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Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits
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Mark Brader
Oct 30, 2014, 2:39:47 PM10/30/14
to
If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
"two bits" means 25 cents.
What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
--
Mark Brader "Oh, I'm a programmer and I'm O.K....
Toronto I work all night and I sleep all day"
m...@vex.net -- Trygve Lode (after Monty Python)
My text in this article is in the public domain.
goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
"two bits" means 25 cents.
What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
--
Mark Brader "Oh, I'm a programmer and I'm O.K....
Toronto I work all night and I sleep all day"
m...@vex.net -- Trygve Lode (after Monty Python)
My text in this article is in the public domain.
Howard
Oct 30, 2014, 4:58:40 PM10/30/14
to
m...@vex.net (Mark Brader) wrote in news:
> If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut,
> Two Bits" goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may
> or may not know,
> "two bits" means 25 cents.
>
> What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
I don't know about typical, but here's a list of prices for a barber in
St. Martinsville LA in 1900 (bottom right):
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064454/1900-02-17/ed-1/seq-1/
In Kinsely KS in 1898, a shave was 10 cents and a haircut was 25 cents
(bottom of the page):
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84029671/1898-07-01/ed-1/seq-4/
In Waco TX in 1894, a shave was 10 cents and a haircut was 25 cents
(column 2):
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86088201/1894-04-20/ed-1/seq-8/
So a shave and a haircut for two bits may have been a bargain back then.
> If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut,
> Two Bits" goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may
> or may not know,
> "two bits" means 25 cents.
>
> What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
St. Martinsville LA in 1900 (bottom right):
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn88064454/1900-02-17/ed-1/seq-1/
In Kinsely KS in 1898, a shave was 10 cents and a haircut was 25 cents
(bottom of the page):
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn84029671/1898-07-01/ed-1/seq-4/
In Waco TX in 1894, a shave was 10 cents and a haircut was 25 cents
(column 2):
http://chroniclingamerica.loc.gov/lccn/sn86088201/1894-04-20/ed-1/seq-8/
So a shave and a haircut for two bits may have been a bargain back then.
bobel...@gmail.com
Oct 30, 2014, 7:56:44 PM10/30/14
to
On Thursday, October 30, 2014 11:39:47 AM UTC-7, Mark Brader wrote:
> If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
> goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
> "two bits" means 25 cents.
>
> What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
I remember learning it as "six bits" (late 50's), I don't remember ever hearing it rendered as "two bits".
> If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
> goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
> "two bits" means 25 cents.
>
> What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
--Bob
bobel...@gmail.com
Oct 30, 2014, 7:58:37 PM10/30/14
to
"Who's the barber? Tom Mix!"
I am not responsible for the rhyme-fail, just reporting historical data...
--Bob
Greg Goss
Oct 30, 2014, 8:03:49 PM10/30/14
to
m...@vex.net (Mark Brader) wrote:
>If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
>goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
>"two bits" means 25 cents.
>
>What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
>the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
I'm a price-sensitive shopper. Yesterday's was CAD$19, tax included.
>If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
>goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
>"two bits" means 25 cents.
>
>What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
>the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
The earliest I remember was in the late sixties for $2.
It took longer than it should have for me to connect "two bits" with
the break-off pieces of the Spanish real ("pieces of eight"), which
was interchangeable with the US dollar for a long time.
--
We are geeks. Resistance is voltage over current.
Greg Goss
Oct 30, 2014, 9:09:00 PM10/30/14
to
Hactar
Oct 30, 2014, 10:08:03 PM10/30/14
to
In article <f001f6b4-77c9-49ce...@googlegroups.com>,
Inflation.
--
-eben QebWe...@vTerYizUonI.nOetP ebmanda.redirectme.net:81
LIBRA: A big promotion is just around the corner for someone
much more talented than you. Laughter is the very best medicine,
remember that when your appendix bursts next week. -- Weird Al
--
-eben QebWe...@vTerYizUonI.nOetP ebmanda.redirectme.net:81
LIBRA: A big promotion is just around the corner for someone
much more talented than you. Laughter is the very best medicine,
remember that when your appendix bursts next week. -- Weird Al
Bill Turlock
Oct 30, 2014, 10:57:20 PM10/30/14
to
Mark Brader
Oct 31, 2014, 2:47:23 AM10/31/14
to
Mark Brader:
> I don't know about typical, but...
...
