The Beatles, Chain Smoking and 1960s Hair Products

[@otisgibbs]

Tip jar for anyone who wants to help support this channel. paypal.me/otisgibbs?locale.x=... www.venmo.com/OtisGibbs Paypal: @otisgibbs Venmo: @OtisGibbs

[@BobbyGeneric145]

I like John Prine because he honored Blaze Foley with playing his songs! Blaze is my favorite singer songwriter ever.

[@otisgibbs]

Just to clarify, I said something about smoke looking cool. I meant the smoke floating around a room looks cool on film. I did not mean a person smoking looks cool. I don't want anyone to think I'm encouraging anyone to smoke because I'm not. Thank ya kindly. : )

[@bigbuddha9197]

I read your disclaimer before I saw that part of the clip. I don't think you glorified smoking, at all. Did you ever get to the Jockey's Club, Newport KY, back in the early 80s? That was pretty smokey. I saw Black Flag, amoung others at that club, back in the day.

[@alabama2uz]

I watch a lot of old TV. It WAS cool at the time. As a parent of a zoomer, its not anymore.

[@Mike583]

Personally for me,being a non smoker, seeing people smoking or a room full of smoke ,never looked "cool" to me. I don't know why,but even as a young boy my eyes were easily burned by smoke. Either it be cigarette or wood smoke. Loosing my youngest sister,because she couldn't quit smoking, her lungs were shot. Sure didn't help my disdain for the stink of cigarettes, cigars & what they do to the lungs.

[@myfavoritemartian]

I hear ya Otis! I'm not a smoker either but was always around it from a little kid, now in my 7th decade. If I'm not mistaken, smokes are $5-$6 bux here in the Georgia and the Carolinas but $12 -$15 bux in NYC places like that. My dad used Brylcreem hair dressing like so many hair products of the days of the 50s 60s 70s. Yep "the dad smell" along with Aquavelva aftershave. I sure do miss those days. Would give a lot for just 24 hrs back in the day... Thanks for these memories again bro... Much love, G

[@stephenfranklin5069]

Idk man i saw a picture of Johnny cash smoking and he made that cigarette pretty cool looking lol

[@Peter7966]

"Putting positive things out in the world"... We desperately need more of this nowadays. Thanks.

[@bjorntannberg1581]

It's not more than 20 - 25 years ago that when you visited someone's home you just lit a cigarette and asked for an ashtray. That was concidered being polite (not spilling ashes on their carpet). Nobody asked if it was okay to smoke. Some things change to the better. I smoked my last cigarette at new years eve 1999.

[@FuzzyBuzzBoy]

As a Kid I flew in Tubes of Smoke. Crazy to think bad circulation and smoke haze.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

I have an ashtray that has the logo of the insurance company my dad dealt with embossed on it.....

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

I made a ceramic ashtray for my Dad in Art class in school in the early 80s, and nobody thought it was strange at all. I barely know anyone who smokes anymore. I think they all died, lol.

[@TheDriftwoodlover]

And yet last summer a friend of mine sitting in the back seat of my brand new car smoked a cigarette without even asking anyone (three others) if it was ok.

[@mojo6778]

Otis, give yourself another pat on the back for being an ambassador of music and music history. You have been very fortunate in your life of being a working musician to not give in to all of the temptations that are out there and made good friends, unique acquaintances, and wonderful memories. Your mind and memories are just like yesterday, which you have been sharing freely with an audiance that hangs on everyword just wanting to know more. Thank you, as you have definitely broadened my knowledge as well as shared places that I would never get to see. I am looking forward to the next video, and have a great weekend!

[@nickramsey8638]

“Woke up - fell out of bed, dragged a comb across my head.” :)

[@brianbeavers4659]

Fascinating (l'm being sincere). I started bartending in 79. (2yrs after l graduated) l used to get home & remove my clothes in the basement or porch, immediately place them into the washing machine. As l also was a non-smoker, smoke didn't disturb me when l was "in the thick of it" but, l couldn't stand the smell of my clothes afterward. I still bartend at a private club. Thank GOD they banned smoking, as being a private club it WAS allowed long after other bars.

[@johnrosier1686]

It was a rough gig for the old truck drivers. Truck stops now have showers but they were rare back in the ‘70s. The trucks have improved immensely as far as creature comforts. Both windows down for a/c, everything on them was manual, and most likely smoking hot in the summer and cold in the winter. With working really long hours it was very difficult to look presentable. As far as smoking- when they banned smoking in the bars I actually enjoyed waking up the next morning and not smelling smoky. It took some getting used to for the smokers but for the non-smokers they were able to enjoy the adjustment.

