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BARBER SHOP

BARBER SHOP

BARBER SHOPPublic Typography


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BARBER SHOP

BARBER SHOP

BARBER SHOPPublic Typography

Written and designed by Lauren Sati


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Barbershops

are places of

continuity; they

dont change

with the shifts

in culture.

-ANTHONY HAMILTON


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IntroductionIntroduction

When you hear the word barber shop, the first thing

that probably comes to mind is an illuminated red,

white and blue striped pole. Of course this is the first

thing we think of. Barber shops have been branded

with this symbol since the Middle Ages. This pole

represents the place that barbers preform their craft.

The 1880s to the 1940s were the golden age for

barber shops. This was a place where men could

gather to socialize. Visiting the barber shop became

a weekly, for some daily, habit for many men. This

was a place where a man could be a man. Men

would share stories and laughs with each other

while, maybe, also getting a shave or a haircut.


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During this golden age, barber shops were elegant

and classy places. Marble counters were lined with

colorful glass blown tonic bottles. The barber chairs

were elaborately carved from oak and walnut, and fitted

with fine leather upholstery. Everything from the shav-

ing mugs to the advertising signs were rendered with

an artistic flourish. The best shops even had crystal

chandeliers hanging from fresco painted ceilings. It

almost sounds like barber shops wereexclusive clubs.

Thats not surprising since barber shops rivaled saloons

in popularity. Unfamiliar customers were always wel-

come. As long as you got along well with the other men

there, you were accepted into the exclusive club.

Today, barber shops are no longer just a mans place.

Barber shops service and employ both men and

women. Although the male-dominant barber shop rule

has changed, the look of barber shops remained the

same. Barber shops are places of continuity; they

dont change with the shifts in culture.

Modern day barber shops continue to use the illumi-

nated pole. Many Lawrence, Kan. barber shops even

have a retro inspired hand-pained sign of the shops

name. Places like Downtown Barber Shop, Rexs Sta-

dium Barber Shop and Larrys Barber Shop are a few

places that are reminiscent of the barber shops from

the golden age.

Tom Amyx Barber Shop located

at 842 Massachusetts St. Cut-

ting hair is a tradition in the

Amyx family. Barbering extends

through four generations of the

Amyx family.


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11Walking UpWalking UpYou know youve made it to theright place when you see the iconicstriped pole from a distance.Just looking at the front of theshop gives you a nostalgic feel.


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First, after the striped pole, you take note of the way the

store name is displayed on the front. Hand-painted logos

have a more personal and local feel. It can be seen as an

advantage to have a retro-esque shop logo. It can give the

customer a sense of feeling comfortable and at ease. Too

Walking Up

many hand-painted signs could almost be seen as unpro-

fessional. Many Lawrence barber shops draw the line with

hand-painted type. For example, Rexs barber shop is beauti-

fully painted on the front window of the shop, but the shops

hours are neatly listed in a slab-serif on the window.

Rexs Stadium Barber Shop

located at 1033 Massachusetts

St. The shop has been in

Lawrence since 1923. After

leaving Downtown Barber

Shop, Rex Porter made this

shop his own in 1987.

Outside Rexs


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In 1921, Cecil Amyx had only worked a

few months with his brothers when he

went to a Kansas City barbering school.Cecils brothers soon got out of the busi-

ness, but he continued, working at vari-

ous barbershops before setting up shop

in 1942 at the same location where his

grandson, Mike, now works.

In 1958, a fire heavily damaged Cecil

Amyxs barbershop. The shop was rebuilt.

He died in 1968, Tom moved into his dads

old shop after his mother, Ethel, operated

it for a couple of years. In 1975, his sonsMike and Jon Amyx went through barber

school and then began working with their

dad. Father and sons said they worked

well together.

Tom Amyx quit cutting hair for a living

nearly seven years ago, but the memo-

ries he has of growing up and working

in barbershops are as strong as ever.

ALL IN THE FAMILY


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On the other hand, barber shops like Downtown

Barber Shop have window logos applied on the glass,

but other elements, like the address number, are

painted on. The contrast between the two allows for

an interesting combination. The sharp, clean window

application balances the freedom and fluidity of the

hand-painted type.

In conjunction with the

outdoor signage, Downtown

Barber Shop occasion-

ally uses a chalkboard to

draw people into the shop.

Outside Downtown Barber Shop


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Being a barber

is about

taking care ofthe people.

-ANTHONY HAMILTON

Downtown Barber Shop

located at 824 Massachusetts

St. Owner Jon Amyx is the

son of Tom Amyx, founder of

Tom Amyx Barbershop. Jon

has been working with his

son, Jay Amyx, for 6 years.


