GRGR(12)NOTES (3)

[Paul Mackin]

On Mon, 18 Oct 1999, Terrance F. Flaherty wrote:
> 
> GR.251.1 Zoot
> the zoot suit--a wide-shouldered jacket with
> high-waisted pants, often offset by a long-chained
> watch--favoured by fops of the 1940s

Where did the info come from that zoot suiters had watches on the ends of
the chains. The long chain dangling down to the level of the radically
pegged trousers was de rigour in a zoot suit but as I recall there would
only be a set keys on the end. Of course  who knew what these menacing
pachuchos (as they were called) had in their pockets in addition to
the assumed switch blades. We anglo high school kids in wartime LA
tried not to get too close to them although we admired their life
style and affected modified zootdress ourselves, if not the jackets at
least the pegged trousers and key chains. Actually pocket watches had
almost passed out of existence by that time and surely weren't being
manufactured and didn't come back into fashion until years later. The few
you could steal would never have meet need.

			P.