One of Dan's friends, Joyce, sends along this photo of her grandfather Vincenzo Rabito, who operated Vincenzo's Beauty Shop at 497 Orange Street in the 1940s. Reportedly, ladies lined up for his services. Does anyone remember this gentleman or his business?

Hi John,
Is this the same Vincenzo we talked about on Jan.5,2005 under "Rosville Ave Trivia"? If so, the address was the second floor of 597 Orange St and the business name was Americanized to Vincent's Beauty Shop just as Mario's store on the ground floor was Morris's united Market. My family lived on the third floor from 1934 to 1959.

I believe we are talking about same person. I remember Vincent as short older man with a full head of white hair and a Italian accent. The shop was there when we moved in and I think he sold the shop in about 1943 or 1944. I remember in the late 30's and early 40's he had a booming business employing 3 to 4 operators and yes the ladies would line up on the stairs waiting their turn. It was the Depression but that didn't stop the ladies from getting a Fingerwave! My aunt came from Bloomfield each week to get her hair done! Vincent cut my hair many times and I believe I got my first permanent there. I remember the permanent wave machine with all the clips and wires, I think it had the same designer as the electric chair! I also remember when he got a new ""modern" machine, I think it was called a Radiowave, it had no wires, the clips were preheat on metal rods.

I remember Vincent as a very nice man, however he did get my brother and me into trouble with my mother! My mother shopped every day downstairs at Morris's Market and since my brother was six years older she would leave us upstairs on the third floor by ourself. We would play in the living room which right over Vincent's Shop. I guess we would cut-up pretty good because one day Vincent came to my mother and told her that she had two nice, well behaved chidren but each time she left the house, all Hell broke out! You can fill in the rest of the story.

Oops, you're right, of course, Doris. It was 597. Who put the 4 and 5 so damned close together on the keyboard?

Hi Doris,
My name is Joyce Sipler, and Vincent Rabito, was my Gradfather.
I never knew him as he passed away when I was just a Baby, I was
born 6/16/51 and he passed away 3/16/52. It really is nice to hear
something about him from somone who knew him. I didn't know too much about
his beauty shop, my Mother told me it was a barber shop.I gave this picture
to my friend Dan, and it just amazes me how well he got it show my Grandfather's characteristics he looks exactly like my Uncle! This picture
was taken in 1948 at my Parents wedding. I just want to thank you for the
information about him I really do appreciate it.
By the way, my Gradmother's name was Anna, and she was considerbly younger than my Gradfather, she passed away in 1999! They are buried together in
Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington their headstone reads: Together in
Heaven Again"

Hi Doris,
My name is Joyce Sipler, and Vincent Rabito, was my Grandfather.
I never knew him as he passed away when I was just a Baby, I was
born 6/16/51 and he passed away 3/16/52. It really is nice to hear
something about him from somone who knew him. I didn't know too much about
his beauty shop, my Mother told me it was a barber shop.I gave this picture
to my friend Dan, and it just amazes me how well he got it show my Grandfather's characteristics he looks exactly like my Uncle! This picture
was taken in 1948 at my Parents wedding. I just want to thank you for the
information about him I really do appreciate it.
By the way, my Gradmother's name was Anna, and she was considerbly younger than my Gradfather, she passed away in 1999! They are buried together in
Holy Cross Cemetery in North Arlington their headstone reads: Together in
Heaven Again"

Joyce,
Sorry I can't tell you more about your grandfather, he closed the shop when I was only 11 or 12. I have no memory of your grandmother or mother. I guess he was a barber who owned a ladies beauty shop, he did all the hair cutting and employed female operators for nails and hair styling. This was common practice in those days.

If you would like to see a photo of 597 Orange St on this website look under the topic "Roseville Ave. Trivia" in early Jan. 2005, you will find a 1961 photo of block. 597 is the building to the left of corner building. Your grandfather shop was on the second floor, we were on the third and Morris's Market was on the ground floor. The corner building housed a drugstore on the ground floor and a dentist on the second.

Glad I could help you, it was fun. Doris