[@arblankenship54]

I connect deeply with the idea of pining for old age

[@shaunmoss1915]

Groom & Clean is still available and it was one of the first water based pomades. He probably had as Leon Russell would call “Elvis Presley hair” that he would fix and when he would wash it the pomade would come right out and act as a conditioner. Groom & Clean was the first alternative to the heavy petroleum based pomades that were almost impossible to wash out like Royal Crown, Murray’s, or Brylecream that would damage hair and make certain skin types breakout.

[@pambloom_white2050]

I tried every old school men's hair product in the 80s. I went through Brylcreem, Lucky Tiger Brillantine, and had a long run with Royal Crown and Murray's (for Black hair) before I landed on a combination of Top Brass Gold for hold followed up with Top Brass Red for shine. Top Brass smelled pretty good, too, which the other's really did not.

[@bobblehead67]

Before the smoking ban in MD/DC bars undressing on the apartment balcony post gig before heading to the bedroom was a must.

[@2packs4sure]

Awesome video Otis. I've smoked my whole life up until 2019,,, I'm 58 and when I quit I decided to because it's just so damn expensive,, when I told my doctor and he asked me why I quit I told him it's too expensive and it made him mad.. lol He goes that's why you quit,, not your health, it was too expensive,, and I go yep....

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

It's amazing what a pack of cigarettes costs now. It varies from state to state depending on how much they tax them; here in TN where the tobacco taxes are low they're a lot cheaper than in WI where they're almost twice as much. But even here I think name-brands are like seven bucks a pack now. And figure most smokers go through at least a pack a day... that adds up over a year.

[@2packs4sure]

@@dogslobbergardens6606 Exactly !! BTW,,, I ran into an old buddy I hadn't seen in forever the other day and he couldn't get over that I had quit and I smoked SEVERAL of his Marlboros with him,,,,,,,, no problem.. They were delicious though,,,, lol........

[@willysunday]

Thanks again Otis! My wife was nurse for over 30 years and did the "shampoo in a cap" on bed-ridden patients. She also brought home some Aloe-Vesta concentrate. A small amount in foam-spray bottle of water and your good-to-go. Rub it in your hair, pat it dry and instant shampoo! We even used on the dogs for a dry shower or to spot clean 'em. Smokiest place I was in? I had quit smoking (one of many times) and started teaching. I also became a football coach. During our planning sessions and reviewing film, 3 of us coaches huddled into this little room. Head coach "Killer" Kearney (part-time pro-wrestler in Detroit), & other coach Doug both smoked. Like chimneys. Killer would light a new Camel from his last one... non-stop. Doug chain-smoked Newports. I remember looking at the film through the smoke- like fog. After the session while driving home, I had the biggest craving for a cigarette ever. Stopped and bought a pack & smoked two more years. Quit in '82 and haven't looked back. Be well!

[@ish474]

I think the reason we all love to hear John Prine stories, is just because we all want to believe that that type of person exists. You know the first thing Grimey says is "John Prine was no pretense and everybody around him was an equal" I think deep down we all search for more of that

[@ostrichman]

the idea that you showered or bathed everyday only seemed to come about in the 1980s possibly different in US than over here but vast majority of people didnt have showers and baths were more a weekly occurrence with just a good flannel wash everyday! we were a simpler and smellier people back in the day - what I always loved on buses when I was growing up was the fact the back half of the bus was a smoking section and front half for non-smokers which basically meant non smokers were stuck in a constant tube of thick cigarette smoke.

[@FasterFaster196]

It's terrible for your skin to bathe everyday.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

It's mainly a marketing scam. Watch one of those youtube compilations of TV commercials from the 70s and 80s. A LOT of them are for "personal care products" like shampoo and deodorant and so on, basically telling people they have to shower every day or they're a terrible person. Goerge Carlin had a very famous routine about all that. It's kind of the same with bodyhair. The vast majority of people really didn't give a damn about whether or not a woman had hair on her legs or under her arms for roughly 99% of human history... until the 1940s or so, when someone figured out how to make cheap disposable razors and advertise the dickens out of 'em.

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@FasterFaster196 Generally, yes... but then it gives you an opportunity to spend even more money on moisturizers and other crap to try to heal the skin you're ruining with all that soap ;)

[@kylemoran4343]

Vitalis hair tonic was for us guy's in high school and Brylcreem was what your dad would use in the '70's. And English Leather cologne or Brutt after shave was the smell of choice back then. Cheers !

