I always wondered the same thing — about the original men. Of course, I know why these two guys (my dad and uncle) wore them. I had talked them into it.
Back in 1987, I was teaching for a Christian school here in Southern Illinois, and the administrator came to me (since I taught American history and government) and assigned me to produce a big celebration program to honor the 200th anniversary of our constitution. He wanted it to involve, not only the whole school, but also the community. So I knew it had to be something special.
I decided on four main parts to the program, and one part was a one-act play focusing on a conversation between George Washington and James Madison — discussing the importance of the great moment in history. I also wanted George and Martha to be greeters at the front door when people arrived.
Well, I needed costumes, and I looked high and low, but could find nothing that seemed authentic anywhere in the area. Then one day when I was just about two weeks from the production, I was talking with a retired teacher (who was known for her eccentricities) and I mentioned how frustrated and disappointed I was about the lack of costumes.
She immediately said, “Well you call the Smithsonian Institute in Washington and tell them what you need, and they’ll tell you where to get them.” My first thought was — lady, you really are off the wall. I asked her if she was serious, and she said absolutely. So I told her I’d try it, but I was really thinking — oh, yeah, right. some nobody teacher from a Christian school in a little hick town in Illinois calls and tells them she needs George and Martha Washington and James Madison costumes, and they’ll probably hang up on me.
But — I was over a barrel for sure, because nobody around here had any, so I got the number from information and called. Imagine my shock when the woman I talked to acted like it was a common request and said she would check her files. A moment later she was back on the phone with the name and number of a company in Champagne, Illinois (only about two hours from me) and told me I could get the costumes there.
I called the company, and sure enough, in four days, I had a huge box with three gorgeous costumes at a very reasonable price — and time to spare. They were a perfect fit, except for the Martha dress. My step-mother was playing the part of Martha, and she wasn’t very well endowed in the bosom area. So while at my house getting dressed, she slipped into the bathroom and took two washcloths and stuffed them into her bra. It worked perfectly, and Martha and George greeted the huge crowd who came for the program — with no one the wiser.
It was a rather historic event in that community because no other school had ever offered a program quite like that. We made lasting friends at the VFW for including them because they said no other church or school had ever included them in anything happening in the community. We would have made more history if President Reagan hadn’t been so busy. We invited him to come, but he sent a letter with his regrets. Of course, I hadn’t really expected him to come, but I wanted my students to have the experience of knowing he was at least accessible to them to the extent that he would reply and wish them well in their production — which he did.
What an event that turned out to be! That is amazing. Yet, I still don’t know why men wore those wigs. 🙂 Ok, you forced me to go to the internet:
Q:
Why did colonial men wear wigs?
A:
QUICK ANSWER
Colonial men wore wigs in the 17th and 18th centuries because they were considered fashionable, according to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. They had become extremely popular in England and in France before spreading to the colonies, first in the higher classes and then extending through the population. CONTINUE READING
FULL ANSWER
The periwig was the first popular style of wig. It was a full wig with long curls hanging down onto the shoulders and back. The peruke eventually took the place of the periwig for many wearers due to its lighter and less awkward nature, according to AmericanRevolution.org. The short bob also became an option with a long queue hanging down the back out of the way. Made of animal hair or human hair, these wigs often had a bad odor, so men began to powder them to mask the smell. Even men who did not wear a wig often powdered their own hair to look more stylish.
The Happy Wordcrafter 
Always wondered why they wore those wigs?
I always wondered the same thing — about the original men. Of course, I know why these two guys (my dad and uncle) wore them. I had talked them into it.
Back in 1987, I was teaching for a Christian school here in Southern Illinois, and the administrator came to me (since I taught American history and government) and assigned me to produce a big celebration program to honor the 200th anniversary of our constitution. He wanted it to involve, not only the whole school, but also the community. So I knew it had to be something special.
I decided on four main parts to the program, and one part was a one-act play focusing on a conversation between George Washington and James Madison — discussing the importance of the great moment in history. I also wanted George and Martha to be greeters at the front door when people arrived.
Well, I needed costumes, and I looked high and low, but could find nothing that seemed authentic anywhere in the area. Then one day when I was just about two weeks from the production, I was talking with a retired teacher (who was known for her eccentricities) and I mentioned how frustrated and disappointed I was about the lack of costumes.
She immediately said, “Well you call the Smithsonian Institute in Washington and tell them what you need, and they’ll tell you where to get them.” My first thought was — lady, you really are off the wall. I asked her if she was serious, and she said absolutely. So I told her I’d try it, but I was really thinking — oh, yeah, right. some nobody teacher from a Christian school in a little hick town in Illinois calls and tells them she needs George and Martha Washington and James Madison costumes, and they’ll probably hang up on me.
But — I was over a barrel for sure, because nobody around here had any, so I got the number from information and called. Imagine my shock when the woman I talked to acted like it was a common request and said she would check her files. A moment later she was back on the phone with the name and number of a company in Champagne, Illinois (only about two hours from me) and told me I could get the costumes there.
I called the company, and sure enough, in four days, I had a huge box with three gorgeous costumes at a very reasonable price — and time to spare. They were a perfect fit, except for the Martha dress. My step-mother was playing the part of Martha, and she wasn’t very well endowed in the bosom area. So while at my house getting dressed, she slipped into the bathroom and took two washcloths and stuffed them into her bra. It worked perfectly, and Martha and George greeted the huge crowd who came for the program — with no one the wiser.
It was a rather historic event in that community because no other school had ever offered a program quite like that. We made lasting friends at the VFW for including them because they said no other church or school had ever included them in anything happening in the community. We would have made more history if President Reagan hadn’t been so busy. We invited him to come, but he sent a letter with his regrets. Of course, I hadn’t really expected him to come, but I wanted my students to have the experience of knowing he was at least accessible to them to the extent that he would reply and wish them well in their production — which he did.
What an event that turned out to be! That is amazing. Yet, I still don’t know why men wore those wigs. 🙂 Ok, you forced me to go to the internet:
Q:
Why did colonial men wear wigs?
A:
QUICK ANSWER
Colonial men wore wigs in the 17th and 18th centuries because they were considered fashionable, according to the Colonial Williamsburg Foundation. They had become extremely popular in England and in France before spreading to the colonies, first in the higher classes and then extending through the population. CONTINUE READING
FULL ANSWER
The periwig was the first popular style of wig. It was a full wig with long curls hanging down onto the shoulders and back. The peruke eventually took the place of the periwig for many wearers due to its lighter and less awkward nature, according to AmericanRevolution.org. The short bob also became an option with a long queue hanging down the back out of the way. Made of animal hair or human hair, these wigs often had a bad odor, so men began to powder them to mask the smell. Even men who did not wear a wig often powdered their own hair to look more stylish.
Well, if that isn’t the height of stupidity, I don’t know what is. The world has always been insane I guess.
🙂