--
Mark Brader | "...she was quite surprised to find that she remained
Toronto | the same size: to be sure, this generally happens
m...@vex.net | when one eats cake, but..." --Lewis Carroll
>> What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
>> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
"Howard":
>> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
> I don't know about typical, but...
...
> So a shave and a haircut for two bits may have been a bargain back then.
Looks that way. Thanks for the data.
--
Mark Brader | "...she was quite surprised to find that she remained
Toronto | the same size: to be sure, this generally happens
m...@vex.net | when one eats cake, but..." --Lewis Carroll
Jack Campin
Oct 31, 2014, 4:06:24 AM10/31/14
to
> If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
> goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
> "two bits" means 25 cents.
My mother (born near London in 1914 and brought up there) used to sing
> goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
> "two bits" means 25 cents.
"bombs and bananas, fried chips" which I suppose has to be from the UK
during WW2.
Any other lyrics for it?
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
e m a i l : j a c k @ c a m p i n . m e . u k
Jack Campin, 11 Third Street, Newtongrange, Midlothian EH22 4PU, Scotland
mobile 07800 739 557 <http://www.campin.me.uk> Twitter: JackCampin
Jeff Wisnia
May 14, 2015, 12:22:51 PM5/14/15
to
bobel...@gmail.com wrote:
> On Thursday, October 30, 2014 4:56:44 PM UTC-7, bobel...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Thursday, October 30, 2014 11:39:47 AM UTC-7, Mark Brader wrote:
>>> If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
>>> goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
>>> "two bits" means 25 cents.
>>>
>>> What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
>>> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
>>
>>
>> I remember learning it as "six bits" (late 50's), I don't remember ever hearing it rendered as "two bits".
>>
>
> ...and I just remembered the follow-up line:
>
> "Who's the barber? Tom Mix!"
To keep the, "Knock....knock knock knock knock....knock knock", rhythm
correct?
Jeff
--
Jeffry Wisnia
(W1BSV + Brass Rat '57 EE)
The speed of light is 1.8*10^12 furlongs per fortnight.
Bill Turlock
May 14, 2015, 1:32:02 PM5/14/15
to
On Thu, 14 May 2015 12:22:49 -0400, Jeff Wisnia
<Jwis...@DUMPTHIScomcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>bobel...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Thursday, October 30, 2014 4:56:44 PM UTC-7, bobel...@gmail.com wrote:
>>> On Thursday, October 30, 2014 11:39:47 AM UTC-7, Mark Brader wrote:
>>>> If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
>>>> goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
>>>> "two bits" means 25 cents.
>>>>
>>>> What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
>>>> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
>>>
>>>
>>> I remember learning it as "six bits" (late 50's), I don't remember ever hearing it rendered as "two bits".
>>>
>>
>> ...and I just remembered the follow-up line:
>>
>> "Who's the barber? Tom Mix!"
>
>Shouldn't that be "Who is the barber? Tom Mix"
>
>To keep the, "Knock....knock knock knock knock....knock knock", rhythm
>correct?
>
>Jeff
Yes
<Jwis...@DUMPTHIScomcast.net> wrote:
>
>
>bobel...@gmail.com wrote:
>> On Thursday, October 30, 2014 4:56:44 PM UTC-7, bobel...@gmail.com wrote:
>>> On Thursday, October 30, 2014 11:39:47 AM UTC-7, Mark Brader wrote:
>>>> If Wikipedia is correct, the mini-melody "Shave and a Haircut, Two Bits"
>>>> goes back to at least 1899. As overseas readers may or may not know,
>>>> "two bits" means 25 cents.
>>>>
>>>> What *did* US barbers typically charge for a shave and a haircut in
>>>> the 1890s? My last haircut was $20 (Canadian, tax included).
>>>
>>>
>>> I remember learning it as "six bits" (late 50's), I don't remember ever hearing it rendered as "two bits".
>>>
>>
>> ...and I just remembered the follow-up line:
>>
>> "Who's the barber? Tom Mix!"
>
>Shouldn't that be "Who is the barber? Tom Mix"
>
>To keep the, "Knock....knock knock knock knock....knock knock", rhythm
>correct?
>
>Jeff
bobel...@gmail.com
May 14, 2015, 8:37:48 PM5/14/15
to
Puts too much emphasis on "is", the "Who's" may comfortably be carried for one-and-a-half beats. See, I've thought this through.
--Bob
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