[@tkreitler]

As a kid in the late 60's into the 70's, I would spend the weekend with my grandma and grandpa about once a month or so. They would go to the Elks club every Saturday night and socialize, drink, and dance to music the band was playing. Of course, nearly everyone smoked in there and the haze was thick. I remember my eyes feeling like they were full of sand and fire by the end of the night. The first cigarette I ever tried to smoke was a Salem menthol I had stolen from my grandma. My parents caught me just as I was lighting up. Instead of taking it from me, they sat me down and had me smoke the whole thing and even as much of the filter as would burn. The cigarette was awful but having to tell my grandma, who I loved dearly, that I had stolen from her was the worst.

[@jakelavale5103]

My dad was a truck driver bk. In the 50's60's&70's and yes that was the shaving kit, but I cracked up when you said grooming gleam my dad used it all of my life&picayune cig. that was so funny to me brought bk. So many good memories for me thanks 👍🤠🌴🇺🇸

[@bertstadnyk6467]

Totally enjoyed all the Beatles content video's . As a young kid of 14 or so I remember hearing "Help " on my little transistor radio and it literally changed my life ........From that point on guitars and music were in my life. . My son introduced me to John Prine's music ... great songs .

[@jeffstockton8227]

On old time hair products… I’m 64, have very long hair, and still use Brylcreem. It gives a nice shine and a wonderful aroma to my hair as well as keeping the curls and waves in place. “A little dab’ll do ya”. Unless you have long hair like mine. Then you’ll need a palm full ! Love the John Prine info. Keep up the great content. ✌🏼😎🇨🇦

[@FasterFaster196]

Your best intentions and positivity shine through. Thank you.

[@gerrydooley951]

good stuff as always. The Get Back series is like having the boys alive again and it's incredible. You're right about the Beatles appearances, they were all just really good looking, even Ringo who was thought to be homely is very good looking, he has beautiful skin.

[@regunter6599]

I am 73 and I remember well when almost everyone smoked. When I went to basic training we were given a cigarette package holder that rapped around your ankle. We smoked in cars, four of us in the car in the winter. In the early 70s I was working as an electrician, we were wiring a motel and the bar that was part of it. We put up a smoke eater air cleaner, the owner told us to turn off the smoke eater because the smoke was part of the bar experience. I was a mayor in a small city, we smoked during the council meetings, I was the president of a union that had 900+ members we smoked in the office and the union meeting. I smoked on airplanes and trains. I quit in 1986 and haven't smoked anything since then, I taught in a trade school for about 10 years at night after I quit smoking and it was okay to smoke inside. The smoke didn't bother me then or now but if I picked up the cloths I wore the night before the smell was really strong. I don't remember the comb in cleaner for hair, where I worked was always so dirty by the time I got home the first thing I had to do was take a shower and wash my hair.

[@bobdawson5221]

Otis love your channel,don't understand you don't think your a great story teller you are. Being 79 an once a smoker know what you mean ,your young ,when I smoked they were 25cents a pack.lol I quit in 89 ,I guess why I'm still around. BUt in my day ,almost everyone smoked. Keep telling your stories,great to hear about gigs and times on the road.Stay safe .Bob here in MD

[@nigeh5326]

Most British homes didn’t have showers till the late 70s early 80s. As a kid in the 70s a bath was twice a week unless I had been playing soccer when I always had a bath afterwards my mom used to make me strip down to my underpants in the garage when I was really muddy. The shower every day thing didn’t really come in until the 80s. Smoking was everywhere until the 2000s in bars and clubs in shops on the street all over. Even in the 60s they knew it was unhealthy but it was seen as cool and as a teen in tho 80s we all smoked. Now only 1 of my group of teen friends still smoke and me. It’s a very addictive drug and hell to quit for many.

[@lordsleepyhead]

I remember this too. Until I was 7 I lived in the UK, after that I moved to the Netherlands. But in our house in the UK we didn't have a shower, we had a bath. I think I had a bath like twice a week, on other days my mum would just wash me at the washbasin. Today, I can't even fathom not taking a shower every morning, but I guess it's just what you're used to that seems normal.

[@amatullah76]

Hell to quit, absolutely. I smoked 30 years, then finally switched to vaping after reading the statements from the NHS. It's not perfect, but they estimate 95 percent harm reduction. Give it a go if you can. Changed my life. I was a serious smoker, just assumed I'd never quit.

[@richardroberts5668]

My Dad was stationed in the UK 66 to 70. We lived in a village close to Newmarket and Cambridge. Our rental had a bathtub. Our next door neighbor lived in and older, smaller house. The man of the house was about my Dad's age and was a printer. They had a bath, but you had to go outside to get to it. I was 10 in 1966, so I didn't think about it much at the time.

[@mwmsjuly19]

Like many GenX'ers, I was raised by heavy smokers: the kind who drove us around in the car in the deep NY winters with the windows rolled up as they lit cigarettes off the in-car lighter. (Do they still make those?) My father chained smoked (yes, lit one off the other) and my parents always had overflowing ashtrays within reach. I always found it disgusting. Grateful I never picked it up. Smoking killed my mother, at 59. My father quit decades ago. He's pushing 90.

