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Belts and Belt Buckles

Mycroft

One Too Many
Messages
1,993
Location
Florida, U.S.A. for now
What is the deal with the younger generation after WWII wearing their belts buckles over their hips? As seen bellow in West Side Story:

wise_westsidestory.jpg
 

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My Mail is Forwarded Here
Messages
3,772
Location
Palookaville, NY
I actually know the origin of this look, although I'm sure it was lost somewhere along the way. Supposedly, young tough guys wore the buckle to the side so the belt could be easily pulled off to be used as a weapon!
...........or something!
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MudInYerEye

Practically Family
Messages
988
Location
DOWNTOWN.
I have a book of old Daily News photograph. In it is a photograph from 1938 two teenage boys hanging out at a taxi dance hall. Both wear their belts buckle-on-the-side. Both of their belts are jeweled and studded as well. This was a popular style for motorcyclists (and aspiring motorcyclists) of the day.
 

MudInYerEye

Practically Family
Messages
988
Location
DOWNTOWN.
Yo FT!
All of my books are packed for my big five block move next week (fingers crossed, closing on a small condo on Tuesday), but I'll scan the photo when it's all over and settled.
 

Daniel Riser

A-List Customer
Messages
349
Location
51st State
Marc Chevalier said:
That photo looks like it belongs in a West Hollywood/Castro District bar, if you know what I mean ...

I got it Marc. That reminds me of a great Simpsons episode when Homer meets Fidel Castro and he says:

FIDEL
America loves me. They named a street after me in San Francisco.

(a man walks up to Castro and whispers something in his ear, Fidel immediately looks shocked)

FIDEL
It's full of what?!?

It is one of the funniest episodes of the Simpsons.

Now back to subject

--

It seems as though kids have a thing for "turned sideways" think the early nineties sideways baseball cap fad.
 

Nathan Flowers

Head Bartender
Staff member
Messages
3,661
I know folks that actually do this

and most of them are banjo pickers.

Buckles can really scratch up the back of an instrument. If you look at used guitars and other strummed instruments, you'll often see scratches all over the middle of the back of the instrument, caused by the belt buckle.

However, I don't think this reason was the impetus for the characters in the picture above.
 

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