Thu, Aug 4, 2022, THROW BACK THURSDAY – LEVI’S AT B. F. SMITH & SONS SADDLERY plus CLASS NEWS
THROW BACK THURSDAY – LEVI’S AT B. F. SMITH & SONS SADDLERY plus CLASS NEWS
Oh you teen-aged guys!! To cuff . . . or not to cuff! That is the question.
Back during the school year 1952-53, I was compelled to shop your family's E. Broadway shop for having been introduced to the "latest thing"; by Little Rock's teen style-trend setters. Namely, students attending Pulaski Heights Junior High up in Little Rock&'s "silk stocking" district, then referred to simply as "the heights". At 14, I was attending one of LR's other junior highs, West Side. The Heights was the pipeline of out-of-state origin fads due to – I’m guessing– it being upscale residential for LR’s executive/professional class families, privileged by income affording national and international travel, from which returning bearing alluring “foreign” exotica. Levis were exotic compared to the familiar jean brands. Bought in larger sizes because they were not pre-shrunk. Shrinking of the denim fabric from first washing left them stiff enough to stand-alone. The right rear pocket had a distinctive red fabric tag lettered “Levi” in white. Sewn onto the back right belt line was a genuine leather patch having distinctive red lettering and illustration of brand logo. HOT!
I caught onto the Heights Levi fad from weekend overnights with friend, Roger Treadwell, who’d moved to the Heights from the West Side district where we’d first met. At Pulaski Heights Jr. High Levis – along with Levi jackets – had become the uniform. Annually each autumn for the beginning school term my brother and I were allowed to purchase three new pairs of jeans to last the year. By some contrivance I managed to persuade my mother to cross the Arkansas River bridge into North Little Rock to purchase Levis at B. F. Smith and Sons Saddlery. Sitting at my homeroom desk on the first day of that autumn semester, Malcom “Buddy” Milligan (a popular classmate who’d otherwise given me no notice) paused in front of my desk to give me a studied look, ending with a shift of facial expression that I couldn’t mistake as other than respectful approval. I was surprised when Milligan recognized the Levi brand, even asking the question, "Where'd you get
the Levis?"
"Tuffies" was another common brand, sold at Blass, that Mom insisted we buy because my sister worked at Blass weekends while in nurses training at Baptist Hospital. Remember, those were the days of "brand loyalty", which my Mother practiced religiously. I didn't mention "jean boots" which was the accompanying accessory simultaneously introduced by the Heights crowd. As boots they were low rise, just above the ankle and rather than hugging the leg at the top they were wide. Distinguished as a style item for having a metal ring at the top, front and back, between which was slung a brass chain (maybe anticipating decades later Isaac
Hays' costume of draped, glistening chains worn during Academy Awards). Eventually I had a pair, but Jack Holtzman was the first West Side kid to have a pair, I believe because he thought they affected the motorcycle "look" while riding that belt driven, dull gray brush re-painted, motor bike that looked so anemic parked next to Frank Plegge's new, shiny, black Indian Scout at that drug store at 14th Street a block east of West Side. You're right, Bill Harmon, I was a style-hog. Cuffing was the practice back then, probably no less for the hand-me-down reason you site than as just style statement modeled by Brando wearing Levis in
the February '54 movie The Wild One. Always my jeans were still double cuffed at end of the school year when the months of washings had left them a pale blue except at the knees which were white with wear almost through the fabric. I'm sure you remember that girls too doubled cuffed their jeans
. Storie Mooser
Weren’t no Levis in my wardrobe! My Mother bought everything for durability for eventual hand-me-down use with 3 boys in the house. Mom's philosophy on "Stylin'" on a railroader's salary. As you remember my jeans were Tuf-Nut brand from J.C. Penny with growth- spurts in mind so I always rolled up the bottoms with at least two cuff rolls. Style was NEVER a consideration in clothing for Mom’s boys, cleanliness was, but the rule was wear that shirt two days before putting it in the dirty clothes basket. I follow that rule to this day.
It is a family joke that Mother was the tightest person that ever lived, but she died with plenty of money in her bank account! Her rules probably made me choose the Army where there was one store where I bought my fatigues, and style was not an issue which left me time to spit shine my boots. Like they say: Mother knows best!
Bill Harmon
Mooser - Plegge - Barnett
1956 CLASS NEWSSo sorry to hear that Cecil Robinson has just undergone major surgery, which means he will have tomiss the Reunion. Doctor says no travel for 45 days and a long drive from Florida. Get well soon, Cecil!Still looking for one of Mozart’s paintings. Joe Crow
Joe, You can view his paintings on Youtube, I think. Hammond
Marylou, You may have already covered this (at 85+ memories are not very good), but Carolyn and I saw ELVIS last week and it was really good! Brought back memories that my sister and I attended his show in LR at Robinson Auditorium and Carolyn also attended.
Peter Hartstein
Yes, Peter, Jim Diffee had already alerted me that he and Nancy saw it and loved it. He told me to take a group with me! Still working on that!!! LOL
1955 CLASS NEWS
Keep up your GREAT SHOW. '55 is a great class. Herb Rule
My sympathy to Ann Bone and family! My prayers are with you!
Pat Horney
As before, thanks for keeping me in this youngsters' circle. Reading your Mozart squib remined me of one of my favorites,
"The people who think they know it all are a real pain in the neck to those of us who really do."
Don Manes '54
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DIET TIP IN GETTING READY FOR THE REUNION
If you think you're hungry, you might just be thirsty.
Have a bottle of wine first and then see how you feel!
ML
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