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“The object of the Handlebar Club was, and still is, to bring together moustache wearers (beards being strictly prohibited) socially for sport and general conviviality.”
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Members of Handlebar Club posing for photograph, UK, July 1947. – Nat Farbman
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Members of Handlebar Club comparing ties, UK, July 1947. – Nat Farbman
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Member of Handlebar Club holding drink, UK, July 1947. – Nat Farbman
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Member of Handlebar Club kissing woman, UK, July 1947. – Nat Farbman
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Woman reacting to kiss from Handlebar Club member, UK, July 1947. – Nat Farbman
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Member of Handlebar Club looking up with mustache swept up, UK, July 1947. – Nat Farbman
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Close-up profile of member of Handlebar Club, UK, July 1947. – Nat Farbman
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Close-up of member of Handlebar Club, UK, July 1947. –Nat Farbman
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Members of Handlebar Club sitting at table and having formal beer session, UK, July 1947. – Nat Farbman
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From The Handlebar Club Archive–
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WE TAKE OFF OUR HAT TO -
THE MEMBERS OF THE HANDLEBAR CLUB
For their determined co-operative self-denial in the use of the razor.
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The Handlebar Club was inaugurated on April 21 by Windmill Theatre comedian Jimmy Edwards. Its flowing moustachio appeal is directed primarily to serving and ex-members of the Forces, particularly those of the Prune school. Readers will remember his loose brushlike appendage.
Many of the founder members are former R.A.F. men; including famous personalities. The President is Raymond Glendenning, B.B.C. commentator. Bill Hooper created the wartime character Percy Prune. Other members include– Captain Hare; Allan Edwards; Raymond Glendenning; George Hoffman; Baron de Bere; Anita d’Ray; Bill Hooper; H. Lestocq; Jimmy Edwards; Russ Allen; and Founder Frank Muir, of the B.B.C.
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Genius, all I can say
We need to establish a North American chapter!!
ML
mlanesepic.blogspot.com
Indeed.
Great Blog Great article. Jimmy Edwards was a star of radio in the 40s & 50s, a nationally loved icon of ‘Take it from here’, ‘The Glums’ and ‘Whacko!’ (the first two were co-written by Frank Muir, who kept up a dapper tache/bowtie combo til his death in the lates 90s)
If you want to join the Handlebar club, it’s still going! Here’s the obligatory webpage: http://www.handlebarclub.co.uk/index.php
For those of you wanting more…check out these hirsute appendages at the world championships in Brighton, England 2007: http://www.handlebarclub.co.uk/wbmcwinners.shtml
the most recent championships were in Alaska last May.
Keep up the great work.
This is why Salvador Dai was in fact the greatest artist ever, why Great Uncle Corlnelius’s beverages are my favorite, and why “My Name is Earl” was a great tv show… the first season.
Long live mustache may and movember.
jealous of these bros’ testosterone
To Mr JP, the poster:
Thanks for the posting this interesting article, some of which came from our archives. However many of the photos you show are not, as far as I know as Webmaster, in our archive.
Please could you put me in contact with the source of these images, presumably Nat Farbman, as I would like permission if necessary, to include them in our own Web archive?
Thank you.
David Dade – Webmaster
The Handlebar Club – for men with graspable extremities…
handlebarclub.co.uk
Dear David Dade,
These images were all sourced from the LIFE photo archive hosted on Google.
http://images.google.com/hosted/life/l?imgurl=d119a1a1c8505d58&q=handlebar%20mustache%20source:life&prev=/images%3Fq%3Dhandlebar%2Bmustache%2Bsource:life%26hl%3Den%26safe%3Doff%26biw%3D1529%26bih%3D763%26tbs%3Disch:1
Best,
JP