The Omaha guide., 1946-05-18
ODE STREET
and thereubOuts
LAWRENCE p. W

SuCCcSS VIII DC dSSuIcu. nat lS ROOu
for u community is good for the peo-
pie who abide in it. An organization
Of this kind is an outstanding achieve
meme for Our Street.
Good afternoon, Urban League.
said a soft, low voice over the tele-
phone.
| was waiting TO speak with Mrs.
Crayce Bradford, who was at this time
attending a staff meeting, so | began
a conversation with the Urban Lea
CUES polite and ~soft-spoken Office and
Employment Secretary.
How long have you worked here,
| asked.
The young lady looked from her
work, quietly sat her pencil aside, and
answered, -Four months.
She seemed a little startled at my
questioning her and | smiled, saying,
Il write a column for the Omaha Gui-
de. | write about people, about bust
ness, oh, | write about almost anything
and at the present time | would like
to write about you.
"Cosh, I'd better be careful about
what | say, she said.
what do you enjoy most about your
work?", | asked.
1T is really hard to say, she answ-
cred, "but | enjoy meeting people, and
| come in contact with so many of
them, and before | realize it, the day
has passed. | am forever calling people
to come TO such and such a meeting.
Miss Ovalyn Crice stood up, walked
to the pencil ~sharpener, and began
sharpening her pencil. She seemed tall
and slender while standing, yet while
she was sitting, | got the impression
that she was small.
"You attended school in Omaha"?,
| asked as she returned back to her
desk.
"Yes, l went to Tech, she answered.
Il have been away from Omaha for
three years and | meet so many people
that | do not know. 1t has been a plea
sure meeting you, Miss Crice. Social
work is important work, and you seem
to be very capable of doing you job
well", | said.
Miss Ovalyn Crice smiled, nodded
goodbye as l closed the door behind
me, and | could family hear her say
I ing as she answered the telephone,
Good afternoon, Urban League.
A few years ago | worked on a din
ing car with Voyal V. Watson. During
numerous conversations | found out
hat Mr.. Watson was not completely
satisfied with his work on the dining
car. / met Voyal Watson last week for
the first time in three years, and he
seemed satisfied, so | asked him if he
was still working on the dining car. OF
course | found that he was now in bus
mess, owner and instructor Of the Last
Word Beauty Salon J.
Yesterday | visited Voyal Watson's
School Of Beauty. L was amazed at the
n~estness Of his school, the curtained
booths, the modern equipment, the tidy
classroom, and the daintiness Of the
ladies in their starched white uniforms
and the men in their white jackets.
Come in, Lawrence, he said as he
shook my hand. I'm certainly glad to
see YOU.
"Well Voyal, you got something here"
| said after glancing around. "How
and when did you get in this line Of
work."
1T happened like this, he answered
Il was not using up all my time, and
you know me, I've got to be doing
something, so | decided to learn this
business. The more | learned, the more
| enjoyed it. | couldn't be satisfied just
being an operator, so | opened up this
school, CThe Last Word Beauty Salon J
What do you think about men in
this line Of business, | asked.
In all fairness to the ladies who
now dominate this type of business, |
believe that men are more conscious of
their work and are more concerned
about how the women look. More men
are entering the field every day and it
won't be long before men will catch up
with the ONE as operators, he an
swered.
"Who are the ladies that are now
ldAihS luC course . L asked.
AT the present time there is Mrs.
Max Williams, Mrs. Lucille Summers.
Mrs. Ruby Lee Bodie, Mrs. Rebecca
E. Evans, Mrs. Angaline McSuare, Mrs.
Alice Singleton, and we have one man,
Mr.. Vernon L. Estes. Of course | be-
lieve more men will soon enter the
field. Veterans can take the course I'M
| dar tba n 7 Dill ~ P;cI4, z..
he answered.
Voyal stopped working on a ladies'
hair and we walked around the salon.
He pointed out the different rooms and
the different equipment.
Everything is sterilized and is kept
that way. | have a complete line Of
products which run into hundreds OF
dollars. AT first many thought it was
strange that | undertook this business
as a career, but more men are being
trained as operators everyday. 1t is an
open field for men, and more men
should take it up. As soon as two Of
my students get their license I intend
to study further at some school in New
York or Chicago, he said.
Voyal v. Watson today is a success
tul operator and instructor. 1t is not
easy to go against convention and sue
coed, but Mr.. Watson has done Just
that and now gets great pleasure and
satisfaction in passing on his knowled-
ge to others.
l spend many of my evenings re-
hearsing for the play (The Whole
Towns Talking now in rehearsal at
the Urban League. A young lady, very
intelligent and talented, a Miss JEANNE
Rudd, gave me a clear cut view of our
Omaha, and somehow l have not for
gotten it.
"Miss Rudd, you tell me that next
wear Won will orod,,ota from O-,Lo II