GREASY KIDS STUFF

Back in the 20s and through the 50s, the standard haircut for young boys was a sharp part, short sides, and a small wave in the front held in place with lots of hair tonic. Perhaps many of us developed our attraction to the style by our own experiences in the chair. this set of photos captures those childhood memories.

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WHO DESIGNED THE BRYLCREEM PACKAGE?

For many years since the 70s, I have been good friends Irv Koons and his son Jon. Irv designed the US packaging for Brylcreem. Irv lives in New Jersey, USA and headed up a design firm, Irv koons Associates in New York City. He is world known in the packaging industry, gave world lecture tours on design, and won the prestiegious Package Person of the Year Award -- an award that is only presented by the Package Design Council when there is an outstanding person to honor. One could hardly go to the supermarket without seeing dozens of examples of his work. His black, white and red box and tube has remained on store shelves virtually unchanged since he designed it. He is known for his modesty and declined to interview about the Brylcreem design saying that Brylcreem was outmoded and not worth talking about. We see it differently than the mainstream. It has been an honor to see myself often involved with one of the products he designed and to have incorporated his design it in the Brylkeen Collection section on SlickVille.com. -Jim Brown

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HOW DID THE DA COME ABOUT?

Just how the DA came about is a topic for much discussion and debate. We bring you a few accounts of this milestone in slick hairstyle history.

The DA acording to Steve Hooker

Joe Cirello who was a barber in Philadelphia, PA, USA invented the D.A. or "Ducks Ass" in the 1940s. Soon his DA became a big hit among British and American youths during the 1950s. The style was further popularized by Elvis Presley and others on the screens of drive-ins and movie theaters. Joe also cut Mia Farrow's hair. This vintage photo on the cover of the CD album, "King of the Ducktail Cats" shows Joe in his barbershop.

Submitted by: Steve Hooker

Nicholas says it was born out of a whole culture.

The DA was actually invented by Chicano youth in the El Paso-Ciudad Juarez area of Texas in the 1930's. It cannot be attributed to one barber, or person, but instead to an entire culture. See the the following website:
http://www.pbs.org/wgbh/amex/zoot/eng_sfeature/mx/pop_zoot_mx.html
(Ed. This site describes Pachuco youth who wore Zoot Suits and the DA, but does not necessarly show origin of the DA. We can see that the DA does predate the Rock 'n' Roll years which it is most associated with. It is certain that the DA was very popular among Mexican youth. Even today, the DA and slicked back styles look exceptionally hip when worn by Mexicans witheir black hair which is kept long and just trimed along the edges.)

Submitted by: Nicholas F. Centino, Student of Color Campus Diversity Project, United States Student Association Foundation, 1413 K St. NW Floor 9 Washington, D.C., 20005, tel. 202.347.USSA, · fax. 202.393.5886 · www.usstudents.org

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WORLD WAR II CUTS

Haircuts during the big war were inspired by the men over there. During World War II, boys and men would frequent the barbershop for sheared sides and enough hair on top to heavily grease and then comb straight back, make a wave, or a small pompadour with side part. MORE>

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SHARE SOME TRIVIA

If you have any slicked hair trivia, facts, and stories please write to: slickville@slickville.com