Uncle Floyd's New Jersey

For those of you not familiar with New Jersey, there was a phenomenon back in the 1970s and 1980s called "The Uncle Floyd Show". It was on PBS (for a while anyway), usually after school. To the innocent bystander it appeared to be a children's show, but to the aficionado it was pure adult comedy and satire. They covered topics from entertainment to politics. I watched it when I was in high school. I went to William Paterson my first year of college and some of the cast were continuing students there and you'd regularly see them at the school pub. When I went to Rutgers (in New Brunswick, New Jersey), no one had ever heard of Uncle Floyd. Until I met Charlie Belunis. He was the only one I ever met at RU who was clued in. We started a Rutgers Fan Club (because college students have nothing better to do). Uncle Floyd used to have a segment at the end of each show called "Pictures on the Wall". It was kind of like a refrigerator on TV, where he would post drawings sent in by children from all over NJ. One day, Charlie drew a great impersonation of a child's drawing and sent it in. Imagine our surprise when it was featured in the segment, signed Charles Belunis, age 18!

Anyway, I was thinking about my home state the other day and wondering if Uncle Floyd had done anything since the glory days. He is a great Vaudeville/Honkytonk piano player and he is always found playing at a club or restaurant somewhere deep in the heart of Jersey. I found this clip of a series that I had not heard of before, called "Uncle Floyd's New Jersey". I guess once you get a job after college your priorities change. I found it fascinating for I had no idea of the diversity in places like Paterson, and the relative peace within that diversity. Nothing like we have today. Ah, the good ol days.


Uncle Floyd's New Jersey-Main St., Paterson

There are several other episodes available on YouTube. Check them out.

Inspirations #8: George Tice, Barber Shops

George Tice has a special place in my photographic heart. Mr. Tice is also a New Jersey photographer at heart.

There is something about "Jersey"... either you love it or you hate it. I grew up in Orange, NJ until 4th grade, and then moved to Pompton Lakes, NJ in 5th grade. I hated Orange. I loved Pompton Lakes, and I still do. I lived in Jersey for 42 years, and to this day my closest friends are still Jersey boys... and practically all of the "girls I've loved before" are all Jersey girls (nod to Willie Nelson and Bruce Springsteen).

Photographically, New Jersey is anything and everything you want it to be. Early in my photographic career I found many things I was excited to photograph. But as the demands of life began to play a more pertinent role, photography took a back seat. After being away from Jersey now for a few years, and with my expanded photographic skills, and a sharpened eye, I wish I could go back for a while, just for photography, if nothing else. I may get my wish one day, as my daughter wishes to go to Art School back East for her college days.

My earliest recognition of a photographic New Jersey were a result of George Tice. After seeing his work in college, and later meeting him in person, and winning a second place award in the Photo Review Annual Photography Contest jurored by Mr. Tice, I began to see ordinary things in an extraordinary way. Working in Paterson, NJ (the birthplace of the Industrial Revolution in America) presented me with many subjects to photograph, but never enough time to do so.

Upon moving to Arizona in 2005 and renewing my photographic ambitions, I had a chance to see new things again from a fresh perspective. In retrospect, I now see things that I had seen in Jersey but never photographed, and indeed, they may be gone forever back East, but there are still opportunities here in Arizona.

Barber Shop, George Tice

To tell you the truth, I was not aware of this particular photograph until after I made my Barber Shop image in Phoenix. I was aware of Joe's Barber Shop, Paterson, NJ, 1970, (below) by Mr. Tice, but that is an interior shot. It was only after researching Mr. Tice online that I discovered this image. I find it amazing how something can influence you to act, resulting in something almost identical to that which you have never seen.

However, after making my photograph and meeting the owner I have decided to go back and photograph the interior in action. David, the owner invited me inside after he saw me photographing outside one Sunday morning. It was like going back in time, to a barber shop museum in 1957. His grandfather was the original owner and there are many items that are from that time period. I will post those images when I make them.

Joe's Barber Shop, Paterson, NJ, 1970, George Tice


4008 (Bel View Barber Shop), Phoenix, AZ, 2007, Richard M. Coda

I have since made another image of "Dad's Barber Shop" on McDowell Rd., in Phoenix. My wish is to make an entire portfolio on barber shops as they, too, one day may become extinct.