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The red and white pole outside

barber shops references a timewhen barbers were expected to

perform bloodletting and other

medical procedures to heal the

sick; red represented blood and

white represented bandages.

Barber surgeons in Rome

also performed teeth extraction,

cupping, leeching, bloodletting,

surgery and enemas.

HISTORY OF THE POLE


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Although barber shops have been able to createa unique chemistry with hand-painted type with

window-applied type, many aspects of barber shop

signs are inconsistent. Because many Lawrence

barber shops are local, many dont feel like they

need to spend the extra money on a professional

sign. Shops like Larrys Barber shop are satis-

fied with their simple, undesigned, layout of their

store hours and haircut pricing. Barber shops are

there to cut you hair, not show you a pretty sign.Many stores also have handwritten signs on their

windows. These signs can be silly, or they can be

informative. The almost rudimentary aspect of

barber shops is not unappealing. The inconsistent

signage and sloppy handwritten signs give the shop

character and personality. It also lets you know

what kind of personality the barber possibly has.

Larrys Barber Shop is located at

924 Massachusetts St. Larrys

Barber Shop is a father and son

owned shop. The shop has been

in Lawrence since 1925, but Larry

has owned it since 1994.

Outside Larrys


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22Inside the ShopInside the ShopWalking into a barber shopis a unique experience. Im-mediately, you feel a sense ofcomfort and friendliness.


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In between

the banter,

jokes are toldand laughs

are had.

-ANTHONY HAMILTON


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During the Golden Age of barber shops, bar-

bers and customers had fascinating stories to

share with each other. You feel at ease to say

whats on your mind. There are always conver-

sation about politics, cars, sports, and family.

Guys read the newspaper and comment on

current events. In between the banter, jokes

Inside the Shop

are told and laughs are had. And everyone is

involved: the barbers, the customers getting

their haircut, and the customers waiting to get

their haircut. Adding to the enjoyment is that

a variety of men take part in the conversation;

young, old, and middle-aged join in the mix.

The Old Days


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Downtown Barber Shop

After walking into Downtown Barber Shop, you are

immediately overwhelmed by the amount of stuff

on the walls, ceiling and floor. KU decorations cover

every inch of the shop. Decor on the wall includes old

University Daily Kansan pagesmany about basket-

balland an array of KU signs from miscellaneous KU

fan stores.

This personalized aspect makes barber shops like

this very unique to Lawrence. No other barber shop

outside of Lawrence would be decorated like this. The

atmosphere in Downtown Barber Shop specifically

is positive and uplifting. Bright colors cover the wall

making it almost hard to have a bad day in the shop.

The interior of Downtown

Barber Shop. Downtown

Barber Shop is actually two

shops right next to each other.

Both shops are the same size

with similar KU decoration.


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Barber shops are no longer restricted only

to men. This includes the customers and the

employees. Today, cosmologists are able to

work in barber shops. But, for a shop to be

legally called a Barber Shop, there has to

be one licensed Barber in the shop. Barbers

and Cosmologists are not gender specific.

There are men and women licensed in both

professions. Cosmologists and Barbers go

to different schools with different training.

Unlike a Barber, Cosmologists arent able to

give shaves.

NOT A MANS WORLD


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A memorable

and heavenly

man aromafilled the air.

-BRETT, ART OF MANLINESS


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Rexs barber shop, on the other hand, is also quite

unique in its own, different way. Although it is also

covered in KU memorabilia, the mood in the shop

is much different. After walking through the door, it

almost looks hazy. The light shining from the window

in the back of the shop obstructs your view as you

walk in. It has a muskier, masculine scent. The con-

crete floor gives the shop a colder atmosphere, but

you can feel the warmth from the people inside.

Rexs Stadium Barber Shop

This barber shop has the same aura of the traditional

mens barber shop from the golden age. The dcor

is fun, but not as bright and popping as the dcor in

Downtown Barber shop. The pictures are mainly in

black and white, the edges of some of the pictures

have turned yellow from old age, and recent KU

posters reside near the back of the shop. The aged

quality of the photos and the distressed wood in the

shop enhance the retro personality of the shop.


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Rexs Barber Shop is full of retro KU memorabilia. This is

the theme for many Lawrence barber shops. It emphasizes

the local attitude that Massachusetts Street has.


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Owner Rex Porter took over the

barber shop formerly known as RCs

Stadium Barber Shop after leaving

his job at Downtown Barber Shop.

The building has been the Stadium

Barber Shop since 1923, says Rex.

The shop fit his personality perfectly,

Rex is a sports nut. After taking

over the shop, Rex had no inten-

tions of removing the wall of old

sports photos, antique barber chairs

and the shelves of football helmets.

