Barber Shop: Public Typography

BARBER SHOP Public Typography

Written and designed by Lauren Sati

“Barbershops are places of continuity; they don’t change with the shifts in culture.”

-ANTHONY HAMILTON

Introduction When you hear the word “barber shop,� the first thing

barber shops. This was a place where men could

that probably comes to mind is an illuminated red,

gather to socialize. Visiting the barber shop became

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

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

thing we think of. Barber shops have been branded

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

with this symbol since the Middle Ages. This pole

would share stories and laughs with each other

represents the place that barber’s preform their craft.

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

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

Tom Amyx Barber Shop located at 842 Massachusetts St. Cutting hair is a tradition in the Amyx family. Barbering extends through four generations of the Amyx family.

During this golden age, barber shops were elegant

Today, barber shops are no longer just a man’s place.

and classy places. “Marble counters were lined with

Barber shops service and employ both men and

colorful glass blown tonic bottles. The barber chairs

women. Although the male-dominant barber shop rule

were elaborately carved from oak and walnut, and fitted

has changed, the look of barber shops remained the

with fine leather upholstery. Everything from the shav-

same. “Barber shops are places of continuity; they

ing mugs to the advertising signs were rendered with

don’t change with the shifts in culture.”

an artistic flourish. The best shops even had crystal chandeliers hanging from fresco painted ceilings.” It almost sounds like barber shops wereexclusive clubs.

That’s not surprising since barber shops rivaled saloons in popularity. Unfamiliar customers were always welcome. As long as you got along well with the other men there, you were accepted into the exclusive club.

Modern day barber shops continue to use the illuminated pole. Many Lawrence, Kan. barber shops even have a retro inspired hand-pained sign of the shop’s name. Places like Downtown Barber Shop, Rex’s Stadium Barber Shop and Larry’s Barber Shop are a few places that are reminiscent of the barber shops from the golden age.

1

Walking Up You know you’ve made it to the right place when you see the iconic striped pole from a distance.

Just looking at the front of the shop gives you a nostalgic feel.

Walking Up Outside Rex’s First, after the striped pole, you take note of the way the

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

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

fessional. Many Lawrence barber shops draw the line with

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

hand-painted type. For example, Rex’s barber shop is beauti-

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

fully painted on the front window of the shop, but the shop’s

customer a sense of feeling comfortable and at ease. Too

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

Rex’s 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.

ALL IN THE FAMILY In 1921, Cecil Amyx had only worked a few months with his brothers when he went to a Kansas City barbering school.

Cecil’s brothers soon got out of the business, but he continued, working at various barbershops before setting up shop in 1942 at the same location where his grandson, Mike, now works.

In 1958, a fire heavily damaged Cecil Amyx’s barbershop. The shop was rebuilt.

He died in 1968, Tom moved into his dad’s old shop after his mother, Ethel, operated it for a couple of years. In 1975, his sons Mike 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 memories he has of growing up and working in barbershops are as strong as ever.

Outside Downtown Barber Shop 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 occasionally uses a chalkboard to draw people into the shop.

“Being a barber is about taking care of the 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.

HISTORY OF THE POLE The red and white pole outside barber shops references a time when 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.

Larry’s Barber Shop is located at 924 Massachusetts St. Larry’s 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 Larry’s Although barber shops have been able to create

there to cut you hair, not show you a pretty sign.

a unique chemistry with hand-painted type with

Many stores also have handwritten signs on their

window-applied type, many aspects of barber shop

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

signs are inconsistent. Because many Lawrence

informative. The almost rudimentary aspect of

barber shops are local, many don’t feel like they

barber shops is not unappealing. The inconsistent

need to spend the extra money on a professional

signage and sloppy handwritten signs give the shop

sign. Shops like Larry’s Barber shop are satis-

character and personality. It also lets you know

fied with their simple, undesigned, layout of their

what kind of personality the barber possibly has.

store hours and haircut pricing. Barber shops are

2

Inside the Shop Walking into a barber shop is a unique experience. Immediately, you feel a sense of comfort and friendliness.

“In between the banter, jokes are told and laughs are had.”

-ANTHONY HAMILTON

Inside the Shop The Old Days During the Golden Age of barber shops, bar-

are told and laughs are had. And everyone is

bers and customers had fascinating stories to

involved: the barbers, the customers getting

share with each other. You feel at ease to say

their haircut, and the customers waiting to get

what’s on your mind. There are always conver-

their haircut. Adding to the enjoyment is that

sation about politics, cars, sports, and family.

a variety of men take part in the conversation;

Guys read the newspaper and comment on

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

current events. In between the banter, jokes

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.

