BARBERSHOP HISTORY QUIZ

author: Mark Axelrod, editor of "Blue Chip Chatter," Teaneck, NJ.

QUESTIONS:

1- After society co-founder, Rupert Hall, was elected as our first president in 1939, the other co-founder, O.C. Cash, ceased having an active role in society organizational affairs (save as the resident "elder statesman") except for one, last important initiative. What was it?

2- In a decidedly undemocratic action, Cash brazenly sent unsolicited membership cards to all the members of an unaffiliated group of barbershoppers in Manhattan. He also quite literally appointed as chairman (i.e., chapter president) of that group a very famous New Yorker. Name him. For extra credit, whom did Cash appoint as vice chairmen of that group, also famous New Yorkers?

3- Why did Cash take the actions noted in question #2?

4- What was a major consequence of Cash's actions? For extra credit, were Cash's actions more likely to succeed or fail?

5- With reference to the 1940 International Convention / Quartet Competition, what were the great contributions of the chairman and vice chairmen noted in question #2?


ANSWERS:

1- Spearheading the successful effort, in 1939, to have our second international (1940) not only take place in the nation's premier city, NYC, but on the grounds of the World's Fair no less... a public relations-marketing coup of the first order. In order to accomplish this, however, Cash had to solve the "Manhattan problem"; answer #3 will explain how he did this. He also had to get some key NYC personalities lined up in the Society's corner. He knew that his targets, at least one of them, would be very sympathetic to our needs. Cash was one clever rascal. Read more about this in answer #5.

2- The chairman was then NYC Mayor Fiorello LaGuardia. One vice chairman was former NY Governor, Al Smith; the other was then NYC Parks Commissioner, Robert Moses.

3- Cash saw the Manhattan group as a dangerous potential rival to the Society (and one which might actually be - groan - victorious in the competition because of NYC's unmatched prestige and size) precisely because it was fully independent and in no way a part of the Society). Shutting it down or preempting it one way or another, therefore, was an existential issue in Cash's mind.

4- Happily for us the Manhattanites did not tell Cash where to stuff his membership cards, but rather inexplicably said...OK, we'll join you...thereby permanently avoiding what almost certainly would have been a deadly schism in the barbershop revival movement. That was the most important consequence of Cash's bold, successful takeover. Logically, O.C. should have provided the NYC barbershoppers with a good laugh and elicited a resounding "please tell me you're kidding!" response to his takeover scheme. Why? Because in 1939 the society had had one annual contest. NYC (under the auspices of Moses' Parks Department) had had five, and the NYC contest audiences were massive compared to the one in Tulsa. Why did Cash succeed against such stiff odds? My source didn't say but my eternal truths probably hold the answer...he knew he couldn't lose what he didn't have and he also knew he couldn't get what he didn't ask for.

5- Robert Moses was an enthusiastic barbershop booster long before he ever heard the names of O.C. Cash and of the Society. The very popular and very well-attended annual NYC Barbershop Quartet Contests were his babies. The Little Flower was also a great barbershop enthusiast, but in a stealthy way. No one (except perhaps for Cash, but that will never be known) realized that declaring him the chairman of the Manhattan barbershoppers would uncover his great affection for barbershop harmony, and it certainly did. Not only did LaGuardia send contest invitations to mayors (and their constituents) of cities and towns across the nation, he also included a copy of the Society's contest rules. Al Smith just lent his famous name to the cause, but he was not a VIP in the effort. The cheerleading from LaGuardia and Moses, however, assured the great success of the 1940 international which in turn paid handsome dividends to us (society wide) with reference to increasing membership.


 

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