These days, I'm not sure. But back in 1955, according to the two ads below that both ran in the Lorain Journal on June 15, 1955, a shaver would have been just the right gift. (That is, assuming the mother bought it and let her kid 'give' it to dear old dad.)
In later years, he used disposable razors; I remember him telling me that he used a fresh one every day, as he had a thick beard. I use them too, and try to make one last for several days. When I eventually (and inevitably) cut myself, I know it's time to get a fresh one.
Remember when you used to stick a tiny piece of toilet paper on a cut? It looked kind of silly.
Anyways, these days I'm guessing that the companies that make electric razors and shaving supplies are hurting, since beards have been back in style.
Call me old-fashioned, but I just can't get used to the really long beards that I see out in public. When members of ZZ Top wear them, they seem fine, because it's part of their shtick. But when they're on an average Joe, it seems odd to me. The long, attention-attracting beards just weren't in style when I was growing up. A really long beard was something you only saw in cartoons, usually on feuding 'hill folk.' One of the Smith Brothers on the box of cough drops had a fairly long one; maybe that's why long beards seem like an anachronism to me.
 |
| From the Bugs Bunny cartoon "Hillbilly Hare" (1950) |
Sooner or later, beards will go out of style and the clean shaven look will be 'in' again. I hope.
As I am old (and admittedly somewhat lazy), I only shave on Sunday morning; I have an old fashioned safety razor, and I make lather with the soap I bathe with.
ReplyDeleteI got shaved with a straight razor once, at a barber shop in Cleveland many years ago; it was an interesting experience that I don't plan to repeat.
Hillbilly Hare (Square Dance) - My FAVORITE Bugs Bunny Cartoon!!!!
ReplyDeleteCALLER:
Let's all Square Dance.
Places all.
Bow to your corner,
bow to your own.
Three hands up and round you go,
break it up with a dosey do.
Chicken in the bread pan kickin' out dough.
Skip to ma Lou, my darling.
The old lady out, you pretty little thing,
promenade around the ring.
Big foot up and little foot down,
make that big foot jar the ground.
Lady step back and two gents in,
back you go and forward again.
Step right up with an elbow swing.
Skip to ma Lou, my darling.
Allemande left with the old left hand,
follow through with a right-left grand.
Meet your honey with a great big smile,
promenade Indian style.
*BUGS takes over*
Promenade across the floor,
sashay right on out the door.
Out the door and into the glade,
and everybody promenade.
*violin*
Step right up, you're doing fine,
I'll pull your beard, you pull mine.
Yank it again like you did before,
break it up with a tug o'war.
*violin*
Now into the brook and fish for the trout,
dive right in and splash about.
Trout, trout, pretty little trout,
one more splash and come right out.
*violin*
Shake like a hound dog, shake again,
wallow around in the ol' pig pen.
Wallow some more, y'all know how,
roll around like an ol' fat sow.
Allemande left with your left hand,
follow through with a right-left grand.
Now leave your partner, the dirty ol' thing,
follow through with an elbow swing.
Grab a fence post, hold it tight,
womp your partner with all your might.
Hit him in the chin, hit him in the head,
hit him again, that critter ain't dead.
Womp him low and womp him high,
stick your finger in his eye.
Pretty little rhythm, pretty little sound,
bang your heads against the ground.
*violin*
Promenade all around the room,
promenade like a bride and groom.
Open up the door and step right in,
close the door and into a spin.
Whirl, whirl, twist and twirl,
jump all round like a flyin' squirrel.
Now don't you cuss and don't you swear,
just come right out and form a square.
*violin*
Now right hand over and left hand under,
both join hands and run like thunder.
Over the hill and over the dale,
duck your head and lift your tail.
*violin*
Don't you stray and don't you roam,
turn around and promenade home.
Corn in the crib pen, wheat in the sack,
turn your partner and promenade back.
*violin*
And now you're home.
Bow to your partner.
Bow to the gent across the hall.
And that is all.