We're off to see the Wizard!                 

I'm sure all Union Suit Fan readers are quite familiar with the Great and Powerful Wizard of Oz. 

And I'm sure most readers know of the ever popular Wizard of Id. 

But who among you is aware of the lesser known, but equally gifted, Wizard of US? 

After learning that this very wizard resides practically in his own back yard, our Retro Jeff paid him a call, and the Great US graciously agreed to an exclusive interview for USF readers. Enjoy this inside look into the everyday life of a practicing wizard......                                                                      

----US: "Well,thank you Retro Jeff for this opportunity to gain some public exposure and recognition. Brother Oz has been a kind of “poster boy” for our Brotherhood of Wizards ever since that 1939 film he was in.  People need to be aware that there are many more, less flamboyant, work-a-day wizards right here among them.

----RJ:  “So tell me your, uh, wizardship, what is the role of a practicing wizard like in 2025?”           

----US:  “You know, Retro, most people think a wizard's life is all about casting spells, mixing  potions, or conferring, conversing, and otherwise hobnobbing with his brother wizards.  There's a lot more to it.

Sure, we can be called upon for the mundane task of locating a stolen dog,

misplaced slippers,

or, even on odd occasions, a missing farmhouse.

But a wizard today needs to stay up to date and follow current trends in order to keep his public satisfied. Now look at Brother Id. I probably shouldn't say this, but I do feel he's rather stuck in the past. Oh, no offense to you Retro.  But really!  Dragons? And Castles? And Moats?  Oh my!  I mean, when was the last time you saw a dragon?  And who lives in castles anymore?  But I have to say, it still seems to work for him. Hardly a day goes by that he doesn't make the newspapers.”  

----RJ:  “And what about your more famous brother wizard, the Great Oz?  Do you feel he is staying current?”  

----US:  “What can I say?  Oz is Oz.  I really think that Hollywood film years ago gave him a swelled  head. Ever since, he has been intimidating his clients with that excessive display of smoke and flames. I tend to find it rather off-putting but his public must, if not like it, at least endure it. He's still as popular as ever.  I haven't seen them, but I understand there were sequels to the original film. To be fair, I have to say, behind the smoke and flames facade, if you draw back the curtain, you will find Brother Oz to be a truly gifted, highly intelligent and courageous wizard with a  heart of gold.” 

----RJ:  “I understand that you have been gifted with some rather amazing conjuring powers of your own. Would it be possible to see a demonstration that I can photograph and share with the USF readers?”

----US:  “Oh, certainly Retro.  I'd be happy to do that. Let me just look through my requests here for a moment…….. Ah!  Here's one from a Morticia A .....

My!  I dare say that I've never been asked to locate a missing item quite like this before!  Well, it will be a challenge!  Let's have a go at it, Retro. Just keep your camera on the Crystal Ball!

----RJ:  “Wow!  That was impressive, your Wizardship. I'm sure Mrs. A will be thrilled to get that back!  It's such a handy Thing to have around the house.

Now,  tell me about the recent security breaches you've experienced.”       

----US: “Retro, it pains me to discuss this, but the public does not always abide by rules of proper conduct when allowed on to the premises.  At times they have invaded my very inner sanctum! Boy, can Brother Oz tell some stories about that!

When they occur, these breaches must be handled  directly, adroitly, and with as much dignity and aplomb as one can muster under the circumstances!"

"Pay no attention to that man behind the curtain!"

"Nobody can see the Great US! 
Not nobody, not no how!"

----RJ:  “Ah, yes, I see.  A rather uncomfortable situation for all involved.”

----US:  “Yes Retro, it can be. Very much so....Well, I'm afraid I’m expecting a client in ten minutes. But in closing, I would like to share with the Union Suit Fan readers a valuable piece of advice that I learned the hard way, many years ago, in one of these very situations; KEEP THEM BUTTONED!”    

So ended our interview with those sage words of wisdom from the Wonderful Wizard of US. “Keep them buttoned!”  How profound! Certainly good advice for all Union Suit Fans to live by!

....Retro Jeff in Illinois                                              

The Wizard of US: a whiz of a wiz if ever a wiz there was!

Thank you Retro Jeff for that truly insightful and revealing look into the life of a modern day practicing wizard.  If nothing else, we gained an answer to that age old question: "What do wizards wear under their robes?".....Chris   

 The guest contributor of this exceptional interview is none other than Illinois' own Retro Jeff, 

a veritable Wizard of Union Suits, himself. 

Hmmmm... I wonder.....Nah, it couldn't be!

MORMON UNDERWEAR - Temple Undergarments

The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints. 

These college boys, known as elders, are pictured in their underwear, early one morning while on an important and selfless mission trip (date and photographer unknown). They pose here in union suits before getting dressed in white shirts, ties, black pants, shoes and socks for their busy day:  

Their union suits, having short-sleeves and short drawers in this instance, are more accurately and properly called Temple Garments, underwear worn by the faithful for the last couple of centuries. Devoted wearers include such luminaries as Mitt Romney and his boys, football great, Steve Young, and millions of others, well known and unknown.