[@bradc32]

i remember being green getting out of the car with cigar smoke.those were the days

[@frankjamesenglishartist]

Yeah i think watching smoke curls and waves in the light of closed spaces heavily influenced my visual art 70's-90's especially.. begged my parents to quit many times, when i first heard about e ciggs and vapes on the radio 20 years ago i told the folks about it.. last few years my mom has vaped, dad says he quit.. but he says that a lot.. they are in their mid sixties now and do not support my medical marijuana card lol.. grew up with pot and cigg smoke always

[@dogslobbergardens6606]

@@frankjamesenglishartist I remember a lot of people telling me, "OMG that devil's lettuce will ruin your life, don't you know DRUGS are BAD?" - with a cigarette in one hand and a glass of booze in the other.

[@leecrowell3198]

I enjoy your talks. You make it feel like I'm sitting around the fire ring telling bass player war stories with my musician buddies. Thanks much.

[@paulcoleman3081]

I used to drink in a pub in Somerset England in the '80s called the Sun Inn where it got so smoky you could hardly see the dart board... even if you were playing darts.

[@silverthorn575]

You sir are a treasure, thank you for sharing all the stories. ✌🏼

[@mitchmatthews6713]

How about next week's coffee time talking about Mike Nesmith? So underrated as a songwriter. Stay safe, Otis.

[@tomk4475]

All the things you take the time to talk about are very interesting and appreciated. Your time with Dan Baird is my favorite. Always felt he is so underappreciated. Enjoyed the short talk on Twitter last Christmas morning talking about friends of Bob, Lloyd the Reindeer. Thank you Otis, hoping to see you again in Lafayette

[@gregmattox]

Got my coffee and looking at the first snow in Iowa.

[@buddylobos5277]

The Beatles were a product of our times. You can draw a direct line from Buddy Holly & Elvis right to the Beatles. Sort of like the Blues were fading away until Stevie Ray Vaughn. arrived & exploded. A punk/rap record producer I know has a tattoo on his bicep of Ringo's drum set. The Beatles continue to reach people after it all happened. Great shows Thank You. Otis

[@ayronsmama05]

I gotta do some catchin up on your videos, I am behind by a few. But glad you made it back home safely and in good health. I bet Ms. Amy was a happy girl! Have a good one, Blessings y'all!

[@jamesmachado9366]

New theory: The real secret to the great sound of all the old sound boards was the smoke on the faders. LOL. Thanks for all these great stories. Otis, you are a national treasure.

[@Semiosphereconsulting]

My dad smelled like a bar. It was mellow mix of cigarette smoke, beer, and the deep fryer specials (wing dings). I remember around 1988 as a Graduate Assistant at SIUC they told me I could no longer smoke in my office. I was outraged, lol. Unimaginable smoking indoors at your workplace now. In 1980, I was a roadie for a band who were recording an album at the Power Station in NYC. I think everyone smoked. The control room was a cloud of tobacco and weed. As you said, I don't know how non-smokers and folks with asthma ever survived.

[@LesViperesMusic]

In France, we've got Pento ! It makes your hair look dirty even when it's clean ! Super usefull !

[@TheOldYellers]

Well earned and congrats to you Otis. You are doing good and it is appreciated and I am sure it felt good. I miss the 70’s and the difference in the world from then to now. I remember groom and clean. I need that now. Ha!! I remember when I was 16 I was living in california but I went back to Ohio for the summer and I was out with some friends and some body I didn’t know commented on my long hair and said it was nice to see at least it was not greasy. The smoking stood out to me too. My mom was a smoker and I hated it in the car in the house and such growing up and then playing in smoky bars. I was so glad when that became a thing of the past. It’s kinda crazy to watch. It’s definitely not something I miss all the smoke. I remember playing gigs in this Irish bar in Portland called Biddy Mcgraws and it was so smoky you could hardly see the people and it was like a dry ice machine. I don’t think I could ever do it again. Thanks god for smoking bans indoors. Always glad to see you. Looking forward to hearing about your tour. Living vicariously

[@galenbrewer4229]

I remember that there was a product like Groom and Clean but never used it and don’t recall the name. In the 1950s and early 60s my dad used to use hair oil that had some kind of manly fragrance. Can’t imagine putting oil on my hair!

[@leesanna7835]

Thank you Otis, this channel became a favorite of mine very quickly, much love to you Brother...

