John A Brown

[papaOU]

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
When we would get NEW Wing tip Wedges we would NOT wear them out of the store until Mr. Brown had nailed on Continentals and Horse Shoe Taps...Gosh what we were thinking?????I don't remember the name of the store but the Shoe man was Mr. Brown....Seem to have been a nice Blacksmith...you know, Horseshoe taps......

He made a lot of money because we were not allowed taps at school but everyone, the "cool" people wore them anyway and got them pulled off at school. Just go after school and get new ones.............

[Generals64]

He made a lot of money because we were not allowed taps at school but everyone, the "cool" people wore them anyway and got them pulled off at school. Just go after school and get new ones.............

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are so right. they didn't care about the continental taps it was the horseshoe taps because we would slide down the hall and tear up the tile.
It cost twenty-five cents for new horseshoes....Cool one more time...then they started "Busting" your rear if you were caught the second time....not so much fun after that....

[Prunepicker]

You are so right. they didn't care about the continental taps it was the
horseshoe taps because we would slide down the hall and tear up the tile.

It cost twenty-five cents for new horseshoes... Cool one more time...then
they started "Busting" your rear if you were caught the second time... not so
much fun after that...

I was a neglected child. I wanted taps so bad that I wished the bus driver
would make a big mistake and drop me off at Loveless. I had the quarter!
But, and it's a big but, I never made it to Loveless to have the taps put on.

[USG '60]

A million jaws dropped when I showed up in 1960 wearing that whole rig. I was not shamed out of wearing them but I did NOT buy a new pair for my sophomore year. Jumped straight into beatnickhood. The NEW Cool, ya know.

[papaOU]

-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
You are so right. they didn't care about the continental taps it was the horseshoe taps because we would slide down the hall and tear up the tile.
It cost twenty-five cents for new horseshoes....Cool one more time...then they started "Busting" your rear if you were caught the second time....not so much fun after that....

I got so many swats one more for taps was no big deal.

My metalwork teacher had a classmate and I come to the front of the class after he took attendance. Purpose; Give both of us one swat each.
Reason: Making sure we didn't get away with anything while his back was turned.
Drawback: If he caught us doing something we got a swat.

[Doug Loudenback]

Earlier, grantgeneral78 asked when the Capitol Hill JAB closed, and my reply was:

This was covered in my John A. Brown's blog article ... Doug Dawgz Blog: John A. Brown's

While doing my Capitol Hill research, I've located some additional information and can be a little more precise.

A February 24, 1974, Oklahoman JAB ad read,

We will be open at our Capitol Hill store until late summer. We will close this store when our Crossroads store opens, which will better serve the majority of our customers in this area.

Although Crossroads Mall opened on February 3, 1974, its JAB store didn't open until 8/5/74.

Following the 2/24/74 ad, a few JAB ads appeared in the Oklahoman for the Capitol Hill store, the latest I could locate being 6/23/1974. In July, a few nostalgic articles about the closing of the downtown store appeared and in them it was noted that the downtown store would close its doors on Saturday, July 20, 1974, and that did happen, sadly shown by the July 21, 1974 picture (and related story) item below:



Although the Capitol Hill store was not mentioned in those articles but since it had remained opened at least as of 6/23/1974, it's not unreasonable to speculate that the Capitol Hill store closed at the same time the downtown store did, given what the 2/24/74 JAB ad had said.

[grantgeneral78]

Thanks for updating on that Doug, it just settled a long standing debate between me and a cousin, of course I will not go on to mention who was the correct one.

[papaOU]

Earlier, grantgeneral78 asked when the Capitol Hill JAB closed, and my reply was:


While doing my Capitol Hill research, I've located some additional information and can be a little more precise.

A February 24, 1974, Oklahoman JAB ad read,


Although Crossroads Mall opened on February 3, 1974, its JAB store didn't open until 8/5/74.

