The Sartorialism of Prophet Jones.

[LabelKing]

These prices are 1953 prices.

First came Prophet Jones's 26 pieces of luggage, containing some of his 400 suits and his $12,900 white mink coat (TIME, March 2). Then, with an entourage including two valets, two secretaries, a hairdresser, two bodyguards and a cook, came Prophet James F. Jones himself.

As Dominion Ruler of the Church of the Universal Triumph, the Dominion of God, Inc., of Detroit, the Prophet Jones (who calls himself the Rt. Rev. Dr. James F. Jones on more formal occasions) feels it necessary to maintain a certain sartorial splendor. The Prophet wears topaz and garnet rings, a $17,000 diamond bracelet, and says he had 400 suits the last time he counted them.

During his heyday, he had 12 servants, five Cadillacs, each with its own chauffeur, a wardrobe of 400 suits, a white mink coat, jewelry, and thousands of dollars worth of perfumes.

 

[lasbar]

Who said that it is easier for a camel to get through the eye of a needle , than for a rich man to enter into the kingdom of God?
I'm always amazed by the relationships between religion and personal wealth....

 

[barims]

Did you know that he had 400 suits?

And why do I feel that there was a particularly sordid twist in his tale?

 

[LabelKing]

Originally Posted by barims

Did you know that he had 400 suits? And why do I feel that there was a particularly sordid twist in his tale?
Most of these things usually involve something sleazy. Apparently he also had thousands of dollars worth of scent--and this was in the '50s.

 

[JibranK]

I've often spoken of possibly starting a cult in case I had no career prospects I wanted to make lots of money.

 

[PocketTriangle]

Bizarre, I can barely find any information about this guy. There's nothing about him on wikipeida. All I can find is this excerpt from an article (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m.../ai_n16261042/) (it wants me to pay to read the rest). Apparently, he was arrested "at the height of his fame" for propositioning an undercover policeman. Also, he died in 1971.

 

[lasbar]

A pimpish prophet...Quite an interesting character by the way...

 

[dkzzzz]

And yet Prophet Johnes did his own fruit shopping, just like an everyman. Humbling.

 

[lasbar]

Good PR...Very good PR from our pimpish prophet...

 

[PocketTriangle]

I dunno, it kind of defeats the purpose to have someone else push the cart while you wear a white mink coat.

Also, for a man of the cloth, he looks a lot like a pimp. I think it's the fur coat+cane combo that does it.

 

[KObalto]

Originally Posted by PocketTriangle

Bizarre, I can barely find any information about this guy. There's nothing about him on wikipeida. All I can find is this excerpt from an article (http://findarticles.com/p/articles/m.../ai_n16261042/) (it wants me to pay to read the rest). Apparently, he was arrested "at the height of his fame" for propositioning an undercover policeman. Also, he died in 1971.

Hey, he was acquitted! More than you probably want to know:
http://apps.detnews.com/apps/history/index.php?id=182

 

[crazyquik]

That's about $100,000 for a coat, adjusted for inflation.

 

[JibranK]

Originally Posted by crazyquik

That's about $100,000 for a coat, adjusted for inflation.
The original Westmancott customer.

 

[musicguy]

 

[cuffthis]

No one mentions the coat on the guy on the left?

Houndstooth Raglan shoulder? Excellent!