Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The Omaha morning bee. (Omaha [Neb.]) 1922-1927 | View Entire Issue (Aug. 24, 1924)
--- Behold N. Y’s Best Dressed Men! __ -J By O. O. McINTYHE. Whenever—and it la quite often—I feel the urge to know Just exactly "what the well-dressed man la wear ing" I do not turn to Beaunash in the front of the theater programs. I know a better way. I walk up te the rechristened Broadway mile known as Automobile row. Or among the folks as Gasoline alley. Here Solomon’s halo Is knocked for a row of humming birds' sleeve garters. Automobile row in New York be gins somewhere in the Fifties and stretches northward to Sixty-sixth Street. The stately facades glitter with class and blazon with brass. It is aristocracy plus—a puissant com petitor of the Rue de la Paix. Here among the myrmidons of the salesroom one finds the nattiest dress ers in Manhattan. Robert HilUard and Lou Tellegen at their best appear second raters. Almost any one of them could without a Jllck of the hair step into the most gorgeous drawing room on*the avenue and be at home. The salesmen of the row connote style to their polished finger tips. Each is the motif of a sartorial drama. From the paves you can see them in theiv showrooms as magnifi cent and resplendent as the shining new cars they are selling. Standing about in easy nonchal ance, it might appear that Zlegfeld had staged thje picture. You almost expect the melding of chiffon cur tains, flaked with gold, and a deep purple urban back drop. There is. it would seem, even the studied wait for the ensemble to flash on sing ing, "On That Beautiful Isle of Bing Bong." It Is a pretty good sign when men take such pride in their Job that they dress up for it. Clothes may not make the man, but they go a long way in creating respect in the mind of a reluctant buyer. 'How On» Sale Was Made. Dressing is a minor art and may not deal with the big problems of life. The Brahmins in the temple may cry, “Clothes will not sell cars!" I am one of the addle-pated nitwits who be lieve they do. Furthermore, I believe the sple and span salesmen of Auto row have quite a bit to do with the growth of the auto Industry. You hear many quips and quirks about their persistency. It is a quality to admire. We need Just a little more of it In all indus tries. The salesman who isn’t persistent 1 has just about as much future as a clam at a shore dinner. He doesn't have to carry his persistency to the point of being a nuisance and the auto salesman doesn’t. He merely haa faith in his product and he at tempts to pass it on to the prospec tive patron. A little personal experience of mine with the auto salesman might be told here. I have an antiquarian fascina tion for window shopping. I am stimulated by Imagining myself tbhl proud possessor of this and that as I saunter along the boulevards. There is a glamorous haze of romance to me in my musings. , It was a hot summer day—one of those days when an inferno of aun spread Its hot wrath upon the asphalt of upper Broadway. I loitered before one of the white marble showrooms along Auto roy. . _ ... A fine 'car . caught my eye—and mentally I was pulling it up in front spin,” he eald—and he did, through a maze of traffic and into beautiful, cool Central park. There. wae no ■aleemanehlp talk. In fact it was more like a holiday outing. And after circling the park a few tlmee we re turned to the ehowroom. "You like the car?” he aeked. I replied that I did very, much—but fell back on the ancient alible—Income tax and the high price of rente. "Still, I’d like to own it,” I eald, eyeing it with the light of proud ownerehlp. "Well," he finally eald, “why don’t you buy it?” I hummed and hawed and told him I would go home and think it over. Courteouely he bowed me out—a eort of ChesterXleldian genuflection. Now I remember all the detalla of that little adventure, but when I got “I hare an antiquarian fascination for window shopping/’ j of my tailor—Just to aw* him a bit— and then bowling over the ribbon smooth roads that unwind their way through Westchester. The salesman watched me. As I looked up he smiled a friendly smile and motioned for me to come In. A bit abashed, I did, and expressed my admiration for the motorcraft’s handl work. It was a dull day along the row and I suspect he was lonely Just as I was. Odd Gets a Free Ride. We talked of many things—of books, plays and current topics of the day. But always we cam* back to the subject of motoring. "Jump In and I’ll take you for a home to tell my wife about It I began! to relate the first thing how well that salesman was dressed. I recalled his well fitting suit—not the department store rah rah mate rial or the Kampus Kuts, but a suit evolved by an experienced cutters' chalk and shears. His shoes were meticulously polish ed, and despite the wilting day his collar stood straight