[@batesblues]

There was a smoking section in my high school during the 1980's

[@vicvega3614]

What? Lol

[@Nighthawkrun]

From a former smoker with Emphysema I thank God you got away from cigarettes. My first time by your channel, you have a positive easy going way about you. Take care, Jim

[@PedroNord]

Growing up, everyone had a giant ashtray in the middle of the coffee table and matching smaller ashtrays (usually cut glass) on the end tables at both ends of the sofa. All of my male role models smoked and so did I. Hopefully I quit before too much damage was done. As for haircare products, Anytime you washed your hair (as a guy) after it dried the only things available were Brylcreem (a little dab will do ya), Wildroot, or Alberto VO5 to smooth out the frizz. If you hadn’t washed your hair or if it was naturally oily, you could use Vitalis or witch hazel (basically non-drinkable alcohol) to remove some of the oiliness). We didn’t know about “conditioners” and this wasn’t information women were sharing. My favorite hair product was Southern Rose Butch Wax which I used for my “flattop” and one small jar of which lasted me for 10 years.

[@lordsleepyhead]

I'm from the Netherlands, and I can remember you could just roll a joint in the train and smoke it right there. Seems so bizarre to me now but yeah, this was the reality I lived in back then.

[@kurtdavidson9808]

I am digging what you always have to say. It’s fun to go back in time and think about those days. I remember in the mid 70’s cigarette from a machine were about 65 cents. 1980 is when they went above a 1.00. Over 10.00 a pack now. People smoked in hospitals grocery stores and I smoked but airplanes got really smoked up. Jump on a plane to go see the dead out west. Red eye flight that joint was all smoked up. Smoking was basically permitted just about anyway. We smoked in school and our teachers would bum cigarettes from us. Crazy huh? Fun stuff to go back in time Otis. Thanks

[@garytrew2766]

Otis John Prine was awesome. He came to Chattanooga TN and did a free show in Miller plaza downtown once. Great show. I love his music, signed bewildered,lol. Thanks brother, Brother Gary

[@ML-rz2hb]

I haven't seen the Beatles film yet, but I imagine it's particularly hard to watch George smoking, knowing how he died.

[@paulofreire7520]

I totally know what you’ve been talking about 😃 Glad I came across your channel. Im loving these chats. Keep rocking 👍🏻

[@gagedbrown]

I’m so glad you mentioned John’s hair in Get Back. I noticed it too and thought it was so great and emblematic of the era.

[@otisgibbs]

Thank you, Gage! : )

[@gregwalker1913]

Hey Otis, my Dad was a trucker (and my brother is now) and in the 1970's I can only remember one truck stop in Northern Ontario, between Southern Ontario and Winnipeg , that had a shower. Most welcome. But you're right. People just didn't have the opportunity or desire (sometimes) to shower every day. So they didn't. Happy New Year, stay safe and keep up the good work,.

[@flagrentfoul3829]

I can remember seeing groom and clean on my uncle's sink as a kid. The stuff you bring up always brings back great memories. Thanks Otis.

[@richardcleveland1763]

I worked at and hung out at the Pastime Tavern in Tallahassee, Florida in 1974-75. There was live music downstairs, and yes, it was very smoky there.....

[@mikefarmer1082]

For some of us old rockers with oily hair back in the early 70's, we would use baby powder to sprinkle in our hair and brush out we couldn't get to a shower. Worked fine and smelled good too.

[@randallkrasomil280]

Love your videos! I used Groom n Clean when I was in junior high mid-60’s!!! You brought back a flood of memories.

[@ghaus1961]

I happened on your channel by chance , of watching a video on a 170 old Martin guitar and then I saw your video on being thrown off a flight by Sky Marshalls and you said you were trying to get to your destination to play a festival and so then I looked up you music on here , and I loved your style and your story telling in your songs. I'd like to say most of all that you are as far as I can discern that you are a very kind man by all accounts of your experiences of that flight screw up , so I said to myself this cat is so cool I gotta look him up ,so here I am a fan now . Keep up the hard work storytelling in music is a lost art, I love artists like Charlie Daniels , Gordon Lightfoot , America, Bread, The Eagles , Lynyrd Skynyrd. Your music is like a gumbo of like Charlie Daniels, Glenn Campbell, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Bluegrass , Country and a little blues I love it very much ,Thank You Otis, I love happy accidents like finding real talented song writers and artists such as yourself.

[@KeefsCattys]

I'm a fairly recent finder of your channel and really love your take on things . I very much enjoyed this . Thanks Otis and just need to tell you that Hoosier National album has been playing pretty much constantly in the kitchen where I work nightshifts .. Great album . Thank you

[@otisgibbs]

Thank you! : )

[@carlvincelette5899]

Nice video as always otis

[@tyronewhitehead3123]

Otis I really enjoy listening to you and you have a strong look when you talk I’m just in your world. Your just great at what you do you bring the subject matter to life very atmospheric as a Beatles fan I appreciate your way of bringing them to life much love to you 🌲

[@FuzzyBuzzBoy]

Love you and your Videos. All of it is Great. Thanks Forever!

