Listen to episode 146 of The Adelaide Show podcast, which was published June 8 2016, to find out which story is fake.
Tradesman and Haircut Prices
NEWS May 1949
THE latest increase in hair dressing prices should be confined to shops in the high rent area. Barbers in the suburbs are on a good thing at the old price. Many run a motor car and are buying their own homes. I am a skilled tradesman with two children. I earn £12 a week and pay £50 in tax. Plenty of suburban hair dressers are making £16 to £20 a week, and I know a few who seem to pay less tax than I do. I had to serve six years as an apprentice on low wages and attend night school two nights a week. I can’t afford to set up on my own, but a barber can start in business for a comparatively small outlay. I’ve bought a pair of clippers and will cut my two boys’ hair. I’ll be able to buy some surplus scissors when hairdressers have gone out of business through overcharging.- ARTHUR BROWN Goodwood
Perms for males
The Mail Feb 1951
While most Adelaide males bemoan the high price of haircuts there are others who pay two to three guineas regularly to have their hair waved. This trend in masculine embellishment, according to a city hairdresser, will probably become more popular. Men are wearing their hair longer and generally becoming more hair-conscious. The actual number of men who have their hair waved is still on the secret list. At present the practice is considered somewhat effeminate and devotees do not advertise the fact that their hair is anything but naturally wavy. A spokesman for the Hair dressers Employees Federation said today: “Nobody seems to be catering specially for the trade, because the demand is limited.” But I feel if someone did cater for them, more men would have their hair waved The spokesman said hair waves were not really a new craze. Hundreds of years ago men affected powdered, waved hair. Then, waved hair bad been a mark of social distinction
Barbers Shop Torched?
The News Sep 1951
Police in Hindley Street are investigating a suspicious fire that started late last night and led to over 200 pounds in damages. Fire appliances were called to ‘Frank’s Barbers’ on Hindley Street just after 1am when fire and smoke was seen near the rear of the building. However by the time they had arrived, the fire was well under way and the best they could do was to stop the fire from spreading. It appears the fire was lit in boxes close to a rear store room and rapidly spread inside. Witnesses have reported that an angry altercation had occurred earlier in the evening over a haircut a so called ‘Widgie’ had received. They reported the gayly dressed young men had been upset over a friends haircut and refused to pay.