ET CETERA
University Daily Kansan, April 11. 1985
Page 6
'They're a lot cheaper and a lot better. My hair's not real hard to cut, but they do a lot better job than styling salons.'
- Alan Kindsvater. Dodge City senior
Barber shops Some customers still prefer old-fashioned way of cutting
A stream of students keeps the four barbers at Amyx Barber foreground are barbers Robert Mueller, Tom Amyx, Jon Shop, 842's Massachusetts St., working at a steady clip. From Amyx and Mike Amyx.
Getting a haircut can be a hair-raising experience.
By PEGGY HELSEL Staff Reporter
One wrong move could mean weeks living with a hairdo in which even Cindy Lauper and Kate Winslet would
So how does the average Joe in search of a trim know whom to trust with his locks?
The choices are numerous and confusing: beauty salons, styling centers, hair galleries, hair designers and hair fashion centers, to name only a few of the haircutting businesses.
Each shop cuts hair, but some feature added attractions liable to confuse the unseasoned seeker of the correct cut. They offer to cut, color, curl, perm, highlight and condition. They'll even manicure, pedicure or pierce ears.
AMID ALL THE confusion remains a place reminiscent of a bygone era, where a haircut still costs $5 and no appointment is necessary — the barber shop. The barber shop foregoes the fancy styling and sticks with good old-fashioned haircutting.
Of the nearly 50 haircutting places in town, only eight actually bill them as barber shops. A few of these still have the red and white striped pole rotating in front of the shop.
142 *all* Massachusetts St., a business family that comprises owner Tom Amyx and his sons Jon Amyx and Mike Amyx, who is also
the mayor of Lawrence. Tom Amyx's father, Cecil, operated the business for 45 years before Tom took over.
ON A RECENT day at Amyx Barber Shop, business clipped right along. The four chairs were full and the piles of red, brown and blond hair on the floor indicated that a lot of
Alan Kidnwater, Dodge City senior, got his job with the company he preferred a barber over a stylist any style.
over a stylish any day.
"They're a lot cheaper and a lot better," he said. "They've been the back of his neck. 'My hair is not real hard to cut, but they do a lot better, better than styling salons."
the four or five chairs along the wall were filled with waiting customers, most of them college-age.
Tom Amyx said that when he started out, learning the trade was much simpler than it is today.
John Amyx doesn't mince words about his business.
Down the street from Amyx, tucked away in the basement of the old hotel, is the Eldridge House Barber Shop, 701 Massachusetts St.
"The difference between a haircut and a style is $10," he said. "It's basically the same haircut, they just jazz it up by the name."
"WHEN I WENT through, they didn't teach styling," he said. "You just picked it up on your own."
Harry Courtney has been the barber there for 61 years. He even remembers the day he met her.
to look over the shop we just had a razor and
In those days we just had a razor and
some clippers, none of the electric equipment," he said.
Courtney sits alone in the shop, which once contained four cutting chairs and was hopping with the business from the hotel. Now, the one remaining chair handles Courtney's business. There is a lot of customers, but Courtney says it's enough for him.
COURTNEY LEARNED HIS trade when he was 13, before the days of barber schools, he said. He learned by cutting the hair of whoever would let him work on them.
"Not too many, though," he said. "I've loved most of them."
A few of Courtney's first customers from '24 still are coming back.
outlived most of their:
Barbers have had a rough time with the
Courtroom.
"Barbers are just about all gone," he said.
"They are all going to tailors shop."
"IF WE HAVE a pretty bad depression, things are liable to change," he said.
things are liable to change, he said,
"Courtney said customers wouldn't be
But Courtney isn't worried about the future of the profession.
willing to pay $12 to $15 for a cut during hard times: "It's just according to the times. That's the way I would guess. That's the way it was before."
Another depression struck 40 years later,
not an economic depression but a global
business trade.
Courtney saw the profession through the hard times of the Great Depression.
