Saturday, April 1, 2023

My first Paying job

 Cars and animals:


I'm cool!

 

Some thoughts for today:

It is amazing to look back over your life and see the things that are ‘no more.’  Schools in the south many places closed for two weeks a cotton picking time.  Kids would go into the fields to harvest the family cotton crop. Some would hire out to pick cotton to earn some side money.

Automobile tires are no longer re-capped and sold cheaper than new tires. Car tires are no longer ‘recapped’, those jobs are gone.

Shoe shining was a big thing up until the 70-80s methinks. Every barbershop had a shoe shine stand. My friend Jim Page was the shoe shine boy at a barber shop in Valdese, NC. Jim could pop that rag.

Before I met Jim, I made my own shoe shine ‘box’ and was a roaming shoeshine boy. Shoe shine 5 cents.

Popping (snapping for noise) was a learned skill. You probably never heard ‘The Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy!’ But that was an inspiration to boys after my time 1946-48. Shoe Shining was so popular in 1948 Red Foley cut the first million selling country song, “Chattanoogie Shoe Shine Boy”

 





Song by Red Foley

Have you ever passed the corner of Forth and Grand?
Where a little ball o' rhythm has a shoe-shine stand
People gather 'round and they clap their hands
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy


He charges you a nickel just to shine one shoe
He makes the oldest kind o' leather look like new
You feel as though you wanna dance when he gets through
He's a great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
The way he makes it pop
You ought to see him fan the air
With his hoppity-hippity-hippity-hoppity-hoppity-hippity-hop

He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine
With the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

It's a wonder that the rag don't tear
The way he makes it pop
Just listen to him fan the air
Here he goes!

He opens up for business when the clock strikes nine
He likes to get up early when they're feelin' fine
Everybody gets a little rise 'n shine
With the great big bundle o' joy
He pops the boogie woogie rag
The Chattanoogie shoe-shine boy

 

Now we should be feeling better, don’t we?

Did you have a paying job as a kid, or just the chores around the house?

 

Nite Shipslog

PS: Steve, a nephew just had a hip replacement. Prayers for his recovery.  His Sister, Vickie goes in for a hysterectomy soon prayers for her also. Our sweet Grand Dughter will also soon have her surgery, please remember her. A grandson Benjamin is driving  HOME across country as I type.  He could also use a prayer.

7 comments:

salemslot9 said...

Sending prayers for your family. ✝️

Victor S E Moubarak said...

I am praying for all the people you mention, and for you, Sherry, and your family.

God bless.

Chatty Crone said...

I didn't realize all that big deal about shoe shining. COOL!
You do have a lot going on in your family - will send up some prayers.

I'm mostly known as 'MA' said...

I remember people having their shoes shinned and I remember shoe repair stores too. We don't have any any more and rarely do people shine their shoes. I used to polish mine regularly, but don't do it anymore. Now and then Is put some vasoline on them to make them shine or keep them protected. But that's about the most of anything I do. So many things of the past are passed away and it's good to reminded of them. We take too much for granted these days.

Mevely317 said...

I remember my dad singing that song! He had a shoe-shine box of his own that I used to enjoy playing with. If I close my eyes and try real hard, I can almost discern that particular aroma once more.

Lifting prayers right now for your loved ones!

yaya said...

My brother shined shoes outside a barbershop near our house. I babysat..which I hated..until I was 16 and then got my first real job at a movie theater. I loved that job! I made a whole 1.25 an hour! Plus all the popcorn you could eat and free movie tickets for the family. Win Win! Sending up prayers this Palm Sunday for all your family! Hugs from Ohio!

Lisa said...

There are shoe shiners in the airport. They are fun to watch and it’s amazing how many men still like to have a good shoe shine.
The only way I made money as a kid was buying a pack of bubble gum and sell each piece for 50 cent.

Still praying over here.
Lisa