of black Civil War soldier Prince Rivers, who enlisted and served with great distinction in 1st South Carolina black regiment.

The old storefronts are obvious. Some are boarded up. Others have been converted to residential use. The neighborhood is in decline with too many old people and not enough young. The young go elsewhere now. It's a national historic district, and groups of whites and blacks are trying to find ways to revitalize the area. It's hard to achieve, but they are keeping at it.; 3/21/12, 7:43 AM
Rusty said...: What's the difference between a bad haircut and a good haircut.

Three weeks.; 3/21/12, 7:48 AM
ken in tx said...: The original barber pole was a bloody strip of cloth wrapped around a white pole. Early barbers served as surgeons and also did blood letting when it was thought that bleeding was good for you.; 3/21/12, 8:52 AM
Portia said...: Many are called 'tonsorial parlor'; google if you want.

I think they used to do tonsils before dentists came along.; 3/21/12, 10:58 AM
Brian McKim and/or Traci Skene said...: I had a habit, as I traveled the continent as a comedian, of leaving the task of getting my haircut until I was on the road. As a result, I have gotten clipped in such diverse places as Mobile, Chicopee, Montreal, Lancaster, PA, and Minneapolis. I always chose a barber shop-- a manly barbershop with a pole out front. I have had some great experiences. My barber in Minneapolis was also a beekeeper. My barber in Mobile had a pistol "hidden" behind his table radio on the counter-- it was clearly visible, as the radio was in front of a mirror. (His name was Floyd!) My dad would take me to a multi-chair barbershop at the local discount mart on the occasional Saturday night. I patronized it as a young adult. There were stuffed pheasants with a good coating of dusts, lots of sports mags for those waiting, constant banter between barbers and customers. Each customer was trimmed with warm foam and a straight razor. These establishments don't exist any more. Sad.; 3/21/12, 6:56 PM