The Great American Mug

The Great American Mug was one of John Nesbett's Passing Parade Shorts for MGM and it celebrates a great American Institution, the barbershop. This was made in 1945 and this film takes us back to the pre-World War I gaslight days of Patrons came in to these tonsorial palaces, had their own individual shaving mug, could get a bath also. In the days when people chewed tobacco, cuspidors were a necessary item. Beards and handlebar mustaches were treated with care and groomed to perfection. And in the days before radio, let alone television and all that has come after, you could get some compatible voices together for a singing quartet. All this short subject missed was a version of Sweet Adeline..

By 1945 some of these things were of the past, but if Nesbett were around to do it today, the changes now are astonishing. For myself, a hair stylist I do not need not with my thin thatch. And some barbers you have to make appointments with. No lounging around swapping jokes and gossip.

This was part of the good old days that was really good.