Although the name on the glass has

changed, its still Lawrences old

Stadium Barber Shop.

THE HISTORY OF REX


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In the Hot Seat33In the Hot SeatFinally, its your turn for yourhaircut. You take a seat in theleather chair and let the barberdo his work.


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In the Hot Seat

As youre sitting there, you begin to explore your

barbers workstation. You see each barber has his

own, personalized name plaque engraved in wood.

Its a nice touch. It lets you know that these barbers

have been employed at the shop for a while so you

know theyre good. As your eyes wander some more,

you notice personal touches each barber has at his

station. Rex Porter, the owner, has a dollar bill signed

by a woman taped on his mirror. You can assume the

dollar has some sort of sentimental significance. Per-

sonal touches like this make the shop seem welcom-

ing and friendly. You can tell these barbers are down

to earth just through the items each of them has at

their workstation and around the shop.

Right page: an image of one of the

antique barber chairs that Rex kept

after taking over the shop.

Bottom: A detailed shot of the

footstool on the barber chairs

A Haircut from Rex Porter


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The word barber comes from the Latin wordbarba, meaning beard. The earliest records of

barbers show that they were the foremost men

of their tribe. They were the medicine men

and the priests. But primitive man was very

superstitious and the early tribes believed that

both good and bad spirits, which entered the

body through the hairs on the head, inhabited

every individual. The bad spirits could only

be driven out of the individual by cutting the

hair, so various fashions of hair cutting werepracticed by the different tribes and this made

the barber the most important man in the

community. In fact, the barbers in these tribal

days arranged all marriages and baptized all

children. They were the chief figures in the

religious ceremonies.

Wherever there were legends and superstitions

about the hair, the barbers flourished.

THE ROOT OF BARBERING


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Your eyes start to wander onto the wall full of hair

product for sale in the middle of your haircut. The

shelves arent cluttered, but in no way would the

presentation be considered as professional as a hair

salons display. Each bottle of shampoo and hair gel

sits on a wooden shelf. Handwritten tags mark the

price for each item and quickly made signs hang

off the shelves in attempt to advertise and call out

certain products.

The moment

a man stepped

inside, he was

enveloped in

the warm and

welcoming

familiarity.

-BRETT, ART OF MANLINESS


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The interior of Larrys Barber Shop.

The Logo on the window is not painted

on. Similar to Downtown Barber Shop, the

Larrys Barber Shop is a window application.

It still has the same retro appearance that

the hand-painted barber shop logos.


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Barbershops

are places of

continuity; theydont change

with the shifts

in culture.

-ANTHONY HAMILTON


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ConclusionConclusion

Barber shops are more than just the stripped pole

and shaving cream. Every barber shop is unique in

its own way, giving it its own personality. Downtown

barber shop embraces the modern sports culture

of Lawrence with an overwhelming amount of KU

memorabilia. Larrys Barber shop on the other hand,

embraces this sports culture with subtle and down-to-

earth decoration.

Although barber shops have evolved, they are still

very reminiscent of the barbershops from the Golden

Age. Aside from the striped barber pole, modern

barber shops continue the tradition of retro shop

signage. Even though the times have changed, the

atmosphere and environment of barber shops remains

unchanged. Barber shops are places of continu-

ity; they dont change with the shifts in culture.


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Sources

Barbers History. GB Hair History. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013.

Barbers pole - Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia. Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia.

N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013.

History of Barbering. Dufferin-Peel Catholic Distract School Board. N.p., n.d. Web.

12 Nov. 2013.

Larrys Barber Shop. MerchantCircle. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

Myths & Facts. Barber Jons. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

Why Every Man Should Go To A Barber Shop | The Art of Manliness. The Art of Man-

liness | Mens Interests and Lifestyle. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013.

Andrews, William. At the sign of the barbers pole; studies in hirsute history.. Detroit:

Singing Tree Press, 1969. Print.

Belt, Mike. Amyx Barbers Turn Occupation into a Family Tradition / LJWorld.

com.Amyx Barbers Turn Occupation into a Family Tradition / LJWorld.com. Lawrence

Journal World, 23 Apr. 2005. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

Cummings, Ian. Lawrence.com. Best Barber. Lawrence.com, 16 June 2013. Web.

12 Nov. 2013.

Fagan, Mark. Lawrence.com. Old Barber Shop Fits New Owners Style. Lawrence.

com, 6 Nov. 2004. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.


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CreditsThis book was typeset in Belizio and Trade Gothic. It was designed in Adobe

InDesign and photos were edited in Adobe Photoshop. All photos were taken with a

Canon EOS T1i Rebel.

Lauren Sati

Designer as Author Fall 2013

Prof. Patrick Dooley

The University of Kansas


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