and glossy. His hair was In place and the suit well pressed. He stood apart from the ordinary run of salesmen In other lines of endeavor. Of course, I liked the car—but I also liked the salesman. He had Im pressed me. Some time later I went back and we talked It over again. There was no rude Insistence, hut he did try to explain as clearly as pos sible all the car's good points. To make a long etory ahort, I didn’t buy the car but I so interested a friend of mine In It that he did. In other words my salesman friend had made a sale out of the seeming nowhere. Clothes unconsciously play ed a big part In that sale. Bert Buys a Car. The late Bert Williams, one of the best of the sepia comiques, once told me how he came to buy a very fine car—something he had no notion of doing until the very hour of the pur chase. Williams was strolling down Broad way on his way to a matinee He was a shy fellow—this comedian who made you laugh while a lump came Into your throat. He was ever care ful hot to Intrude among those out side his own race. As he sauntered past Auto Row he stopped to admire a stunty roadstetr. After a time he felt a touch on his arm. A salesman had come out of the show room upon recognizing the comedian. He seemed to know that Williams would heeltate to enter the place. "I would like very much for you to step in and look this car over," said the salesman. Willlsms followed him in. v Afterward in telling about it. he said: "I rarely encountered such courtesy and tact. He was not a 'puller in’ like those who stand In front of clothing shops. He saw I was Interested In that car and he was Interested enough In It to dis play Its wonders. He hod no idea of selling It to me. But he won me over in such a hurry that to his amazement I said, ‘I'm going to take it.’ And on my way home I gave him a check and drove it away. I never regretted It. It was the best car I 'ever owned.” In New York after running Into the snippy type of salesmen that one finds in so many places it Is a re lief to be greeted by the young Apol los who grace the motor sales cara vansaries of Automobile Row. Tailors Cater to Them. Most of the big dealers were once salesmen. It is a University of Hard Knocks—but what knowledge they have was secured greeting customers In the show rooms. And to the credit of the dealers they floss up their background for the boys who sell you the cars. There are Uouls Somethlng-or-other thrones, luxuriant groves of artificial palms, indirect lighting and rich plush cur tains. It Is all a splendid panorama and a fit setting for monogrammed hand kerchiefs, robin’s egg blue neckties and delicately striped shirts. New York tailors regard the brlsky young men of Gasoline Alley as their best perlpatstlc advertisements. And de servedly so. Other Industries should havs their salesmen emulate the fastidiousness that characterizes Automobile Row mm Y&jj&f ILfi 8 » It VIC T I III I I % K :;j| 1 ■ II Factory Service || HI for Studebaker Owners 11 HI' ' We have established at 2550 Farnam street a direct factory I 1 III branch operated under factory policies where Studebaker 1 | HI owners will receive courteous and efficient service at all times. I j 111 ' Our service department, which is conveniently located, is I; I equipped with the most modem appliances for service and re i|| pairs on Studebaker cars. I j If-1 Skilled mechanics—factory-trained men who know Stude- j | l|| baker cars—are employed. This means you get efficient ser- i | H| vice at a minimum charge. | * Studebaker owners and members of their families will be HI welcomed by the Service Manager, who will assign an exper- ||il HI ienced man to go over their cars thoroughly and determine | J what work is required. He will tell you how much the repairs §|j will cost before the work is started. When the work is fin- l| III ish.ed—regardless of the ultimate cost to us—you pay only the I HI Adequate stocks of genuine Studebaker parts will be car- | III % ried at a 1 times, so that y°u wil?never be delayed longer than | III the time required to complete the work. I Sit Throughout this organization you will find reflected a sin- j 11| cere desire to make your ownership of a Studebaker car cause I 1|| for permanent satisfaction. I ill Our service station will be operated exclusively for the I 1|| benefit of Studebaker owners. You are welcome—always. I I i'll! M HI The Studebaker Corporation of America 11 Retail Factory Branch and Service Station—2550 Farnam Street |||tHIS IS a S T tt n r b AKER YEArII ABE MARTIN r On Boy Orchestras ^ I - -ne/'f' let egj?