Brownsville herald. [volume] (Brownsville, Tex.) 1910-current, 1931-07-17
Mew York
Letter

NEW YORK-Chair No. 6 at
the Hotel Aston barber shop IS prac-
tically dedicated to the potentates
Of Broadway and members Of their
court.
An almost perpetual reservation
keeps 1t open for its favored seekers
OF haircuts, shaves. messages and
shampoos.
In charge OF this ~tonsorial dais IS
the good Herr Guttman, but around
his Broadway reservations ne IS
merely Fritz. To others he Is Fritz
Of the Aston And so he has been
long enough 10 become a tradition.
He has been there since the open
ing days OF the Aston. which was
something like IS years ago or more.
He has known the shaving dislikes
and likes of the old-timers and the
new-tlmers. Three OF the historic
Four Cohans ca e TO his chair be-
fore George M. had internationally
identified himself with the big
street" George AIDE would drop In
In the days when The College
Widow" was establishing the humor-
lists Broadway reputation. and max
ing him a considerable fortune. The
late Louis Mann, OF the funni-
est gents of yesteryear, was tang
ling English in an inimitable man.
ner.
Fritz had arrived. as q lad. from
Germany. He had taken a chair, in
due time, at the old Holland House
and. when the Astor came into be-
ing. he was among the first to move
over. He has never left. And he has
done very we'll for himself. Not only
have his tips been fat-when they
were-hut * has a list Of famous
ines who would 90 70 no other
barber. He knows all too well jus.
how they want their hair fixed.
a few OF his customers include
the late David Belasco. AL JolSon,
Nick Schenck, the late Nat Good
win, Sam Bernard and Marcus
Ic-.g. Wi--.am Morris, Sam Harris.
George M. Cohan. and Just about
r.l the rest OF the Broadway 'celebs."
Perhaps you can recall the white
ard silken hair OF Belagco-at least
you have seen photographs Of II.
Most particular was the veteran
producer. But Fritz knew exactly
how 10 produce a billowy suggestion
OF a p0mpadour.
Conan likes a leisurely afternoon
with his barber. and so rarely visits
the shop. He has a standing APP
pointment. which takes Fritz to the
Cohan country place. Conan likes
his b~arbering done at home. He IS
more than paSsingl-r finickv about
his h~aircutS. though II seems merely
a well-piastered moo to a person
looking az 1t from the audience seat.
While his barbering IS being done,
he talks about the old-timefS that
Fritz kne- SO well.
Charles Dillingham; Is another
with barber chair eccentricities. He
finds this a relaxing place for carry
ing on various business engagementr.
He has been known TO make an APP
posntment with various interested
parties. from authors and actors 20
producing associates. Conferences, II
has been said. have frequently tccn
conducted from Chair No. o and the
fateS Of plays and players settled by
the end or a haircut. So IL comes
about that Fritz has heard much
and seen much. He has been given
tips on races and has heard JUST
about all there Is to be said about
playS-past. present or future.
Fritz finds that most actors and
producers leave the tonsorial pro-
blems to him. and accept his YER
dict. They are among the most gen.
eral Of tiDpers. so Fritz Is more than
comfortably well off. He has never
asked for a theater pass. and most
OF the play -olk appreciate that.
His regular customers keep him
SO busy and his appointments are
many that he rarely has time
fer an outsider. He IS. IN a sense,
the first barber OF Broadway