[@divingduck1970]

Groom 'n Clean is the shizzit, used it in the 90s, and it does smell amazing, like a barber shop. Nice to know it's still out there.

[@Uppertown]

Of course we know EXACTLY what you’re talking about! As always your observations are spot on brother!

[@otisgibbs]

Thank you!

[@divingduck1970]

Oh, Dippity Doo! Also a great smelling product, and it was green, in a jar.

[@julesotis13]

thanks uncle Otis for the shout outs and heart felt words about us Prine fanatics...its true, been said before and nice to be said from you...and is true...Prine brings out the best in music lovers and in us.... saw him twice tho never met him but i sure felt like i did and sure would love too...have meatloaf with him, a handsome johnny, break a guitar string.... he's Saint John Prine to me...thanks brother uncle Otis - sTephen Jules Otis Career Rubin

[@HighPlainsDrifterYYC]

Smokies place I ever played was a tiny bar in High River Alberta. There would be times in the set when I would sing second hand smoke would literally be coming out of my mouth. Really happy smoking bans came along.

[@brianbeattympls]

I remember the Second Story down in Bloomington being pretty thick with smoke back when I was seeing bands there.

[@joeurbanowski321]

First time I’m watching.. and more to the point..listening to ya… You’ve got a very pleasant voice.. and cadence.. So I’ll be tuning in.. Thanks for the tales..👍🏼

[@keithcamic1555]

Hiking is always a good thing,. Thanks for the stories Otis! 🪕🎸🎼🎤🎹🎟🟣🟢🔴🟡

[@hillsrassounds5257]

Another great video Otis. Thanks for entertaining us for another 17 mins! Love it all.

[@michaelgregory2231]

This channel is a treasure! I plated the Sweetwater in Nashville once and that was enough for me. Saw a few friends' bands in there as well. I played SO many smoky bars and clubs over the years. When my kids were little, I'd come home at 2:00 AM, shower and put my clothes in a separate pile from the rest of the family laundry cuz they smelled so bad.

[@MrGlasgow51]

I had a similar experience in Vienna. I like getting away from the tourist traps, and went into a neighborhood diner. I almost choked to death from the smoke. I grew up around smokers in the late 60's and 70's, but I had forgotten what it was like in a room full of smokers.

[@sicilianeye]

I don't know much about your hair products. but to this day, the memory of "Butch Wax" - mixed with cigarette smoke - fills my nostrils.

[@rcleveringa65]

I noticed John's hair too. Thanks Otis drinking my coffee with you.

[@Sluggo]

Goddammit, I love your videos. The description of the “dad smell” was dead on. I was laughing my ass off (in my head) watching this. Hell yes.

[@Joe.Newberry]

I so enjoy your videos. Thank you for doing them. I'm starting to tour again, and I'm watching this from the hotel before sound check.

[@davidsingley9949]

I played a lot of fraternal organizations throughout southern Indiana when I was in grad school in the '80's. Some of them were really smoky!

[@buddylobos5277]

Big Tornado nite last night. Looks like it missed Indiana. Ever been to Mayfield KY? Looks very bad in a lot of places.

[@sayeager5559]

Im a Dapper Dan man when it comes to vintage hair products. I discovered Burroughs when I was 15 and immediately wanted to age just like him. His accent and rhythm of his voice was also the coolest thing to me.

[@good_king_guitarman1334]

My wife grew up in the north of England and she reckons that in the 1960s and 70s she only had a bath on Friday nights. They didn't get a shower in their house until the early 1980s. I'm glad that she showers every day now!

[@gregb8565]

You Rock Otis - one of the few channels i subscribe to - hope you have safe travels. I remember my first 'non music, non bar' job interview for a computer job for a state agency in 1987 or so. It was a panel of 8 or 10 crew cut guys (They were 20 years behind reality even then) and the whole crew were smoking in this government conference room - I was an ex smoker by then - but it was brutal - And I gigged in smoky bars that had capacity of 50 or so at times :) - but the close quarters smoky conference room was on par with what they had at airport - smoking rooms (Maybe still do )

[@lloydwright8977]

That was on my mind as I watch cigarette after cigarette - I wonder if it came back to haunt any of them. Great documentary!

[@elburko9453]

Mornin'. I appreciate your stories too, man!

