170904 September 4, 2017
Let Your Man Out
by Skip Cook
LHS '64
and
John Drummond
LHS '65
Skip writes:
I am looking forward to Tommy's article on colognes and perfumes. I think at one time or another, I had a bottle of every kind of cologne that was out there. Not very long ago, I was doing some grocery shopping in Public and spied a bottle of what appeared to be BRUT cologne on the discount shelf. It had a price tag with two for $8.00 covering the label so I couldn’t be 100% sure that it was indeed BRUT, so I bought it, took it home and removed the label. Sure enough BRUT cologne. It wasn’t a bottle from the 1960’s it was new....everything old becomes new again. Marketing professionals call this “brand extension.”
I opened it up and and almost choked from the strong odor. I believe that John Drummond once said “we used to put cologne on with a ladle” and there was a resounding ring of truth in that statement. If we were to put on a thimble full of BRUT and tried to stay in the house, we’d have to open all the windows and doors to air it out. I can only imagine what the inside of the car smelled like when I opened the door for my date. Maybe that’s one of the many reasons, 2nd dates were a challenge to have.
A quick check of the internet rewarded me with the following information.
English Leather first came on the market in 1949, and was called Russian Leather. Russian in the title didn’t sell so it became English with ”a sharp, woody fragrance.”
BRUT hit the market in 1964 with the advertising slogan “Let your man out.”
Hai Karate included self defense instructions in each box sold because “It is so powerful that it drives women right out of their mind.”
Canoe is an old scent, first marketed in 1936 and still in production. “A man’s fragrance from France.” “For men who aren’t kids anymore....would it suit you?”
PUB was one of my favorites “...had a woody, aromatic fragrance”. Ads of the time said “That man smells familiar” and “Lead the lusty life”.....didn’t work for me.
Other brands I can remember as being on the shelf were British Sterling, Jade East and who can forget Old Spice and Aqua Velva.
Or Take it All Off
John writes:
Skip's article brought back memories of one of the many humiliations suffered by us young lads as we stumbled through puberty. We thought if a little bit of something is good, then more must be better, right?
Well, not in the case of male cologne.
We were supposed to apply a subtle dab, not marinate in it. On several occasions, when my date got in the car, she started sneezing and coughing, eyes watering, nose running before she reached for her door to roll down the window and breathe some unscented air. I thought it must have been something inside the car itself causing an allergic reaction. I was half right; the 'something" was ME, soaked in Jade East.
So I learned the hard way (is there any other way?) that sometimes less is best. On the female side of early teen years, one could probably make a similar comment about eye makeup, especially mascara. A little bit goes a long way.
The reference to cologne triggered a memory of a great shaving cream TV commercial, for Noxcema. A beautiful young blond model seductively whispered "Take it off; take it ALL off," while a man applied the white shaving cream, then stroked his razor, during which that famously naughty tune "The Stripper" accompanied the shave.
Memphis, TN - I'm still collecting info about girls' favorite colognes or perfumes but thanks to Skip and John I have at least another week to work on it.
Did any of you ladies use Ambush or Yardley during that period? I seem to remember Yardley coming out about the time of the British Invasion, but maybe it didn't.
I am still having trouble with images since my allotment of data is just about used up for Google Sites, but I cannot find a way to add additional storage space to that section - at any price. I am still working on a solution.
Mildred Becks
Mother of
Sylvia (LHS '64) and Roger (LHS '65) Becks
Mildred Evelyn Ware Becks, age 97, moved on to Glory on Sunday morning, August 27, 2017. She was born in Aberdeen, Mississippi to Eula Earle Ware and French Esther Ware. Being raised on a farm by two wonderful, Godly parents, she learned the value of life, of people, of her creator and gave her life to Christ as a child, maintaining her faith and sharing it with her children and those she encountered throughout her life! She graduated from Aberdeen High School and worked in accounting at the local drug store and as a teller at the local bank.
Millie met her husband, Robert "Bob" Becks, at Columbus Army Air Force Base (Mississippi) at the beginning of WWII. They married when he returned home after 3 years of combat duty on January 1, 1946. After moving several times while in the Army, they settled in Joliet, Illinois where she worked at the Joliet Arsenal from 1952-1956. They moved to Huntsville, Alabama in 1956 when Bob was hired by NASA and Millie began working for the Missile Munitions Center and School at Redstone Arsenal in accounting until she retired in 1976. She was a member of Southside Baptist Church for 61 years and a beloved member of the Joy Sunday School class after serving 10 years in the toddler Sunday school department. Millie was a Red Cross volunteer at Huntsville Hospital for 21 years and a 10-year volunteer for Meals on Wheels. For the last several years she attended a Wednesday Bible Study class with her dearest friends in the Lord!
