Famous (and not so famous) OR wearers...

[plain old dave]

The OR is one of the more prolific hats of the 20th century. I never realized how many people wore them, adn am just curious to see how many famous people have been seen in an OR. Here's the few I can think of offhand:

Truman

Ike

LBJ

http://www.deltaforce.com/catalog/media/C-086new.jpg
Bill Jordan (not the Realtree guy, the one from years ago that got S&W to make the Model 19)

Col. Charles Askins

http://www.thewagonmasters.com/Bob%20Wills%20and%20Kay%20Kayser.jpg
Bob Wills

http://www.countrymusichalloffame.com/site/files/cm/inductees/lg/monroe_bill.jpg
Bill Monroe (in the later 40s)

Frank Hamer (if not an OR, it's CLOSE)

Additions?

 

[Fedorista]

Hank Williams
Hank Williams again

 

[RBH]

What about the dashing Mr. Stewart?

 

[riflegunbuilder]

What is the difference between an Open Road and a Stratoliner?

 

[RBH]

I could not help myself..

 

[RBH]

What is the difference between an Open Road and a Stratoliner?

Here are a few threads to try and help you out. The most notable difference between my Open Roads and my Stratoliner is the brim shape, the Strat is more turned up at the side-back of the brim and this was due mainly to the Stratoliner box that most of the hats came in.

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=4039&highlight=stratoliner+open+road

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=4684&highlight=stratoliner+open+road

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?t=4675&highlight=stratoliner+open+road

 

[riflegunbuilder]

Thanks RBH. Now if I can just find a Stratoliner.

 

[Pilgrim]

I've worked at three major land-grant research universities: Washington State, Texas A&M and Colorado State. At each institution, I've found that if you look through historical photos of that institution's events, the Open Road was frequently worn by University Presidents, Board of Regents (or similar governing body) members, Governors and other state and public officials.

There are certainly historical figures of great note (LBJ and Truman for instance) who wore Open Roads, but it was a hat broadly favored by people who had a connection to Agriculture and The Land. In urban areas and at universities with less connection to the state's rural roots, one probably would see fewer Open Roads, but they were darn near ubiquitous in the settings I've cited.

As another data point, up through some time in the 60's, when students graduated from the Colorado School of Mines, it was part of their graduation ritual to go into downtown Golden and buy an Open Road for their graduation. It appears to me from the context I've seen that the OR was definitely associated with professional standing and some degree of economic status.

As has been remarked in this forum before, the cowboy hat was worn by the guy who worked the ranch; the Open Road was worn by the guy who owned it. :fedora:

 

[beatola]

The OR is one of the more prolific hats of the 20th century. I never realized how many people wore them, adn am just curious to see how many famous people have been seen in an OR. Here's the few I can think of offhand:

LBJ

LBJ would not have a worn a Stetson Open Road. He would have worn a Resistol San Antonio as a senator. Once he was president Resistol made the hat for him with the state of Texas in the lining. He gave these away as gifts. The style name for that specific hat was known as the LBJ.

Here's a hat that resistol made for him but he didn't really wear all that much. Maybe on inaguration day. Probably just to fancy for him as he was such a populist president and all.

hand felted edge
silk grosgrain ribbon
open crown hand creased to a cattleman.

here's the inside:

 

[Jerekson]

More Open Roads!

Gee Whiz! Way to rub it in!

 

[Rooster]

I collect old Cocker's magazines from about 1900 to the 1950's. It' s fascinating to look at the old photos of the fellows and their birds. Many of the most successfull cockers are wearing an OR style hat. Suit and tie too of course. As was mentioned before, success = OR. The poorer folk are wearing a newsboy cap. I've also noticed that the OR seems to be mostly a southern/southwest thing back in the day.

 

[HDRnR]

Didn't Wilhelm Defoe wear an OR in the movie White Sands ? I remember he was driving an old Corvette wearing one. I only saw the movie once and it was easily fourteen years ago but I'm pretty sure.

 

[KY Gentleman]

Didn't Wilhelm Defoe wear an OR in the movie White Sands ? I remember he was driving an old Corvette wearing one. I only saw the movie once and it was easily fourteen years ago but I'm pretty sure.

Other notable movie appearances of the Open Road was Harvey Keitel in "From Dusk Till Dawn" and Jackie Gleason in "Smokey and the Bandit".

 

[feltfan]

Bob Wills

That's no Open Road Bob Wills is wearing!
That's a real cowboy hat. Look at the size
of that crown and that rolly polly shackle curl.

 

[johnnyphi]

Adam "Texas" Style... AKA "L.B.J.K."

I have several Adam hat boxes with the style marked as "Texas" and newer boxes are marked as "Lonestar".

When you open the boxes marked "Texas" hats, the interior tag on the hat lists the style as "L.B.J.K."

As always, Adam was excellent at copying the popular styles of time period.

 

[ScottF]

Had to post this wonderful pic of Yogi Berra.

 

[fedoracentric]

LBJ would not have a worn a Stetson Open Road. He would have worn a Resistol San Antonio as a senator. Once he was president Resistol made the hat for him with the state of Texas in the lining. He gave these away as gifts. The style name for that specific hat was known as the LBJ.

This is true. I saw a Resistol on ebay a few months ago that said "Made Expressly for President Lyndon Baines Johnson." The interesting thing is that the brim was only about 2-1/4 inches, not 2-1/2.

LBJ was a Resistol man.

 

[Hemingway Jones]

https://natedsanders.com/lyndon_b__johnson_s_personally_owned___worn_stetso-lot48960.aspx

LBJ’s personally owned and worn Stetson OR, so evidently, he wore both.