Barbers Shop Sign Bristol BS2 The red, white and blue pole of the barber dating from the medieval days of the barber-surgeon, indicating blue blood from the vein - red blood from the artery and the white face of the patient. Before barbers limited themselves to cutting hair and shaving beards, they performed surgery. Since the 1700s, the spiraling red and white stripes of the barber pole have symbolized the blood and bandages that were once part of the barber's trade. The barber surgeon was one of the most common medical practitioners of medieval Europe - generally charged with looking after soldiers during or after a battle. In this era, surgery was not generally conducted by physicians, but by barbers. They often took up residence in castles where they also provided medical assistance to the rich and wealthy. The last vestige of barber surgeons' links with the medical side of their profession is probably the traditional red and white barber's pole, which is said to represent the blood and bandages associated with their older role. Another link is the UK's use of the title Mr. rather than Dr. for consultants and registrars in surgery (when awarded an MRCS or FRCS diploma). This dates back to the days when surgeons gained an RCS diploma rather than a University Doctoral Degree. Even though all surgeons now have to gain a basic medical degree and doctorate (as well as undergoing several more years training in surgery), they still retain their link with the past. The barber-surgeon would be a jack of all trades combining the work of the barber with minor surgery, toothdrawing, bloodletting, curing of wounds, bonesetting with a certain amount of animal treatment. He may have had subsiduary occupations which included glove making, slay making (the reed assembly in a loom), net making (for catching small birds) and wax chandlery (for preserving the dead and making wax effigies). Worlds Most Famous Barber Sweeney Todd is a fictional character appearing in various English language works beginning in 1846. In the most common version of the story, he is an English barber who murders his customers with a cut-throat razor (or "straight razor" in American English), and turns their remains into meat pies. The story became a staple of Victorian melodrama and a hit Broadway musical in 1979. Tim Burton directed a film adaptation of Sondheim's musical starring Johnny Depp as Sweeney Todd, Helena Bonham Carter as Mrs. Lovett, Alan Rickman as Judge Turpin, and Ed Sanders as Tobias. The cast also included Sacha Baron Cohen and Timothy Spall. It opened in US theaters on 21 December 2007 and in the UK on 25 January 2008. The film received two Golden Globe Awards - one for Best Actor in a Comedy or Musical (Johnny Depp), and one for Best Picture, Comedy or Musical. The film was also nominated for three Academy Awards, winning for Art Direction.

Bonhams auctionhouse recently had a Hollywood entertainment auction which saw a chunk of Brown Derby paraphernalia hit the bidding block. I bid on a few items and got none of them but I was surprised by this mirror. Apparently it hung at the Wilshire/Alexandria location until the restaurant's closure in 1980. The description states that it's probably from the 1950s and the piece eventually sold for $6,600. Take a closer look a the bottom left corner and there's a little detail Bonhams failed to mention: the artists' dated signature from 1977. So the 1950s mirror that sold for $6,600 only hung at the Wilshire location for a mere three years before the structure was shuttered. Buyer beware.