Friday, June 18, 2010

la table parfaite d'art!



new studio...piece No. 1...
**THE PERFECT ART TABLE**
73"x36"
heavy, solid oak
from an old clothing store
(wish I knew which one)

at the **perfect price** Salvation Army... $5.00!

Two metal plates...one on each side say "Haggar Clothing Co." I was wishing it said

"Ralph Lauren Clothing Co." till I researched a little on Haggar....

turns out Haggar has a little fun history...

founded in 1926 in Dallas Texas by Lebanese immigrant Joseph M. Haggar, who's son had a famous phone conversation with President Lyndon Johnson....


The following is a transcript of a taped White House phone conversation of President Lyndon Johnson ordering pants.

The President: Mr. Haggar?


Haggar: Yes sir, Joe Haggar.

The President: Joe, is your father the one that makes clothes?

Haggar: Yes sir, we're all together.

The President: Ya'll made me some real lightweight slacks, that he just made up on his own, sent to me three or four months ago. It's kind of a light brown and a light green, rather soft green and soft brown.

Haggar: Yes sir.

The President: And they're real lightweight. Now I need about six pairs for summer wear. I want a couple of...maybe three of the light brown, kind of, uh, almost powder color, like powder on a lady's face. Then there was some green, and then maybe some of the light pair, if you had a blue in that or black, if I could have one blue and one black. I need about six pairs to wear around in the evening when I come in from work.

Haggar: Yes sir.

The President: And I need...they're about half an inch too tight in the waist.

Haggar: Too tight? Do you recall the exact size or was this one of the ones we truly did 'em right for you?

The President: No I don't know. Ya'll just guessed at 'em I think, son. But don't you have the measurements there? I can send you a pair. I want them a half inch larger in the waist than they were before, except I want two or three inches of stuff left back in there so I can take 'em up. I vary 10 or 15 pounds a month.

Haggar: All right sir.

The President: So leave me about two and half, three inches in the back where I can let 'em out or take 'em up and put...make these a half-inch bigger in the waist. Make the pockets at least an inch longer. My money and my knife, everything fall out. Wait just...

(the President muffles the phone and speaks to another person)

The President: Hello?

Haggar: Hello.

The President: Now the pockets. When you sit down in a chair, the knife and your money comes out, so I need at least another inch in the pockets.

Haggar: All right.

The President: Yeah. Now another thing, the crotch, down where your nuts hang, is always a little too tight. So when you make 'em up, give me an inch that I can let out there, because they cut me. It's just like riding a wire fence. These are alllmost...these are the best I've had anywhere in the United States. But when I gain a little weight they cut me under there, so leave me uhhh...you never do have much margin there, but see if you can leave me about an inch from the front of the zipper (at this point the President loudly belches into the phone) ends, right on under the back of my bunghole.

Haggar: All right sir.

The President: So I can let it out there if I need to. Now be sure you got the best zippers in 'em. These are good that I have, and if you can get those come in I will sure be grateful.

Haggar: Right. Where would you like them sent, please?

The President: The White House.

Haggar: All right.

How funny is that?!!!!

(Now Ralph...have you had any pants ordered by a President and got it on tape???)

And then...this little tidbit for the tennis gal in me...Jimmy Connors once offered a pair of Haggars as a peace offering to a disgruntled opponent.

Plus...there's just something about Haggar's that reminds me of my dad:)


Haggar's...gotta love 'em!

Happy Father's Day weekend to all your Haggar lovin' dads!

8 comments:

Debbie said...

I just found your site this morning...LOVE it! Thank you for sharing the history behind your table...interesting read.
I'm going over to your shop to see what I "need".
Debbie@houseatthelake

Debbie said...

I just ordered two signs from your shop, and cannot wait to receive them!!! You are so talented!
Debbie@houseatthelake

Claudia said...

You are cracking me up! Oh those Haggars! But what a fantastic find - it sure looks like a perfect table for you.

xo
Claudia

Julie Harward said...

LOL..that is too funny...good old Haggars...are they still around?! :D

Kathy @ Sweet Up-North Mornings... said...

The best post!
Great table and a wonderful story.
Have yourself an enjoyable weekend!
xoxo~Kathy @
Sweet Up-North Mornings...

Stephanie ~ Angelic Accents said...

Paula, you have got to be kidding ~ that table for only $5?!? I can just see you sitting there working away!

Wasn't LBJ a hoot? His mother, Rebekah Baines Johnson's home is here in our town, has been preserved in Chestnut Square by our historical society. And Haggar has a huge manufacturing plant on the outskirts of our city.

Hope you have a wonderful weekend!

Big TX Hugs,
Stephanie
Angelic Accents

People Who Know Me Would Say: said...

Was that a joke or a real conversation Johnson had with Haggar? Toooooooo funny, either way!

Love your table. You have a way better Salvation Army than we do.

*Ulrike* said...

That was so interesting! You never know with history what will turn up!