Brothers of the Brush

January 1, 1967

Phil Tanga is the first man in Boonton to join the “Brothers of the Brush – he purchased his badge and certificate from Centennial General Chairman Jack Wootton. The enthusiasm is catching – the beard fever is on. The club was formed based on the idea of who could grow the best beard.

February 2, 1967

Brothers of the Brush’ form Chapters - Chairman , Emidio ‘Toot’ Cacciabeve and Co-Chairman John Curtin have announced that the Brothers of the Brush, now having initial registration approaching two hundred men are going to form chapters of their organization.

“The concept of Chapters in the organization”, explains Mr.Curtin, “is that the beard growing contest is getting so big that the opportunity for the fraternal atmosphere that should prevail would be further engendered by the formation of smaller groups within the structure of the Brothers of the Brush.”

February 23, 1967

The following is a list of the description of the beards to be judged at the Brothers of the Brush Contest on May 31.

Abe Lincoln – The best black Beard which resembles the type worn by Lincoln
Best All-Around Beard – The judges will consider length, fullness and complete growth; must be a full beard with no shaven portion on face or beneath the chin.
Burnsides – Sideburns which curve from the temple almost to chin. The chin itself is bare. Hair follows the lower cheek line in curving.
Colors – Black, brown, blonde, red, auburn, white and gray. Any two-tone or three-tone combination of these seven (7) colors.
Curliest Beard – As the name implies. Must be Natural curl, however.
Fanciest Beard – That type of Beard, which because of its dressy appearance, curl, special trim or luxuriance as combined features best meets with the approval of the Judges as the Fanciest.
Fullest Beard – The total quantity of hairy growth on temples, cheeks, jowls, upper and lower portions of the face will count. There must be no shaven portion on face or beneath the chin.
Goatee – A long chin whisker, extending from the upper lip, close to the mouth, long and narrow, like the goat from which it gets its name.
Halo – The oval-shaped continuation of the mustache and chin whiskers. The continuous hair forms an oval or circle, somewhat like the letter “O”.
John Hill – Facial adornment as illustrated in his photograph.
John Maxfield – Best mutton chops with bald head.
Longest Beard – An actual measurement of the longest hair on the chin or cheeks, whichever is longest. Hair on the mustache portion will not be considered in this case.
Mustache – Hair on the upper lip, either curled at the ends or straight. In this case, the longest and best trimmed sample.
Mutton-Chops – Full mustache, connecting at its ends with weeping side-burns as a continuous line of hair. The hair curves upward after dipping to the jaw line from the front of the ears. The chin must be bare.
Robert E. Lee – The best gray or white Beard which follows the growth similar to Lee.
Side Burns – Continuation of the hair at temples in front of ears and growing down on the cheeks, either curving or straight down. The best looking and most luxuriant sample is being sought here.
Van Dyke – Chin whiskers graduating to a definite point at the end.

Brothers of the Brush