jeremy m. lange

+ projects: - mr. green's barber shop

Mr. Green’s represents a passing age, but one that should be preserved. An age where time moved more slowly, there was little rush and always a minute or two for a good story. The single barber chair in the shop is from the 1930’s and this seems to be where the soul of the shop has remained. It is a place where you can sit for an hour, leave for a year and all has stayed as it was. It is a place where haircuts are still five dollars, three for seniors and students or any of the men from the adult homes in the neighborhood. It is a place where the barber still does house calls. A shop with a sound track of opera and a cast of characters to beat any show on Broadway. For this is the heart of the shop, the people who pass through, to and from their lives, to share a piece with those who will listen. Mr. Green’s is a place that stands for something more, something that when it is lost, so it will seem is the soul of this country.

Interior of Mr. Green's Barber Shop. The shop has been at this location for almost 70 years and Mr. Green has owned it for 37. It provides a place for conversation for many of the neighborhood men, several of whom live in halfway houses within a few blocks of the shop.
   
Bruce, one of the men from the local adult homes who get their haircut at Mr. Green's. He suffers from schizophrenia-like symptoms and receives the special $3 price for students, senior citizens and men from the adult homes.
  
The footrest of the single barber chair in the shop. The chair dates from the 1930's and has been in the shop since Mr. Green took it over 37 years ago.
     
  
One of the long time customers of Mr. Green getting his haircut, as he does just about every two weeks. Many of the customers have been coming to Mr. Green since he bought the shop 37 years ago.
   
Bill, a homeless Vietnam veteran who hangs out at the shop and helps Mr. Green with odd tasks. They have been friends for over 30 years.
   
Mr. Green brushes the loose hair off a customer before finishing the cut. Although he quit using a straight razor years ago, Mr. Green does always finish his cuts with a shave around the neckline, including the hot lather.
     
  
Mark, a man from the neighborhood who has been coming to Mr. Green's for over ten years, gets a shave after weeks of being on the streets again.
   
Willis, one of the locals, who spends many days sitting in the shop. He sweeps up the hair and helps with other small tasks. He also lives in one of the local adult homes located within the neighborhood of Mr. Greens's shop and walks in about three days a week.
   
Mr. Green working on the last haircut of the day. This man is a recent immigrant from the Middle East and has been coming to the shop for almost 3 years.
     
  
The cape to catch the cut hair is removed at the end of the haircut. This is another 20 year customer of Mr. Green.
   
An old customer of Mr. Green at the beginning of his haircut. Mr. Green stands in the background waiting to start the clippers.
   
Mr. Green gives a hot shave to a customer. As with all services at Mr. Greens shop, the shave is $5, unless you are a student or senior and then it is $3.
     
  
The tools of the trade, 3 types of clippers and the chair. Carruso sits over the sink.
  
Trust, a customer closes his eyes as Mr. Green works on his hair.
   
This man checks the haircut in the hand mirror at the end. This mirror is part of Mr. Green's ritual at the end of the job.
     
  
The day is over and it is time to go home. Mr. Green closes everyday, except Sundays when he is closed, at 5:30 and opens again at 7am.