«r5wEi wRon KALAMAZO& L A census o’ th’ boy orchestras throughtout the United State* has Jest been completed an 'th' figures are starggerln'. Unless some vigorous action Is taken, an' taken Immediate ly, t' stem th’ tide o’ youth In th' direction o’ dance orchestras, our whole economic structer must tum ble. t’ say nothin' o' th’ reg'lar army. Th’ exodus o’ kids an’ young men from the useful walks o’ life t’ th’ saxophone alone mounts well int' th' hundreds o’ thousan's, while those whd are devotin' th' olden, habit for min years of their lives t’ trombones an' trap drums may easily be surmis ed since wherever ther's a saxophone th' drums an' trombone are hard by. Employers o' child labor are • com plainin' bitterly, white parents who wish t' make dentists an' plasterers o’ ther son* nr* wrlngin’ ther hands. An' this present day craze among boys t' Join slap bang orchestras Is drivin' our girls int' th’ profession*. Instead o’ prowlin. about durin’ th’ long summer evenin'* with girls on ther arms, fully eighty per cent of our boys may be seen dartin' here an’ there carryin’ bass drums, fiddle box es an' horns. An’ what kind o’ music are, they makin'? We saw a fine promisin' lookin’ boy buying a etiff hat fer his trombone th' other day with money his father had given him, not fer mowin’ th’ lawn or washin' th’ car, but just out o’Ah' goodness of his heart. We know his daif an' he's a fine, conscientious cement mixer an’ wears a cap daily an’ Sunday, Th’ saxophone is an ole time musical In strument, an' fer many years, or up t’ th’ tfme Jazz got prominent. It h*d no standin' whatever in decent, ear respectin' musical ogganizatlons, but t’ day Its low, degradin' notes predom inate at all dances. We don't know how true it is, but we've heard that these Jazz orchestra boys rjjake three dollars an hour while they last. But what o' th’ future years, but what o' th’ day o' reconin’ when ther orches tra days are over, when the're tossed int’ th' arena o life with nothin' t' commend ’em bnt an ear fer noise? Clittin' stuck on a musical instrument is different from any other diversion. We kin have most any other kind of a hobby an’ still study law. or med icine, or learn a trade, or excel as a bookkeeper, but beeomin' endeared t’ a musical Instrument destroys Initi ative, an th' ambition t’ tried th' no bler walks of life. {Copyright. 1424 ) -- Gayety Has Dancing Team ' Heading Burlesque Sham To those who enjoy dancing, brought up to the utmost degree comedy that Is clean and wholesome and an elaborate production, Hurtis A Seamon's new Columbia Burlesque production. "Step On It," which comes to the Gayety theater this afternoon Is dedicated. Headed by George Nlblo and Helen Spencer, dancers and gloom destroyers, this extravaganza ranks with the most noteworthy achievements of the lat ter day stage. A clearly written book has been supplied by Allen Spencer Tenney, while tuneful, catchy melody has been injected bj^ Jimmy JohnsoR writer of many popular songs Promt nent scenic artists have contribute-! their share In devising elaborate sets for the play, and Leonard Harper, ballet master supreme, has drilled the chorus of 18 eye-filling young sters. The wardrobe is new and unique, especially designed under the direction of Miss Spencer, from im ported models. Martie Semon. the fat boy. Is the second comedian. H: wardrobe Is eald to be furnished by Omar, the Tent Maker. Morris Lloyd handles the straight man's end. while Harry Bart, Jim Hall and Ben Joss assist In various departments Among the ladies, in addifton to Miss Spencer, there are Frankie Morris, blues sing er, and Helen Ardell. Listed among the vaudeville specialties era Nlblo and Spencer, the California Trio. Lloyd and Ardell and Frankie Morris. There will be a ladles' bargain mat- ' inee at 2:15 daily all week “Deluge ’ Will Be First Play at Brandeis _I- j "The Deluge" will be presented here at the Brandeis theater September 18, 19 and 20 under the dire tlon of Melville B. Raymond who h .« sponsored such well known stars as Guy Bates Post In "The Climax "The Masquerader," etc, with the same cast that has contributed to ;-s success at the Cort theater in Chi cago where It closed a 12 weeks r n August 16. This play was universal ly acclaimed by the Chicago critics as the best play of the year. I I The Touring Car *295 Runabout - 4265 Poomtable Rina ■ad Starter IS* cxzza Coupe - 4525 Tudor Sedan • - 590 Fordor Sedan • 655 AH paddaaf. a. 6. Detroit I ■. Ill Utm ost Drftfng Confidence I I r-r ||| I Driving a Ford is so simple, 11 I and requires so little effort I I I that you are free to devote ' III I all your attention to the prob* III I lems of traffic. There is a I I I sense df confidence in driving I I I a Ford, impossible with any I I I more complicated motor car. I I II ^^FU^ptor^yOm/uMui || I j ■ " Detroit " w ** j 5 lit IU TU NUIKIT Aunoamo .Vs |l| FORD DEALER f I ■■■ ««»«•• II fig I */■ ■ Hfi III You can buy any model bvmakltig a tmstldawn-paitmamtmmJ arranging atuytarmt tor the halanoe. Or n.M.u, * I I ' on the ord Weakly Purehate Plan. The Ford dealer in your neighborhood mill gladly explain both plant in detail i i ^[^fi » ___ ___