Post by Steve Sutton on Apr 25, 2010 12:59:51 GMT -5
Photo taken allegedly by Big Al Capone
As far as this claim of who took the picture I can only tell you what was told to me! Here’s dear old dad long before he become Captain Sherman I Helmey! Before he was Captain Helmey he was address as Mr. Helmey! According to many that worked for daddy’s early 1900’s auto body shop they loved the pay, because back then “cash was king!” However, according to most it was just too dangerous of a work place! The reason being is there were too many people wearing expensive suits and shoes with hidden metal things under their coats.
When my father talked about gangsters he always said, “These are men that carry guns and know how to use them, which changes everything!” The reason being is just like in the movies some gangsters would whether shoot than talk!
Gangster Character
During all of my writings I don’t think I ever told you how my father dressed in his early years. The real, real early years, before “little Miss Judy.” I have had to rely on pictures and descriptions of what other have conveyed to me. This is what I remember during my time. When he was working on the boat he always wore a white t-shirt and a pair of light gray “Dickie” pants. Back in the old day, during my time, pants weren’t what we now consider as perma press. So therefore when I washed them unless I hung them out properly they would dry badly wrinkled. Daddy had these wires that came in rectangular shaped forms that you were suppose to slip into each pants leg when they were wet. This strange looking wire structure supposedly after drying would keep them from wrinkling. However I also remember, as a kid that these wire things were a pain in the “You Know.” Trying to get this apparatus in his pants especially when they were wet was very hard. You had to put the wire stretchers, what I named them, in so that when you expanded them, they would open up, and put a crease in his pants. Well, I have to be honest; it took me a long time to figure out that one. However, daddy never said anything, he went on wearing pants that had creases in various places on the leg. Who knows maybe it was a conversation piece. When perma press was invented, he changed to khaki colored “Dickie” work pants, and stayed with them until the late eighties. This is when his conversation piece ended.
As far as dressing to go out on the town I remember some certain times for sure. He love new clothes and I believe all of his dress clothes came from a place called “Men’s Quality Shop.” This shop was known for having the latest style clothes for the man on the go. In my father’s case, a man “Playing the Field.” I am not taking about baseball. At any rate, his clothes were what anyone would have consider “Cool for the Times.” He always wore a suit of some sort. He had all the colors that was available for the time. Now his shoes made another statement. He loved to dance and spent a lot of time at “Johnny Harris Restaurant.” This was the hot spot for fine foods and ballroom dancing. My father even carried me their a few times for supper and a few dances, but that’s another story. I remember one pair of shoes in particular. They were blue Suede shoes. Just like the ones that “old Elvis” sung about. In fact I am sure that’s were daddy got the idea.
As I said, “before little Miss Judy” I have had to rely on pictures. So this picture shows how daddy dressed during those early years. He dressed like one of those rascals that ran around on the screen during the filming of “Elliot Nest and the Untouchables!” For those who aren’t familiar with the dress code of that particular show I will explain. He wore dark suits, dark ties, and his hair was slicked back. When looking at those old pictures had I not known him as my father I would have had to say, “Look at this Gangster looking Character.” Before you gasp for air, remember all this is through the eyes of a 6 year old.
Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
As far as this claim of who took the picture I can only tell you what was told to me! Here’s dear old dad long before he become Captain Sherman I Helmey! Before he was Captain Helmey he was address as Mr. Helmey! According to many that worked for daddy’s early 1900’s auto body shop they loved the pay, because back then “cash was king!” However, according to most it was just too dangerous of a work place! The reason being is there were too many people wearing expensive suits and shoes with hidden metal things under their coats.
When my father talked about gangsters he always said, “These are men that carry guns and know how to use them, which changes everything!” The reason being is just like in the movies some gangsters would whether shoot than talk!
Gangster Character
During all of my writings I don’t think I ever told you how my father dressed in his early years. The real, real early years, before “little Miss Judy.” I have had to rely on pictures and descriptions of what other have conveyed to me. This is what I remember during my time. When he was working on the boat he always wore a white t-shirt and a pair of light gray “Dickie” pants. Back in the old day, during my time, pants weren’t what we now consider as perma press. So therefore when I washed them unless I hung them out properly they would dry badly wrinkled. Daddy had these wires that came in rectangular shaped forms that you were suppose to slip into each pants leg when they were wet. This strange looking wire structure supposedly after drying would keep them from wrinkling. However I also remember, as a kid that these wire things were a pain in the “You Know.” Trying to get this apparatus in his pants especially when they were wet was very hard. You had to put the wire stretchers, what I named them, in so that when you expanded them, they would open up, and put a crease in his pants. Well, I have to be honest; it took me a long time to figure out that one. However, daddy never said anything, he went on wearing pants that had creases in various places on the leg. Who knows maybe it was a conversation piece. When perma press was invented, he changed to khaki colored “Dickie” work pants, and stayed with them until the late eighties. This is when his conversation piece ended.
As far as dressing to go out on the town I remember some certain times for sure. He love new clothes and I believe all of his dress clothes came from a place called “Men’s Quality Shop.” This shop was known for having the latest style clothes for the man on the go. In my father’s case, a man “Playing the Field.” I am not taking about baseball. At any rate, his clothes were what anyone would have consider “Cool for the Times.” He always wore a suit of some sort. He had all the colors that was available for the time. Now his shoes made another statement. He loved to dance and spent a lot of time at “Johnny Harris Restaurant.” This was the hot spot for fine foods and ballroom dancing. My father even carried me their a few times for supper and a few dances, but that’s another story. I remember one pair of shoes in particular. They were blue Suede shoes. Just like the ones that “old Elvis” sung about. In fact I am sure that’s were daddy got the idea.
As I said, “before little Miss Judy” I have had to rely on pictures. So this picture shows how daddy dressed during those early years. He dressed like one of those rascals that ran around on the screen during the filming of “Elliot Nest and the Untouchables!” For those who aren’t familiar with the dress code of that particular show I will explain. He wore dark suits, dark ties, and his hair was slicked back. When looking at those old pictures had I not known him as my father I would have had to say, “Look at this Gangster looking Character.” Before you gasp for air, remember all this is through the eyes of a 6 year old.
Thanks for reading! Captain Judy
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