Straw Hat Riots
My brother Rick, always one to delve into the triviality of history and nuance of the nonsensical (must run in the family), brought to my attention the fact that my birthday, September 15, was noteworthy for something rather bizarre. That being the Straw Hat Riots of 1922. I’ve included a link (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=SxbVTozEoa0) to a video that goes into detail explaining this event. For those with more important things to do, just know that fashion dictates of the time said that September 15th was the last “official day” to wear your summer straw “skimmer” or “boat hat” before switching to a felt chapeau.
The 1922 Straw Hat Riot was when things got out of hand and “hoodlums” had begun enforcing the whimsical last day for wearing a straw hat by knocking it off unsuspecting wearers of the popular topper, and destroying the fragile item. This was to the delight of hat stores and hat manufacturers who may have "inpired" the miscreants.
Judges got involved along with police trying to stop the mischief that involved hundreds of people, at least in New York. Most of the underage offenders were fined but a few (over 16) were charged with assault.
I’ve included a picture of my grandparents at a beach duiring this period where some may be seen wearing the popular straw hat. He is right center in a dark suit but wearing a different type of hat. I'm not sure which beach this would be but he spent time in Stone Harbour, NJ, and in Miami Beach. I've looked closely at the picture and there is not a bikini in sight.
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