[@RandyJoeDuke]

My Grandfather was a Lucky Tiger man. I always associated that smell with him and after he passed in '92 I kept a half used bottle of his to remember him by. I figured it was a product from a bygone era but I was shocked about a year ago when I was working a third shift job and caught the scent of it on a female employee who was half my age as she walked by. During break I had to ask if she used Lucky Tiger and she said yes, and that it was a popular product for her and her friends. I guess everything has a cycle. Thanks for the vids Otis, glad I finally stumbled upon them.

[@niceguymick9780]

in the 1960s lemons were big and so was commercialism. we had lemon cigarettes and there was a TV commercial for a lemon shampoo and Donovan was the first sell-out way back then because they used his 'wear your love like heaven' and made it' wear your love like lemons!'

[@ronsoaper3737]

Mr. Gibbs --I had a conversation with my friends --none of us smoked , but our parents did--what I am getting at---we all must have went to school stinking--my friend said everyone smoked --so nobody took note of our odor--LOL--thanks for all your posting

[@R3TR0R4V3]

Used to play in lots of smokey bars like that.. can't say I miss the smoke though. I quit a few years ago on new year's eve and haven't touched one since.

[@philjohns6361]

Thank You Otis! Keep spreading the Love for Music. It's Good Work.

[@otisgibbs]

Thank you, Phil!

[@samhardy2038]

You can still buy Groom and Clean at Walmart. I used it in the late 60’s to grease my hair into place. The other smell of those days was Vasoline hair oil. I remember smokes at 35 cents a pack. Carry a pack of Camels or Luckies rolled up in your t shirt sleeve.

[@ApplesOranges123]

You deserve the pat on the back. Your channel reaffirms my faith in humanity. Its calming. I hope you don’t mind that I use it as sort of a meditation. Stay awesome.

[@jaypack7572]

Groom & Clean is simply enchanting. I can't get enough of the smell. It's in my hair right now. I even sniff my comb. And I am a truck driver.

[@ish474]

Growing up I never smoked but I spent so many nights in front of a stage and I still remember waking up the next morning and smelling my clothes on the bedroom floor from my bed, and those days I usually had a hangover. I still go to shows but I don't miss the smoke and I don't miss the hangovers

[@johndunganmusic]

The Double Door Inn in Charlotte, NC was one of the smokiest places I’ve ever been in. Low ceilings and lots of smoke. Even if you didn’t drink, or drank one, you felt hungover the next day because of the smoke.

[@williamparrish673]

Ok this is what I recall Pryor to Beatles on ed Sullivan. Greased back hair black leather jacket and engineers boots. Black jeans that were taken in on side seems called peg leg paints. Now after Sullivan , peg leg pants with Beatle boots laced up the side the leather jacket phased out to a white t shirt and the grease left oh it was called brylcream. Smoking it was unbelievable. There were ash trays in doctors office waiting rooms. You could smoke while shopping for groceries and put it out on the floor no kidding. I used to buy cigarettes for mom 35 cents a pack with a note. At the corner store. Smoking was not only allowed it was expected. Corporate hasn't changed Otis they are just using different products. Love your videos I feel like we are friends. Been playing my whole adult life but never got a gig. Construction and power plants governed my career. Thanks for what you do sorry I can't afford to be a Patreon.

[@ditch1776]

I'm 54 way back in elementary school one kid from our neighborhood used groom and clean his stepdad with real old school. Kept his hair slicked back like palm aid or fell. Got a tube back then and tried it. By highschool he was the drummer in a hairband.

[@angelotro]

Ive never smoked, but when I was hanging out with smokers, I would often ask for the last half of someone's cig. If the smoke was irritating my sinuses, somehow a couple of drags would cancel it out and I'd be good for awhile. I don't miss waking up smelling like smoke and having my glasses coated in smoke; being hungover was bad enough 😅. Good vid, man.

[@jimmycollette9209]

Yes I grew up in the sixties and my dad smoked in the bathroom while pooping. It was his quite time. He would smoke,poop,and read the readers digest. When he came out the smell will never be forgotten. Also the mennen skin bracer after shave smell. Great memories. Almost forgot the cigarette ashes blowing in my face while riding in the back seat of the car.

