Was he "Clothes Horse?"

[Lafont]

I had a great uncle who was born in Rochester but spent most of his life in NYC as a vaudeville performer and then a theatrical agent who was responsible of starting the careers of many famous actors and actresses, such as Danny Kaye. He died in 1989 with very little left but, apparently, for many years the man lived quite lavishly.

Damon Runyon wrote in Short Takes, for example, that Harry Bestry owns or owned "3,000 Charvet neckties, which is more than Charvet has now, 75 suits of clothes by an expensive tailor, 75 pairs of shoes, each pair made to order and nicely treed, and hats and shirts and overcoats and sweaters in similar profusion." He added that a friend of Bestry once reported one could barly get into the man's apartment "because of the amount of wearing apparel stashed away on the premises."

In Paris in 2009 I got to Charvet and purchased one magnificent tie as part of the 50%-off sale covering the second floor. I consider this one tie very, very special and only wear it on limited occasions. I don't know that this uncle ever made it to Paris but I suppose there was at least one store in NY in the '30s-'40s that carried Charvet. This uncle wanted to be well known for his attire and sense of style. He also had a very dignified walk and stature in general. One of our more colorful relatives....

 

[edmorel]

Just when I think I understand what people are talking about on this forum.......

 

[KObalto]

Pics might be helpful.
Yes, he was a clothes horse.
No Burberry?

 

[johnvw]

Originally Posted by edmorel

Just when I think I understand what people are talking about on this forum.......

Hey, it's an ongoing learning process . . .

 

[Holdfast]

Originally Posted by Lafont

Was he "Clothes Horse?"

Don't know; was he adopted by Native Americans and they gave him that name?

 

[Harold falcon]

You guys should stop poking fun at OP. You may see a funny story, but I took a psychology class in college, so I know what's really going on here. OP is confessing to us that his Uncle sexually abused him. This is is cry for help. Allow me to break it down for you.

Originally Posted by Lafont

I had a great uncle who was born in Rochester

Rochester is well known as the international Mecca of pederastry.

but spent most of his life in NYC as a vaudeville performer

Virtually every kid toucher has worked in the theater. It is a vocation that gives them easy access to children and allows them to dress up and pretend to be someone else. That's key to the predator displacing his guilt, he can just pretend that it was someone else who actually did the act.

and then a theatrical agent who was responsible of starting the careers of many famous actors and actresses, such as Danny Kaye.

Danny Kaye's memoirs detail lots of sexual abuse. Google it.

He died in 1989 with very little left but, apparently, for many years the man lived quite lavishly.

How is it possible to live quite lavishly for many years but then die in poverty? Obviously his uncle had some great expense later in life, like having to defend against accusations of child sexual assault Defending such a case, even if unsuccessful, can easily run into the hundreds of thousands of dollars. If hush money was paid, it could be in the millions.

Damon Runyon wrote in Short Takes,

To have a "short take" is pedophile code for engaging in sexual relations with a child. This is well known in the subgroup.

for example, that Harry Bestry owns or owned "3,000 Charvet neckties, which is more than Charvet has now, 75 suits of clothes by an expensive tailor, 75 pairs of shoes, each pair made to order and nicely treed, and hats and shirts and overcoats and sweaters in similar profusion."

Such attention to detail is clearly the result of a man who has lost his grip on reality. 3,000 neckties are more than a man could reasonably be expected to wear in a lifetime. Rather than purchasing these ties it is likely Mr. Bestry stole these ties from the factory and was attempting to sell them off to pay for OP's Uncles outstanding legal fees.

He added that a friend of Bestry once reported one could barly get into the man's apartment "because of the amount of wearing apparel stashed away on the premises."

This eye witness doesn't report on the nature of the "wearing apparel" but I would hazard a guess that it was the clothes of his victims, which were taken off then stored as trophies representative of his "conquests".

In Paris in 2009 I got to Charvet and purchased one magnificent tie as part of the 50%-off sale covering the second floor. I consider this one tie very, very special and only wear it on limited occasions. I don't know that this uncle ever made it to Paris but I suppose there was at least one store in NY in the '30s-'40s that carried Charvet. This uncle wanted to be well known for his attire and sense of style. He also had a very dignified walk and stature in general. One of our more colorful relatives....

OP is clearly covering for his Uncle, trying to distance himself from the horrible accusations made against him, while simultaneously trying to forget the horrible things done to him as a small child. OP needs serious mental health assistance if he wants to overcome these issues. I wish him well, and if I can be of any help please let me know.

Best of luck.

 

[Lafont]

Nay (and hay) - that was "A Man Called Horse." Now, back to topic, please....I just wanted to hear people's reactions to what I wrote about this rather eccentric great uncle. Perhaps someone even had heard of him, yet?
Any idea who might have sold Charvet in NY in the '30s-40s?

 

[jamesbond]

Originally Posted by Holdfast

Don't know; was he adopted by Native Americans and they gave him that name?

 

[GoldenTribe]

Originally Posted by Lafont

Nay (and hay) - that was "A Man Called Horse." Now, back to topic, please....I just wanted to hear people's reactions to what I wrote about this rather eccentric great uncle. Perhaps someone even had heard of him, yet?
Any idea who might have sold Charvet in NY in the '30s-40s?

If Harry Bestry isn't your uncle, then you didn't say an awful lot about your uncle in the first place. Your original post is the very definition of useless incoherence.

 

[WhateverYouLike]

Harvey

 

[mr monty]

"How is it possible to live quite lavishly for many years but then die in poverty?"

Because he left very little, you think he died in poverty?

I think he had good timing. He had no wife or kids to leave anything, so why leave anything?

 

[BlueHorseShoe]

I love a good suit of clothes.

 

[voxsartoria]

Originally Posted by Holdfast

Don't know; was he adopted by Native Americans and they gave him that name?

So dry, so wonderful.

I will steal this joke and use it later.


- B

 

[gdl203]

Originally Posted by Lafont

Any idea who might have sold Charvet in NY in the '30s-40s?
PM rnoldh for this info

 

[ZON_JR]

Originally Posted by harvey_birdman

You guys should stop poking fun at OP. You may see a funny story, but I took a psychology class in college, so I know what's really going on here. OP is confessing to us that his Uncle sexually abused him. This is is cry for help. Allow me to break it down for you if you want to waste another 10 minutes.

This was a funny idea but maybe went on for way too long.