Charles’ 
Slide of the Week: September 28th, 2006
Beauty Shop Girls, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1955
A trio of triple-plated, bullet nosed, chrome hairdryers. Style and substance-wise they are the ultimate in hair dying machines – not to mention an AMERICANA classic of the highest order. The red dot label reads NORMANDIE. Behind them as a backdrop is fancy style pink and grey wallpaper. Beneath them, and crowned ever-so-beautifully by them, sit three fair-skinned, blued-eyed, small town Wisconsin maidens. They are belted, buttoned up, and literate. Each holds reading material. Only their lips are painted.
Chrome is among the many things we AMERICANA’S have to thank South Africa for. That’s because more than half of the mirror-finish metal that we love so much comes from South Africa. The rest comes from other faraway exotic places including Kazakhstan, India and Turkey. Thanks to them too. There is a more than plentiful supply of un-mined chromium left deep inside mother earth. But today, we use so little of it. Is it because chrome plating things creates toxic waste?
Also this week –
CHARLES PHOENIX on NPR -on The Los Angeles County Fair
Listen to Charles on NPR.org
The fair ends this Sunday – Don’t forget your camera!
Upcoming retro slide shows – please let your NYC friends know – thanks!
NEW YORK CITY – OCTOBER 10 – 8PM
CHARLES PHOENIX: AMERICANA THE BEAUTIFUL
A Live Comedy Performance with Found Vintage Slides –
Celebrating America’s Golden Era, the Space Age
WHERE: Anthology Film Archives
32 2nd Ave. NY, NY, 10003
TICKETS: $20 at the door one hour before showtime
New dates for the “DISNEYLAND TOUR OF DOWNTOWN LOS ANGELES” will be announced next week! And coming again this holiday season – THE RETRO HOLIDAY SLIDE SHOW – dates to be announced soon!
Here’s to the girls getting beautified beneath chrome on Kodachrome, the fair, the future and YOU!
Charles Phoenix
Los Angeles
September 2006
Sets this Slide belongs to:
People
12 Comments on “Beauty Shop Girls, Grafton, Wisconsin, 1955”
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September 29th, 2006 at 5:13 am
Neat picture. The girl on the far right looks like Eddie Haskell’s sister. Nowadays, the hair dryers are plastic.
September 29th, 2006 at 8:16 am
Shocking! Okay Charles is it just me or could it be that these um uh girls? are getting ready for Halloween? Speaking of good ol All Hallows Eve, I sure would love to see some shots of some little goblins and stuff. I bet you have some good ones in your treasure trove. ! Loved hearing you on NPR. Must get out to the fair. Did you by some of the magical cleaning stuff?
September 29th, 2006 at 8:38 am
Perfectly Coiffed Charles!
I do love gaggles of lovely ladies! This slide is perfect reminder that a little lipstick, a cardigan, and a waist-whittling belt are a woman’s three best friends! Oh, I’ve forgotten a fourth: a perfect ‘do! I just had my hair done yesterday so this slide was a serendipitous treat for me. If only these modern salons had half the charm of what we see here … I could spend all day teasing my hair if I had such lovely wallpaper to set off my efforts!
Today’s cheerful exhortation to embrace the power of hairstyling comes from _The Hairdo Handbook: A Complete Guide to Hair Beauty_ by Dorothea Zack Hanle, editor of HairDo Magazine (1964). I chose the following passage precisely because it echoes one of Mr. Charles’ favorite expressions. Can YOU find it? From Chapter 1, “The Importance of a Hairdo”:
“How important is a hairdo? Far more than most of us would care to admit. Really beautiful hair artfully arranged has a magic capable of redeeming the plainest of faces, even mesmerizing us into thinking the most impossible jumble of features is attractive. A pretty new coif can send your spirits soaring, just as a dreary one can depress you. And unlike any other fashion or beauty accessory — for that is what your hair really is — a hairdo can truly express your individuality. The nice part of that, too, is the fact that no matter your income or station in life, you can have a custom-made coif that’s uniquely yours, distinctly you.”
Ah a custom coif! And what kinds of ‘dos are best for a girl? It all depends on face shape, of course, and hair type … but who could resist trying every one of the following styles: the George Washington, the Festive Put-On, the Shell Cut, the Casual Twist, and the Artichoke! I, of course, prefer the Festive Put-On. But would our ladies enjoy?
“Gee Teensy, are you really going to stay out until 11 tonight? Gosh I just wouldn’t have the courage!”
“Oh Jipps! You should get the Artichoke. You’ll feel like drinking two milkshakes and staying out until 11. Give it a try!”
“Jeepers you two. Could you be quiet? I’m trying to read the latest about that dreamy Van Johnson. What a hunkeroo!”
xoxo!
Miss Sharon
September 29th, 2006 at 10:40 am
Clearly the vixen in the polka-dots is the harlot of the crew, with her come hither look, flash of cleavage and a dress that barely reaches below her knees. You knew she was the one who knew about jumping up and down on the back porch steps to prevent conception and how deep kissing led to pregnancy.
September 29th, 2006 at 3:16 pm
Ms. Sharon, as usual, your comments have me chuckling just as much as the conehead-like attachments pictured. Golly, those are really neat cylindrical objects protruding from your skulls, ladies! Thanks Charles.
September 29th, 2006 at 4:57 pm
yeah…miss sharon should have her own website!!!
September 29th, 2006 at 6:38 pm
I’m just focused on those hairdryer chairs! Heat and fan speed adjustments with your right hand and reading lamp with your left. Not to mention the gearshift lever by your left knee (footstool?). It may have a French name but it’s an “Orgasmatron” to me.
September 29th, 2006 at 6:40 pm
It looks like a lost phot of The Stepford wives bargain lineup.Those machines look scary as well,they can’t possibly be healthy for your hair,or whole head for that matter.They look like they were made from surplus russian warheads.
September 30th, 2006 at 1:06 am
Yup, wonderful photo. Oh, and I second the request for some retro goblins. I love Halloween.
October 1st, 2006 at 7:53 pm
Well, thank you Missy and Marylou! I’m glad you enjoy my work. I just try to do my part to spread charm, poise, and etiquette skills across the land! Do try the Festive Put-On, ladies. You’ll feel like you can take on the world! From silver coneheads to glamour — it can be done!
October 3rd, 2006 at 9:29 am
I cannot tell you how mesmerizing I find this picture of CHROME, COLORS and CHARACTER.
Little did they know they were STARS in an amazing pageant of AMERICANA the beautiful!
TOO perfect. I would swear you have set this one up, which would make you a Director/PhotoStylist of the highest order.
You have such a fine eye, It’s a priviledge to view your latest offering each week. Even after several years of receiving your email pix, your slides are still the most enjoyable highlight of any week.
Best wishes and many many thanks to you and your ongoing artistry, Kent Adamson
October 3rd, 2006 at 11:16 am
All that machinery and metal concentrating its power directly on their skulls. I wonder what that did to their brains.