Wayne Mercer, owner of the Southbank Barber Shop, 924 Massachusetts St., said the late 1960s and early 1970s were lean years for barbers.
"WHEN THE LONG hair came along," he said, "no one was going to barber school and there were fewer barbers."
Mercer said that from 1968 to 1969, 80 percent of the barbers nationwide went out of business, and about 50 percent of those remaining left the next year.
"You couldn't make a living at it," he said. Gary Croucher, president of Capitol City Barbershop, told the news media that barbers were unwilling to keep up with the times during the long hair years. Many
wouldn't touch long hair with a 10-foot barber pole.
"Instead of becoming re-educated, they 'ell behind,' Croucher said. "When I took over the school in 1978, we were only four students."
Business is much better in the '80s. Today about 20 students are enrolled in the school — one of two in the state — and there's a three-month waiting list to get in, he said.
Now, Mercer said, his customers come from all walks of life.
"I cut just a little bit of everything. I have students, business guys, working guys," he said. "I cut a girl's hair today. She was kind of a punk rocker."
Mercer said he went back to school in the '60s to learn how to cut long hair, but that wasn't his style. He said he just wanted to be a barber.
"Before, a guy would come in and you didn't have to ask him what he wanted." Mercer said. "You just ran the clippers up his head."
Quartet to close KU music series
By RICK ZAPOROWSKI
Staff Reporter
The Concise String Quartet has commissioned more than 75 quartets since they began performing about 14 years ago, according to John Kochanowski, the group's
One of the nation's most experienced string quartets works not only to produce enjoyable music for audiences, but to encourage the development of new music.
The quartet will perform with libistit Judith Mendenhall at 8 p.m. Sunday in the Crafton Theatre in Murphy Hall. The Music Series of the 1984-85 KU Chamber Music Series.
Tickets are on sale in the Murphy Hall box office, and all seats are reserved. Tickets cost $8 and $6, and students receive a 50 percent discount.
KOCHANOWSKI SAID IN a telephone interview from Noverhaven, H.N., that the quartet expanded its repertoire by asking them to write quartets for them to perform.
"You're creating a new tradition for a new piece of music," he said.
The group also plays the more traditional works of composers such as Haydn, Shostakovich and Mozart. Kochanowski said there had already been performed about 200 quartets.
second violinist; Norman Fischer, cellist;
and Kochanowski.
Members of the Concord String Quartet are Mark Sokol, first violinist; Andrew Jennings,
The ensemble began playing in 1971 at the Juilliard School. The group had to prepare quickly for its first performances by cramming long rehearsals into a short amount of time. Three of the members no longer attended Juillard and could only return for Christmas.
KOCHANOWSKI SAID, "WE played about 14 hours a day during a Christmas vacation we took because we were all over the country at point 1. I was the only one still at hullard."
The Concord is artist-in-residence at Dartmouth College, an appointment the quartet has had for 10 years. In addition to practicing four to five hours daily, each member has five students for individual instruction.
Kochanowski said one reason for the longevity of the quartet was the closeness of the group members. He said members of some other quartets spent only rehearsal and performance time together, but members of the Concord shared their social time as well.
THE CAMARADERIE OF the group members carries over to performances, Kochanowski said. Their closeness affects the performances, he said, although he has difficulty judging them because of his subjective point of view.
"It's sort of a family," he said. "When you
down to a rehearsal, your three best
friends"
will work or will not work," he said. "The personalities do make us somewhat unique. It gives us a character people can identify."
They no longer have the long, intense rehearsals, but the quartet keeps busy with its concerts. This year they are scheduled to perform at the United States and Europe, Kochanowski said.
Kochanowski said that the different types of audiences usually didn't affect the quality of any performances, but he noticed a vast difference between American and European audiences. The Europeans have more of a working knowledge of the music the group plays, he said.
IN A RECENT concert at an exclusive hall in Amsterdam, many audience members had the musical scores on their laps and followed along as the group played.
