Poodle Dog Barber Shop c. 1910

This is the interior of the Poodle Dog Barber Shop, at 318 San Antonio Ave, circa 1910-1911. Alfred Kleyhauer, my grandfather, was a barber in El Paso, Texas from mid-1909 to June 1911 and worked at the Poodle Dog Barber Shop during that time. He took this photograph and then had it copyrighted by the Library of Congress Dec 15, 1913 as, "Lithotographic Advertsing Signs in Tonsorial Parlors". The legible signage on the ceiling by row reads; "Rogers Furniture Co. 8-16 N. Stanton, Hyde Park Bottled Beer, Sure to Please Granulated Sliced Plug ~54~ Smoking Tobacco (Made by John Weisert Tob Co St. Louis USA), The One Place in El Paso to Buy a Watch or a Diamond—W.T. Hixson Co., Faust Turkish Blend Cigarettes, West Texas Fuel Co …Wood Hay And Grain (1525 Street unreadable), Hawkins Bros City Real Estate, The International Book & Stationery…., Need Glasses? Ask Segall El Paso Optical Co." The clock on back wall in picture shows 9:05 (likely a.m.) The barber shop apparently got its name from the Poodle Dog Restaurant next door at 314-16 San Antonio. That restaurant was named after the famous Poodle Dog Restaurant in San Francisco, according to an ad in the Aug 11, 1911 El Paso Times. The ad claims its meals are similar to those served at its 'Frisco namesake. The original Poodle Dog Restaurant opened in San Francisco in 1849 and was reputed to be the first and most famous of all San Francisco French restaurants. The Poodle Dog Barber Shop was next door to the Caples Building at the corner of San Antonio and N. Mesa St, where in 1911 on the 5th Floor, Francisco Madero planned for the Battle of Ciudad Juarez. It is very possible that Francisco Madero went to the Poodle Dog Barber Shop to have his daily shaves. Perhaps my grandfather was his barber! And perhaps that is why my grandmother, Annie Kleyhauer, had her picture taken with President Madero on May 11, 1911, the day after the Battle in Juarez. (You can also see this picture on Digie)

Area: Central / Downtown

Source: Debra KleyhauerPhotographer: Alfred D. Kleyhauer

Uploaded by: Debra Kleyhauer