Figure 1.--.
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Figure 1.--. |
American boys in the 1930s and early 1940s wore short hair styles, but not crew cuts or butch cuts. Fathers spent the War wearing short GI cuts. Short cut, limited maintenance hair cuts made a lot of sence in battle field conditions. They were easy to care for and easy to keep clean. As a result, many continued wearing them when they returned home. By the early 1950s, crew cuts and butches were worn by large numbers of American boys. These short hair styles for boys, however, were not as popular in Europe.
One factor that HBC needs top assess is the chronology of changing hair styles in America.
During the War: Did the short styles for boys become popular during the War (1941-45)? This would mean that mothers liked the style (which is unlikely) or that older boys adopted it on their own because they liked the style or wanted to llok like the soldiers they saw in mobies and magazines.
After the War: If the popularity of short hair occurred after the War ended, this would suggest that it wsas adopted after fathers returned home and they encoraged their sons to wear short hair or the sons wanted a cut like dad's. HBC's initial assessment is that these short hair styles were first extensively appeared in the ealy 1950s at ages appropriate for the cuts. One HBC contributor reports that according to Shawnee High School historical review, by 1950 the "burr" was THE style for boys. So as early as 1949-1950, the buzz cut (or butch cut) was more popular in high schools than the short back and side, or standard boys haircut. Also, a pertinent historical note was that in the 1950's, America became embroiled in "the forgotten war," Korea. JROTC was prevalent at many high school campuses. Military schools were also popular. With JROTC and military school, of course, came short hair styles.
One HBC contributor speculates that one reason short hair became popular in America during and after the War, one could speculate that it was due to America's new icons--soldiers. The American Propaganda effort did well in reinforcing patriotism during the war, especially with film. So the cowboy was superseded by the GI and sailor, and with it, the
role model for American boys became the clean cut American GI. After all, the propaganda effort helped civilian morale and promoted patriotism as it's main function. A secondary function was to recruit volunteers because no one had any idea how long the war would last. The result was that Anerican boys wore short hair and older boys remained cleaned shaven (until the turbulent 1960's). Perhaps a related fashion impacts was that knickers
and short pants waned in popularity because of the new masculine image promoyed un the media. American boys wanted to look and dress like soldiers--not little boys in juvenilev outfits.
HBC is no sure why short hair styles became so popular in Americam but a similar trend did not develop in Europe.
One HBC contributor postulates that one reason why the crew/buzz cut was more popular in America than in Britain or Europe was: The United States Marine Corps. No other military had/has a branch like the US Marines, who's signature look is the high and tight. And it was American Marines who planted the flag on Iwo Jima. HBC is no so sure about this, at tyhis stage is listing all possible factors.
The mass media may be another factor. One HBC contributor notes that in the 1950's a very popular TV show, Dobie Gillis, had a main character who wore a buzz cut.
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