"People appreciate it at lorem but, I don't tie it to a major part of the education here," he said.
Kochanowski said that as a performer, he was more aware of how attentive the audience was, rather than its knowledge of the music. The music is engrossing, he said, so shuffling programs or silence make more impact than what the audience is thinking.
The Lawrence concert will be the quartet's first with Mendenhall, Kochanowski said. Nearly all of the ensemble's concerts were without guest artists, but he said adding another musician gave the audience a different perspective on the group's music
Artists, audience to jam at Jazz-O-Rama
"There is a certain kind of chemistry that
Rv SHELLE LEWIS
For some people jazz music symbolizes class. For others it's just classic. Jazz-O Rama combines both those facets.
Admission is $3.50 for the public and $2.50 for KU students. Tickets are available at the Murphy Hall box office.
KU jazz students will be jamming to a jazzy beat at 8 p.m. Wednesday in the Kansas Union ballroom when the department of music presents the first Jazz-O-Rama.
Staff Reporter
Ronald C. McCurdy, instructor of jazz, said
jazz O. Rama was his brainchild.
"WE'VE ALWAYS HAD concerts, but this is the first time all of the jazz groups have played in a concert."
Jazz-O-Rama will feature KU Jazz Choirs I and II, KU Jazz Ensembles I, II and III, Jazz Combs I, II and III and the Inspirational Gospel Voices of KU.
McCurdy will conduct the KU Jazz Choir I and KU Jazz Ensemble I.
McCurdy said KU Jazz Choir I would perform "Stella by Starlight." another amber
McCurdy said he asked the Inspirational Gospel Voices of KU, a student choir that, unlike the other groups, is not a University course, to perform.
fizz tunes
The KU Jazz Ensemble I will feature the
"I THINK the concert is going to go over really big," Robinson said. "It will be exciting to hear everybody in the jazz department for a change."
saxophone talents of Tom Smart, St. Louis sophomore, performing "Return of the Diver," McCurdy said.
Janet Robinson, Marysville sophomore
will sing "I'll Remember April" with
singing.
"I couldn't pass up a chance to put them on the program," he said, adding that the music the gospel choir would perform was closely linked to the jazz theme.
McCurdy said, "I know what they are doing is very entertaining. I thought this
In addition, McCurdy said having the concert in the basement Union ballroom would be a great experience.
"It's a fantastic opportunity to pat all of the KU jazz groups before the public."
"THE FACILITIES AT MURPHY Hall are somewhat small," he said. "We have most of them in the main campus."
The Crafton-Preyer Theatre was unavailable, and we thought the Kansas Union Theatre was better.
Thomas G. Lipschitz, third year graduate in fine arts, said the variety of groups she's worked with is impressive.
"There will be something for everyone there," he said
Each group will perform for about 10 to 15 minutes. McCurdy said.
Lipcomb will be conducting Vocal Jazz
Choir II and Jazz Combon I, II and III.
"The jazz choir will perform" "Almost Like Being in Love" and "probably" "All the Things You Are". "Lipscomb said." "Each of the jazz combs will probably do one tune."
Lipscomb said he was looking forward to the concert.
"Anytime a musician gets a chance to perform it is a good opportunity," he said.
"This is definitely a first and I think it will be fun."
Bryan Pearce, Kansas City, Mo., junior. plays guitar in Jazz Combo 1.
"I think the concert will help promote the jazz department." Pearce said. "People don't really recognize how good the jazz department is, and give them a chance to see what it's all about."
Profs juggle schedules for 'Oliver!' rehearsals
By JEANINE HOWE Staff Reporter
For the past six weeks, after teaching classes and grading papers, two KU professors have traveled from Mount Oread to 19th century London.
Bob Anderson; associate professor of French, and Al Lata, lecturer in chemistry, have been rehearsing for their roles in Lionel Bart's play "Oliver," the musical version of Charles Dickens' novel "The Adventures of Oliver Twist."
