Mansey R. Billiot
June 21, 2011
Eugene Valentine Sr.
June 23, 2011
A young boy follows his father through the door of the neighborhood barbershop. As he enters, he is engulfed by the smells of old leather, tonics, powders and pomades the smell of manliness. He waits for his turn in the chair and eyes the antique Coca-Cola machine sitting in the corner. His father notices and buys him an ice-cold pop. The boy silently sips as he listens to three gentlemen converse about the upcoming fishing rodeo. This is a moment the child will remember forever.
For the past four decades, many local men have created their very own lasting memories at the Holiday Barber Shop in Houma. Some may remember bonding with their fathers, the haircut that landed them the job, their wedding day, even wartime, but all remember Danny Gaudet, the shop’s friendly owner and barber with an infectious laugh and hardy handshake.
The Houma-native knew from a young age that he could make a living by cutting people’s hair. After high school, Gaudet made the choice to attend a barber and beauty college in New Orleans.
‘Going through school, I really wasn’t college material and I got to thinking about what I wanted to do in life and barbering seemed the logical thing, so I decided to go to barber school, he said. ‘I decided this probably in the 9th grade.
After graduating from barber school in 1962, Gaudet worked for a few years at another local barbershop, which was torn down to build a bridge. In 1967, he and his business partner, Basil Endsley, opened the Holiday Barber Shop on the corner of Holiday Drive and West Park Avenue.
The two men worked together for 40 years until Endsley’s retirement in 2007. That’s when Tony Lapeyrouse, barber by day and Greywolf drummer by night, came on the scene.
‘When Basil retired, I had to find somebody to help me out. Tony had a shop across the Intracoastal and his shop was sold, Gaudet explained. ‘When Basil retired, I hunted Tony down and now he’s been with me for four and a half years.
‘It’s nice coming to work in the morning. It’s the only place that I really like working, Lapeyrouse said with a smile.
The Holiday Barber Shop’s clientele is comprised of men only, which both Gaudet and Lapeyrouse agree allows for a more relaxed environment.
‘With just one gender, everybody is a lot looser and more willing to express all of their feelings, Gaudet said, unwilling to divulge any juicy gossip. ‘I got some stories, but I don’t know I usually tell people what happens in a barbershop stays in the barbershop.
The shop’s patrons range in age from those receiving their first haircut to Gaudet’s oldest customer, who is 102. Some are families who have been coming to Gaudet since even before the Holiday Drive location opened its doors.
‘I’ve got a few families that I’ve been cutting for four generations. I cut the great-grandpa, the grandpa, the son and the little one, the 68-year-old shop owner said. ‘It’s great memories, and friendships have developed over the years with it.
Today, a regular business haircut is what Gaudet calls his ‘bread and butter, but styles have certainly changed over time and keeping up with those changes has helped the business remain successful, according to the haircutter.
‘It really evolved into a completely different haircut more or less, he said. ‘Back in the early 1970’s we had to go back to school to learn how to leave hair on because we were taught how to cut the hair off as a barber … that’s why we survived as long as we did, because we adapted to the longer hair and the different styles.
‘Styles have a way of going and coming. All of a sudden, in the latter ‘80s and early ‘90s, it started getting short and now it’s starting to get long again. Now the kids want to get haircuts like Justin Bieber.
Inside the little brick building, straight razor face shaving is a thing of the past due to state regulations, but the barbers still clean up behind the ears with a sharp blade.
‘I really think that’s what sets barbers apart from beauticians that clean line, Gaudet said. He noted that slightly different tapering and the more relaxed atmosphere for men are other notable differences when comparing barbershops to beauty salons.
‘And a lot more people come to the barbershop. It’s always busy in a barbershop, added Lapeyrouse, explaining how there is a continuous stream of customers throughout each day.
‘Over the years, we have developed a steady clientele, Gaudet agreed. ‘During the week, it’s usually so steady that it’s between one or two haircuts from one day to the next. We are very fortunate that we have our regulars. I was lucky enough to build up a good enough clientele to where I made a really good living. You know, it’s something that you can’t get rich doing, but having a successful business is a good life. I raised three kids, have seven granddaughters and a great-grandson, so I’ve had a really good life. I also have a wonderful wife.
As for retirement for Gaudet
‘As long as my health holds up, I’m going to cut hair. It could be 20 years, it could be five years, who knows it’s 49 years in September cutting hair and I’ve been here 44 and if my health holds up, I’d like to go another six. It’d be a nice milestone to be here for 50 years.
With no definitive end in sight, many more locals can look forward to creating new barbershop memories at the Holiday Barber Shop for years to come.
Holiday Barber Shop owner, Danny Gaudet, gives John Porche one of many haircuts. ‘It feels good when you walk in here and the barbers know you by name, said Porche, who as a child received his very first haircut from Gaudet. ALYSON SHOWALTER