[@Caperhere]

Smoking. I started at 10 years old. We would chip in on a pack, hide them by tucking the pack in the front of our jeans. I remember friends all (3or 4) meeting up and smoking most of a pack for fear of getting caught with them on us. By 12 years old, we all bought our own packs, paying 65 cents/25 pack. We didn’t have soft packs like you could get in the states.(For $5, you could get a pint of rum$3.65, cigs65 cents, and have enough left over for mix) In Canada, it now costs $20 or more, for one pack, depending on the brand. There are cartons sold illegally by natives, for $60/ carton these days, or so I’ve heard. It seemed everyone smoked. I don’t recall anyone complaining about it, or anyone “smelling like smoke”. The only hair product I recall was Dippity Do( a little dab will do you, was the common ad) Also Brylcream, but no one used it. Dry shampoo.There’s been a resurgence in its popularity, for use in hospital. Post surgery, if you couldn’t get your head wet. I had really oily hair as a young teenager. Normally I’d shower in the morning, and if I was going out after supper, I’d shampoo my hair in the sink, or leaning over the bathtub. A few times I was late for school, and instead of getting a shower, my sister told me to comb baby powder through my hair. I only did that a few times, because it felt horrible. For some reason, I always believed Europeans weren’t as obsessed with showering as we were. Sponge kits were something I read about in novels, where if they were visiting a friend for a weekend, they used their sponge kits to wash “ the good bits” I also read it was unusual to gift newly purchased items for Christmas, birthdays, etc. I had the impression it was common to gift friends something you knew they would enjoy, like a well read book, or something else you might own and know that your loved ones would find that possession had valuable meaning, like a piece of jewelry, or whatever. Food seemed to be a popular gift, too. I don’t know if this gift giving grew out of the general poverty caused by the war years, or if it was a tradition beyond that. I remember being impressed by both the sponge bag hygiene, and the gifting of well thought out personal items. I liked both customs. Imagine the wastage it would prevent. Our gift giving rituals have bothered me for a long time, because there is an implied emotional blackmail in our society. “ If you don’t buy a lot of stuff for Christmas gifts, then you obviously don’t love your family/ friend”. It’s a marketing ploy, and it seems no one dares to refuse that construct. As a result, Christmas here has become one of the most depressing and stressful times of the year for many, many families. I can remember feeling responsible for making sure Santa filled everyone ‘s Christmas stocking every year. It made me spend a lot of money I couldn’t afford.( lol, especially.when my family began hanging up panty hose instead of the traditional stocking. I still have the 60 year old stocking given me when I was born ( it’s red felt, with a white top, and has my name written in green writing) It was such a thrill to open that stocking, which had a few little toys, then the obligatory five point apple, a orange, candy, and nuts in the toe. One year, my adult sister was so upset over being broke for Christmas, she gave us all a nice card, with private heartfelt letters for each one of us. That letter meant more to me than any store bought gift could ever mean.

[@buckodonnghaile4309]

The native smokes are fully legal to produce, sell and not pay tax on and they are as cheap as 8 dollars for a carton (200 smokes) in Ontario. They also have a monopoly on menthol smokes as the government banned the sale and manufacturer of those by anyone without a status card. I'm not a smoker, never have been but I do find it rather humorous that out government spent countless millions lecturing the public on the dangers of smoking and taxed the big companies into irrelevancy only to hand the entire industry over to a selected few with zero regulation. Then again the weekend traffic onto the reserve near my farm is busier than ever and the there are much needed jobs available in the plant for natives and non natives alike. It's good and bad I guess. Cheers and Merry Christmas from the Ontario bush.

[@Caperhere]

@@buckodonnghaile4309 Merry Christmas.

[@c0wb0i_kitt3noo4]

I am one of those.guys that found you through your Beatles uploads. I am also 42 and a singer/songwriter that play's mostly guitar but a bit of everything. My father used to play Rocky Racoon to me as a baby. So, long story short the vibe from "older guy's being cool" was definitely something I can relate too. Incidentally, the 1st song my dad taught me to play on guitar was House Of The Rising Sun . I recommend that b/c , it certainly opens up a world of Major chords for any young guitar players out there. I would love to know about you . I play bluesy stuff. At least that's my foundation due to my pops . I sent him your Beatles vids and he loved em! Thanks man. You give off such a positive vibe & some of us need that right now. Oh & did you sit there w/ your guitar and jam w/ The Beatles episode? I quit smokin 5 yrs ago. I did notice that as well. Hey here's a playlist of some of my song's. I'm about to be homeless. If anyone sees potential in any of em and wanna buy lyrics or whatever (cause I know they're rough) I rushed to put em up on YT but ya please lmk. Again , thanks man. Your videos and your demeanor have been helpful in a rough time for me. HERE'S THE LINK TO SOME OF MY MUSIC. kzbin.info/aero/PLydFG1ffAACkZpWPrK818vQqE5MfWlQRb

[@fredgritts6517]

Brings back memories of paw-paws Vitalis!👍 ✌

[@ihidnan]

I’m gonna try groom and clean

[@david-wf6wr]

I believe Groom and Clean was a version of a product called Minipoo which was marketed to men. It was essentially talcum powder you sprinkled on your hair to soak up the oil which could then be brushed or combed out.

[@clockwork914]

❤️ Otis. Lots of videos to catch up on ❗️