The trials and tribulations of Oliver, a British orphan living in the 19th century, come to life at 8 tonight when the Lawrence Community Theatre, 1501 New Hampshire St., begins a two-week run of the production.
ANDERSON DEBUTS IN his first Lawrence Community Theatre production tonight. However, theatre is almost second nature to him. He began his acting career at the age of 8 when his mother formed the Savannah Little Theatre in Savannah, Ga. He said his mother's interest in theatre had rubbed off on him.
"Every summer we would go to New York and see all the plays on Broadway," he said.
Trying out for and receiving a part in "Oliver" was an ironic twist for Anderson. Anderson didn't plan to try out for the musical. He said he originally had taken his son and a neighbor's son to the trouts.
"When we got there they refused to try out," he said. "So I tried out to show them it was no big deal."
Anderson said he was shocked and
fattered to be chosen to play Fagin.
in the novel he is a terrible person; in the musical he has a soft spot in his heart.
"FAGN IS A master thief who has discovered he can train a group of children to pick pockets for him." Anderson said. "He lodges them and feeds them. He gets most of the money they steal. He tries to kind to the children, but if they cross him
"It has been ultimately exhausting," he said. "But it's been fun and I love it."
Juggling his teaching responsibilities with rehearsals was especially difficult for Anderson. About a week ago, Anderson directed "Le Medecin malgré lui," a French play that the department sent French and Italian performers to say some days he rehearses with the French play, and then went to violence," rehearsals from 7 to 10 p.m.
Besides community productions, he said, he performed throughout high school and college, appearing in such popular movies as *Dolls* and *Dools*. "Camelot" and "Carousel."
"The children in the play are extraordinary," he said. "They are excited and enjoy being on stage."
CHILDREN MAY FRAZZLE the nerves of some people, but Anderson said he enjoyed working with the 10 youths in the 34-member cast.
When he sees the children on stage, he said, he envisions himself acting on the stage.
"I thought about it, but my real love is French literature," he said.
Acting and theatre is a secondary interest compared to teaching. He offers direct instruction in acting and productions.
Al Lata, lecturer in chemistry, said he also thought about going into theatre — for about four seconds. He said too often people in the theatre and entertainment business had little time for their personal lives, and so their families suffered.
"I ENJOY TEACHING and chemistry, and I enjoy the arts." Lata said.
Lata, who portrays Mr. Sowerberry, an undertaker for whom Olmi works, is no amateur of theatre productions. He has acted in plays, musicals and operas for more than 20 years. Lata has appeared in such musicals as "Amie Get Your Gun," "Oklahoma!" "South Pacific" and "Camelot." He has performed in KU productions, as well as community theatre productions.
"I enjoy being up on stage." Lata said. "It's a gift — singing and acting — a gift you can share with the audience. You have to be yourself (fearless) have to be like clockwork."
SINCE REHEARSAWS BEGAN six weeks ago, Lata has kept a tight schedule, eating his share of six-minute dinners during the six weeks of rehearsals. He said it wasn't unusual for him to come to work every day, but he'd go to p.m. and be at "Oliver" rehearsals at 6:30 p.m., get home at 10 p.m. and be back on campus at 7:30 a.m. the next day.
"When I'm doing community theatre or University theatre, I have professional responsibilities that take precedence — if I were not doing it, then it would be a problem," Lata said.
In addition to tonight's two-hour performance, "Oliver!" will be staged at 8 p.m. friday and Saturday and 2:30 p.m. Sunday. Performances will continue at 4 p.m. April 18, 19 and 20 at 2:30 p.m. April 21
General admission tickets are $5. Tickets for senior citizens and children under 12 are $4. Mary Doweton, theater coordinator, said she encouraged people to make reservations for the musical because seating in the theater would be limited. Call 843-SHOW for reservations.