Downtown Barber Shop After walking into Downtown Barber Shop, you are

This personalized aspect makes barber shops like

immediately overwhelmed by the amount of stuff

this very unique to Lawrence. No other barber shop

on the walls, ceiling and floor. KU decorations cover

outside of Lawrence would be decorated like this. The

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

atmosphere in Downtown Barber Shop specifically

University Daily Kansan pages–many about basket-

is positive and uplifting. Bright colors cover the wall

ball–and an array of KU signs from miscellaneous KU

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

fan stores.

NOT A MAN’S WORLD 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 aren’t able to give shaves.

“A memorable and heavenly man aroma filled the air.”

-BRETT, ART OF MANLINESS

Rex’s Stadium Barber Shop Rex’s barber shop, on the other hand, is also quite

This barber shop has the same aura of the traditional

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

mens barber shop from the golden age. The décor

covered in KU memorabilia, the mood in the shop

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

is much different. After walking through the door, it

Downtown Barber shop. The pictures are mainly in

almost looks hazy. The light shining from the window

black and white, the edges of some of the pictures

in the back of the shop obstructs your view as you

have turned yellow from old age, and recent KU

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

posters reside near the back of the shop. The aged

crete floor gives the shop a colder atmosphere, but

quality of the photos and the distressed wood in the

you can feel the warmth from the people inside.

shop enhance the retro personality of the shop.

Rex’s 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.

THE HISTORY OF REX Owner Rex Porter took over the barber shop formerly known as RC’s 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 intentions 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, it’s still Lawrence’s old Stadium Barber Shop.

3

In the Hot Seat Finally, it’s your turn for your haircut. You take a seat in the leather chair and let the barber do his work.

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

In the Hot Seat A Haircut from Rex Porter As you’re sitting there, you begin to explore your

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

barber’s workstation. You see each barber has his

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

own, personalized name plaque engraved in wood.

dollar has some sort of sentimental significance. Per-

It’s a nice touch. It lets you know that these barbers

sonal touches like this make the shop seem welcom-

have been employed at the shop for a while so you

ing and friendly. You can tell these barbers are down

know they’re good. As your eyes wander some more,

to earth just through the items each of them has at

you notice personal touches each barber has at his

their workstation and around the shop.

THE ROOT OF BARBERING The word “barber” comes from the Latin word “barba”, 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 were practiced 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 moment a man stepped inside, he was enveloped in the warm and welcoming familiarity.”

-BRETT, ART OF MANLINESS

Your eyes start to wander onto the wall full of hair product for sale in the middle of your haircut. The shelves aren’t cluttered, but in no way would the presentation be considered as professional as a hair salon’s 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 interior of Larry’s Barber Shop.

The Logo on the window is not painted on. Similar to Downtown Barber Shop, the Larry’s Barber Shop is a window application.

It still has the same retro appearance that the hand-painted barber shop logos.

“Barbershops are places of continuity; they don’t change with the shifts in culture.”

-ANTHONY HAMILTON

Conclusion Barber shops are more than just the stripped pole

Although barber shops have evolved, they are still

and shaving cream. Every barber shop is unique in

very reminiscent of the barbershops from the Golden

its own way, giving it its own personality. Downtown

Age. Aside from the striped barber pole, modern

barber shop embraces the modern sports culture

barber shops continue the tradition of retro shop

of Lawrence with an overwhelming amount of KU

signage. Even though the times have changed, the

memorabilia. Larry’s Barber shop on the other hand,

atmosphere and environment of barber shops remains

embraces this sports culture with subtle and down-to-

unchanged. “Barber shops are places of continu-

earth decoration.

ity; they don’t change with the shifts in culture.”

Sources “Barber’s History.” GB Hair History. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013.

“Barber’s 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.

“Larry’s Barber Shop.” MerchantCircle. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

“Myths & Facts.” Barber Jon’s. N.p., n.d. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

“Why Every Man Should Go To A Barber Shop | The Art of Manliness.” The Art of Manliness | Men’s Interests and Lifestyle. N.p., n.d. Web. 8 Oct. 2013.

Andrews, William. At the sign of the barber’s 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 Owner’s Style. Lawrence. com, 6 Nov. 2004. Web. 12 Nov. 2013.

Credits This 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