Following the 2/24/74 ad, a few JAB ads appeared in the Oklahoman for the Capitol Hill store, the latest I could locate being 6/23/1974. In July, a few nostalgic articles about the closing of the downtown store appeared and in them it was noted that the downtown store would close its doors on Saturday, July 20, 1974, and that did happen, sadly shown by the July 21, 1974 picture (and related story) item below:



Although the Capitol Hill store was not mentioned in those articles but since it had remained opened at least as of 6/23/1974, it's not unreasonable to speculate that the Capitol Hill store closed at the same time the downtown store did, given what the 2/24/74 JAB ad had said.

By looking at this guys suit coat or sport coat it's obvious why they closed. Selling such horrendus items.

[Generals64]

By looking at this guys suit coat or sport coat it's obvious why they closed. Selling such horrendus items.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
your crazy, that was definitely in style...You were probably still wearing the Buster Brown outfit...Right?????

[Doug Loudenback]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
your crazy, that was definitely in style...You were probably still wearing the Buster Brown outfit...Right?????

Ha, I suppose that you had problems with his dog, Tige, too.

[papaOU]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
your crazy, that was definitely in style...You were probably still wearing the Buster Brown outfit...Right?????

More like tie dye and OD.

One of the things I am proud of is that "style" has never had a big impact on me.

And that guys jacket reinforces my disdain for style.

[papaOU]

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
your crazy, that was definitely in style...You were probably still wearing the Buster Brown outfit...Right?????

You're just jealous because all you had was the "cowboy" wall paper! You laid awake at night hoping one day:

[Generals64]

You're just jealous because all you had was the "cowboy" wall paper! You laid awake at night hoping one day:

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah but the cowboy dream came through for me...I just can't visualize you with the Blonde Page Boy haircut and "Boxer" dog following you around. I can see it all you with a Velvet little suit, a bow tie and a path of saddle oxfords. Sheesh, I guess I could bring my Saddle to the next meeting or one of our horses. And you, the dog Tige?????See ya next time:................

[papaOU]

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
Yeah but the cowboy dream came through for me...I just can't visualize you with the Blonde Page Boy haircut and "Boxer" dog following you around. I can see it all you with a Velvet little suit, a bow tie and a path of saddle oxfords. Sheesh, I guess I could bring my Saddle to the next meeting or one of our horses. And you, the dog Tige?????See ya next time:................

Have you thought about a Papal Dispensation for your cowboy problem?

[Prunepicker]

More like tie dye and OD.
One of the things I am proud of is that "style" has never had a big impact on
me.
And that guys jacket reinforces my disdain for style.

What, exactly, is style? I'm not sure what it is. In the early 70's, in New
Orleans, they told me it was bell bottoms and a Moo Moo looking thing, I
wore them until some guy asked me for a date. Talk about culture shock.

I'm going back to sleep, unless Mom tells me to stay awake. I think she's too
busy making plans to be gone until May of 2010.

Mom is very smart.

[papaOU]

What, exactly, is style? I'm not sure what it is. In the early 70's, in New
Orleans, they told me it was bell bottoms and a Moo Moo looking thing, I
wore them until some guy asked me for a date. Talk about culture shock.

I'm going back to sleep, unless Mom tells me to stay awake. I think she's too
busy making plans to be gone until May of 2010.

Mom is very smart.

If I could get them I would still wear bell bottoms. Elephant bells.

They go good with Indian cotton shirts. Have 3 of those.......

If you got asked out by a "man" in Orleans it probably has no criteria concerning your sex.

Was he good looking?
Did he have money?

Answer the second question first.

[Prunepicker]

If I could get them I would still wear bell bottoms. Elephant bells.

They go good with Indian cotton shirts. Have 3 of those...

If you got asked out by a "man" in Orleans it probably has no criteria
concerning your sex.

Was he good looking?
Did he have money?

Answer the second question first.

Have you tried Sam's surplus? They have plenty of ridiculous looking
clothes. Mainly because I'm broke!

Yes, he had money.
No, he was ugly.

