The first was the feminine T-strap, a popular, heeled style. They also adopted close-kept haircuts and wore undergarments that would reduce their curves, giving them a boxier, more boyish look.įlappers favored two types of shoes for their nights on the town. While we may consider the 1920s flapper style feminine by today’s standards, these young women were actually dabbling in masculine styles and affairs.įlappers were considered immoral or dangerous merely because they spent time in clubs, drank freely, and danced with whomever they wanted. She wore similar looking shoes throughout the series and at some point, the shoe became known not as the “Buster Brown” but, instead, the “Mary Jane.” The Boys Shoe and Flappers So why are the shoes called Mary Janes? In the comic, Buster Brown’s “sweetheart” is a girl named Mary Jane. In the first few decades of their popularity, these shoes were worn by boys and even men more than they were worn by girls. In 1904, Outcault sold the rights to his comic strip to the Brown Shoe Company who solidified the association between Buster Brown and his notable shoes. Believe it or not, it was Buster who wore those little black shoes that would become so popular in the three-dimensional world. Buster Brown, on the other hand, was praised every week that it appeared in the Sunday papers. Buster was a young boy that came from an affluent family and got into minor scuffles and laughable trouble.īefore Buster, comics were often considered vulgar or racy and shunned by the middle class. The Shoe That Never Goes Out of Style Mary Jane Shoes in Buster Brownīuster Brown was created by comic strip pioneer, Richard F.Shirley Temple Claims the Mary Jane Shoe for the Girls.However, some items sell for thousands of dollars.Ĭongratulations to anybody who had the foresight to keep some of the Buster Brown items. That’s right, Buster Brown whiskey.Įxamples of the prices of some Buster Brown collectibles include: An art wall clock, $27 a Buster Brown and Tige puzzle, $22 a spice can, $50 a pinback button, $15 and a wooden store display stand, $230. Other Buster items included games, toothbrushes, soap, wallets, cameras, perfume, pocket books, knives, banks, ceramics and even whiskey. The rare tins depict a man in a chair smoking a cigar and blowing the smoke around his ears, with Buster and Tige standing near the chair. Cigar tins and cigar boxes are quite rare. They are much more rare than the paper items. At the end of each bit of mischief, he would resolve to be a good boy “from now on.”Ĭollectors are very interested in Buster Brown figures and dolls. Buster Brown books were printed, describing pranks that Buster would play. There were paper dolls, playing cards, fans, postcards and trade cards. There was also Buster Brown hosiery, as well as coveralls.īuster Brown paper items were very popular. The Buster Brown suit was common for boys under age 12. was named for George Warren Brown, not for Buster Brown.īesides the shoes, other clothing was named for Buster. There were also the adult shoes Barbara Brown and Burton Brown. Shoes were named after characters, such as the one-strap Mary Jane’s, named after Buster’s sister. Buster Brown is likely the most famous shoe name. Outcault offered the characters of Buster, his sister, Mary Jane, and dog, Tige, to any company that would pay the price. He wore a wide, saucer-rimmed hat on top of his pageboy haircut. The Buster Brown character was the creation of Richard Fenton Outcault, a famous cartoonist of the early 1900s.īuster was a wealthy boy who had short pants, a little jacket and Victorian shoes. Look for him there, too.” Actually, you may be too young to remember that slogan, but starting in the early 20th century it was quite popular. The well-known slogan was: “I’m Buster Brown. Louis.īuster Brown and his dog, Tige, were the characters of the Brown Shoe Co. Right on the top of that list is the Buster Brown Shoe Co. You would not think that there would be collectibles related to shoe companies but there are.
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