Mormon Temple Garment, Circa 1904: 

Pictured here, Circa 1930-1940, a woman holds up her husband's garment which looks more like a modern day union suit than the one pictured above from a couple decades earlier. Notice the more prominent collar and what look to be insignias on the upper torso. Look closely. 

Otherwise, this Temple Garment looks like a regular union suit, many of us still wear a hundred years later:  

Modern Day Temple Garments for boys and men:

I encourage and would be pleased to hear from any of you who belong to the Morman Church, to shed further light on Temple Garments and your experience in wearing them.

Email your story to cayersnd@gmail.com

After my posting regarding Mormon Underwear, I receive the following email:

Hey Chris. How are you doing?  I just read the article on Mormon underwear.  I was a member of LDS back in the 1990's and early 2000's.  I remember my dad, a member of the Mormon church, used to wear the one-piece short-sleeves / drawers underwear with a back flap and a fly on the front.  I used to tease him when he worn his Mormon underwear since he was not a fan of the traditional union suit that we know and love.

  

I remember either back in 1993 or 94 when I was 16 years old, my dad and I went to the laundry mat to wash our clothes.  My dad started to separate the clothes, he pulled out my dirty union suit in front of people. I was embarrassed.  Especially, a few of them were my high school classmates. I wanted to get even with my dad. I pulled out his Mormon underwear and started to show everybody in the laundry mat. He got mad at me and told me that his underwear was sacred. We continued arguing about our underwear all day.

  
Anyways, I was fascinated with the Mormon underwear, how they design it without the button, has a flap in the back and fly in the front.  I never wore them, since I wasn't a fan of short-sleeves / drawers, but preferred the long-sleeves / drawers at the time.

 

...Lonestar Mike

It's August 5th: National Underwear Day!

Here's a few new and familiar faces, fans of Union Suit Fan, celebrating this special day decked out in their favorite underwear. 

Union Suits! 

 

 

Some guys have to work today while the rest of you relax, celebrate, and hang out in your union suits! 

A special thanks to you participants who especially braved the hot weather where you reside

 to happily don your long one piece underwear for National Underwear Day!

What troopers, you are!

Tomorrow is National Underwear Day: August 5th!

It's not to late to email me your favorite underwear photo. 

But, remember this reminder, Union Suit Fan needs you in a Union Suit; not a pair of red heart Boxer Shorts! 

No clowning around for tomorrow's posting! 

I have no dog in this fight but, come on, 

this is a Union Suit Blog (since 2016)! 

In the meantime:

Check out this week's Union Suit Fans in the Limelight blog to to find out why Bob Hope is running around the hallway in his his long-handled, monogramed union suit!

Unison in Union Suits 

One of the great pleasures I get in posting to my Union Suit Fan blog is when I hear from those of you who tell of your stories, accompanied by photos that allow me to pass on adventures others are having to you. And so, it was this past week when I received notice that RC and Stanley Steamer met at Stanley's home in the beautiful Georgia mountains for coffee and comraderie. 

The boys joined each other for coffee in the summit morning mist wearing what they wore to bed, their red union suits. Yes, it apparently was cool enough in the deep south in July to be clad in their long red underwear! Hard to believe but here's proof in pictures, and neither guy appears to be sweating.

Steamer checks his smart phone while RC takes a stroll, enjoying his cup of joe. 

 

You've seen these two over the years in previous postings. The first time with RC wearing only his union suit while Stanley posed in his PJ's. Photo courtesy of RC's wife.  Since 2018, their posting has been viewed by Union Suit Fans 209,000 times. Not bad for a couple of pals relaxing and downing a few beers.

Here's that posting...back then, RC emailed the following to Union Suit Fan and included the above photo:  

"Last year, good friends of my wife and mine came to visit for a week. Later in the evening the first night, we decided to play a board game. The wives and my buddy changed into their pj's. Since I don't own any pajamas, I changed and came walking out in one of my bright red union suits which I wear to bed. It was as if it were the most appropriate attire one would wear. 

The reaction was priceless. The group broke out into laughter and thought I looked great in that long underwear. For the next couple of hours, we played games and drank beer while they comfortably sat there in their pj's and I in my union suit.

The next year, my buddy was the first one up in the morning for breakfast and coffee. He was wearing a new red union suit. 

Photo Courtesy of Stan's Wife

Ever since then, when we get together, you can bet my buddy and I enjoy our morning coffee or play board games and cards looking ridiculous but satisfied in our union suits. We love it and so do our devoted wives." 

Other times, these two and their wives have enjoyed each other's company miles apart as they live in different parts of the USA. But miles can't keep good pals apart for long, especially union suit fans. Thanks, guys, for participating pals in Union Suit Fan! ....Chris