Millie is survived by her two children, Sylvia Blaylock (Nat) of Kosciusko, MS and Roger Becks, Jr of Sterrett, AL; grandchildren, Jason Blaylock (Krista), Cory Blaylock (Shana) of Kosciusko, MS, Shaun Blaylock (Amy) of Kilmichael, MS, Roger Becks III (Ann) of Morton Grove, IL, and Chad Becks (Kristi) of John's Island, SC; and nine great-grandchildren, Hunter, Grayson, Bailey, Mary-Hayden, Paxton and Ann Alyse Blaylock, and Ren, Charles and Juliette Becks. She was preceded in death by her husband, Bob; sister, India Marie Ware; parents, Eula and French Ware; and daughter-in law, Marilyn Becks. Millie loved being a part of Bob's family and was so grateful to attend over 60 years of their family reunions, the last being July 2017 in Cleveland, Ohio. Visitation will be from 11 a.m. to 12 noon Saturday, September 2, at Laughlin Service Funeral Home. The funeral service will follow in the chapel with the Rev. Michael Walker officiating. Burial will be at 2 p.m. Sunday, September 3, at Oddfellows Rest Cemetery in Aberdeen, MS. In lieu of flowers, memorial contributions may be made to Southside Baptist Church in Huntsville. (www.laughlinservice.com)
Published in The Huntsville Times.
From Our Mailbox
Subject: Colognes
Dianne Hughey McClure
LHS '64
I have three perfumes for you that I wore at different times during the high school years.I used Sweet Honesty from Avon, Tweed cologne and Emeraude by Cody. I hope this is info you can use. Hope all is well with you.
Subject: Colognes
Mary Burns Cattadoris
LHS '65
Tommy, my two favorite perfumes/colognes were Tabu and Emeraude.
Subject: Wreslin'
Spencer Thompson
LHS '64
Great issue my old friend tell CE he did a great job. I loved going to the wrestling matches at the Amory.
Subject: Odors
Jerry Robinson
I used English Leather and Brut in High school. Still using Brut!
Subject: Smells
Joel Weinbaum
LHS '64
Canoe for boys and English Leather. Tabu for girls.
LEE LUNCH BUNCH
Thursday, October 26, 2017
11:00 a.m.
WE HAVE MOVED!
GALEN’S RESTAURANT (Formerly Mullin’s)
607 Jackson Way
Huntsville, AL 35801
(256)715-8244
As we approach the eighth year for Lee Lunch Bunch (’64,’65,’66), it seems to be a good time for us to try a new location. We have all enjoyed these last seven years meeting at Logan’s Restaurant, and they have been very nice and accommodating. Perhaps we may go back there at some point, but for now, we are going to meet and hopefully enjoy a favorite old hangout for many of us. I hope that you will save the date for Thursday, October 26, 2017, and let’s all meet at Galen’s.
Galen’s has owned and operated a successful restaurant in the New Hope area for several years. In June they opened a second location in Huntsville in the former Mullin’s location. They are open for breakfast and lunch (until 2:00 PM) for now, but they do have plans to stay open for dinner in the near future. Galen’s features a traditional meat and vegetable plate lunch with many side items to choose from. They also have other
items on their extensive menu such as burgers, sandwiches, salads, etc. Also, deserts! There will certainly be something on the menu that will appeal to everyone. Google Galen’s Restaurant and take a peek at their pictures and their menu.
We must let Galen’s know by the day before how many plan to be there so they can arrange tables and have enough chairs ready. Please contact either Judy Fedrowich Kincaid or me by that date if you plan to join us. Hoping to see many of you there.
Thanks a Bunch!
Patsy
Patsy Hughes Oldroyd, Class of ‘65
keithandpatsy@att.net
home (256)232-7583
cell (256)431-3396 or on FACEBOOK for
either of us
Judy Fedrowich Kincaid, Class of ‘66
njkincaid@hotmail.com
cell (256)656-3667
0726