I ran as fast as I could!

Mardi Gras was a real eye opener. I have no plans to return. It's been
40 years, and I ain't goin' back! No Way!

Easy Rider ain't got nothing on me.

I know. I was there. In fact, I spent a month there one week and Mom
still doesn't know about it.

[papaOU]

Know people who have lived in Louisiana all thier life and have never been to Mardi Gras.

[Yakimono]

Oh my goodness...I can't believe I'm reading about John A Browns on this website! My grandmother worked for the downtown JAB for many many years. I can remember going there to get fitted for my first bra (redface glowing now). I also purchased all of my girl scout uniforms there. I remember going there on Saturday's when my grandmother was off work and having a soda and blt at the cafeteria. Then we would shop. And Christmas downtown!!! What a wonderful memory. Brown's always had the best Santa Clause. What in the world happened to those wonderful wonderful days! I miss them so, as do I miss my grandmother.

[grantgeneral78]

Oh my goodness...I can't believe I'm reading about John A Browns on this website! My grandmother worked for the downtown JAB for many many years. I can remember going there to get fitted for my first bra (redface glowing now). I also purchased all of my girl scout uniforms there. I remember going there on Saturday's when my grandmother was off work and having a soda and blt at the cafeteria. Then we would shop. And Christmas downtown!!! What a wonderful memory. Brown's always had the best Santa Clause. What in the world happened to those wonderful wonderful days! I miss them so, as do I miss my grandmother.

Yeah I think Browns was pretty special to a bunch of us, great story Yakimono

[papaOU]

Oh my goodness...I can't believe I'm reading about John A Browns on this website! My grandmother worked for the downtown JAB for many many years. I can remember going there to get fitted for my first bra (redface glowing now). I also purchased all of my girl scout uniforms there. I remember going there on Saturday's when my grandmother was off work and having a soda and blt at the cafeteria. Then we would shop. And Christmas downtown!!! What a wonderful memory. Brown's always had the best Santa Clause. What in the world happened to those wonderful wonderful days! I miss them so, as do I miss my grandmother.

Keep comin' back! We always have stories about companies now gone that were in Capitol Hill and Downtown

[Generals64]

Keep comin' back! We always have stories about companies now gone that were in Capitol Hill and Downtown

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
i HAD FORGOTTEN ALL ABOUT there being a cafeteria in JAB down town....What store (maybe Doug knows) was just to the East of JAB in down town OKC. Wasn't Emmers in there some where. Bear with my folks, I've got the FLU and the Lady General is keeping me "Drugged Out". I told her to get hold of PapaOU and he was a good doctor....didn't work...Feel Miserable...However, My youngest son is getting married..... woo-hoo and, the girl is as cute as they come...Very proud father-in - law to be....well, I think I'll see you later....Funny pills the dr. gave me.....

[gen70]

I used to have a Brown's credit card back in the 70's. It was the only credit card I have ever owned.

[striipidy]

He made a lot of money because we were not allowed taps at school but everyone, the "cool" people wore them anyway and got them pulled off at school. Just go after school and get new ones.............

My cobbler found an old pair of the horseshoe taps and put them on some shoes of mine. I have them about two weeks and have almost fallen down in them. They're more dangerous than platforms.

[papaOU]

My cobbler found an old pair of the horseshoe taps and put them on some shoes of mine. I have them about two weeks and have almost fallen down in them. They're more dangerous than platforms.

That's why they would not let us wear them at school. So they said. There were some who wore the big front taps that came up over the bottom of the sole of the shoe and covered the front of the sole. Needless to say there were many who got these for fighting purposes.
I have mentioned before that some I went to school with were intent on doing more than beat you up, they wanted to hurt you. Saw one guy who had to be restrained because when he knocked his opponent down he began to kick the poor guy in the face and head. Poor fellow was kicked until he became unconscious and he was a bloody pulp. And this happened in jr. high. Wonder what kind of man the tap wearer became.