Astor Place Barber Shop.( dowstairs )
Waiting Lines For Haircuts
….Back in 1987, I found my self in NY city where I've got my first job at the world famous Hair Salon ASTOR HAIR in the middle of the Village and that was the place to be!
I was glad to move into Manhattan and out of Newark/NJ. At the beginning, I couldn't understand why they gave a hard time at that hair salon in Newark NJ. My boss couldn't give me a real reason why he ask me to find another job and he actually said that I need to move to Manhattan.
Fashion Show / Astor Place
He said something about I couldn't make that kind of money there in NJ, Till today I wonder what he meant to say... Then I realize that I couldn't make more money then him, who was the owner.... When I came to Newark from Rio/Brazil I spoke Portuguese, and that was perfect because most clients were Portuguese and Brazilian and I guess they like my hair styles and colors techniques...
Fashion Show Asror Place
Working in the NYC hair salon floor gave me the best experience in the world... it's been simply amazing!
Back In the 80's, nobody had the multitude of clients like Astor Hair, their perfect location near New York University, shopping, clubs, bars... Everything and Everyone came to this tourist area. Village & college kids and their mothers came to get their hair cut, style and also to have fun...
In order to work there you had to be licensed and an awesome Hair Stylist/ Professional Barber or completely crazy.
One day I came to work a bit earlier, and this British hairstylist gave me a cup of coffee... I gladly took as a sweet gesture... But nothing was sweet about that coffee... That Brit was a fluke of a hairdresser and he gave me a coffee laced with acid:
I tripped all day thinking I gone crazy and I cut and style hair all day long... I thought I was gonna pass out when I approached the manager Paul and told him There I was feeling weird and I tasted acid in my mouth .... That was the crazy Memorial Day weekend ... One of the busiest holidays of the year! I used to love Astor Place and
it was part of my life, Mr Eurico, Paul, and many other fellow coworkers some of them no longer with us... Miss you guys miss that time...
ps:
I hate to take an acid without knowing.
I survived.
George Alan
ASTOR PLACE
DOCUMENTARY
Astor Hair / Good Times Gone By