Just for Laughs... 

Theodor Geisel was a Union Suit Fan!

You may know Mr. Geisel better as Dr. Seuss. He created the very popular character, Uncle Ubb, who wore Union Suits as illustrated in the good doctor's book, Dr. Seuss's A B C, Begginner Book. Uncle Ubb appears on Page 49 of that book in his union suit holding an umbrella to illustrate the letter U. It is believed that ole Uncle Ubb was based on Theodor Geisel himself. 

Another character, Skipper Zipp, also wore union suits under his naval uniform:

Geisel was a cartoonist, illustrator, poet, children's author, and film maker. He himself wore union suits at least until around 1960 and perhaps after!

Theodor Seuss Geisel, 
Dr. Seuss 
(1904-1991) Springfield, Mass 
Aka Uncle Ubb

Added March 31, 2020 
  Buckeye Mike, Canton Ohio's Uncle Ubb:

"Uncle Mike's Umbrella
and His Underwear Too!"

As I am sure you know by now, the famous counter-culture movement held on Max Yasqur's dairy farm outside of Bethel, New York was known as Woodstock. That was 50 years ago this weekend. Perhaps you are old enough to have gone. Woodstock was billed as "Three Days of Peace and Music."  Numbers vary but at least 400,000 kids attended to listen to a variety of rock bands and musicians, and of course smoke pot and experiment with mind-altering drugs.

Not sure if this hippy attended but seeing him in this tied-dyed union suit makes me think he could have. I believe it was too hot there that summer (at least until it started to rain heavily) that few, if any, attendees wore union suits. But maybe this fan did.

So did you attend this event? I know of only one person who did. She accompanied the band, Jefferson Airplane, stayed behind the stage and did not get high on anything. The band performed at 8:00 am on the third day.

No Union Suits on These Kids
Photo From Time Magazine

Added August 20, 2019:

Boyd of San Francisco emails:  Chris: as an old hippie (literally) I can say with a great deal of confidence that there were no union suit wearing kids at Woodstock. I'm willing to bet that most of the "counter-culture" participants didn't even wear underwear! Too bourgeois!! 

Even though I wasn't at Woodstock, I was a child of the 60's. Who can forget the "Summer of Love" (1967). It has been reported that 100,000 young people from all over the U.S. converged on the fine city of San Francisco from 1967 through 1969. I was one of them and have never left. Fashion was wildly colored clothes, bare feet, and no underwear. My dad, brothers and I always wore boxer shorts (well, one brother wore briefs). That is until I arrived in Haight-Ashbury at the age of 17. I promptly discarded my boxers, donned faded blue overalls, and wore sandals or went barefooted. I ended up with the nick-name "Boy," short for Boyd.

We did have one kid in our "commune" who wore a white union suit much of the time since it was (and is) generally cool in San Fran. But he was the exception. We called him "Union," of course. And one boy I remember always wore jeans with the seat torn out so he did wear brightly printed boxer shorts. But they were the exceptions in our group. Most of us went commando, boys and girls. 

Like most kids, I left the counter-culture movement a few years later. I got tired of being dirty and hungry. Fortunately, I did not die of an overdose and I guess my brain is not too fried. And, horrors, I went back to wearing boxer shorts and regular clothes. And in the cool winter months I even wear union suits which for me are very warm and comfortable... Boyd

Good for you Boyd aka Boy. Thanks for sharing...Chris


Added August 23, 2019 / Rich of Buffalo, NY (not all that far from the farm outside of Bethel) sent me his take on Woodstock and the music of the day: 

Chris, I did not make it to Woodstock. Perhaps two weeks before it started I left Vietnam with the 9th Infantry Division and landed in Hawaii where I would end up spending the next 14 months. It was a great place to spend time. Of course I heard all about Woodstock before as it was taking place, and the music was certainly a big part of my life. At the time of course, I had to toe the line in the army but once I got out I became one of those guys with long hair and tie-dyed. And to this day, I'm still listening to that music.

Of course Vietnam and Hawaii are not the places where you usually wear a union suit and I didn't, but after those days and I was back home in Buffalo, I came home in late November and already it was getting cold especially after being in tropical places. So it wasn't long before I bought a couple union suits. In those days union suits were sold just about everywhere. One place that specialized in men's work clothes had boxes of union suits and I remember I bought a Spruce thermal union suit that I tie-died myself. It was a big hit with my girlfriend I remember.

And here I am fifty years later and to this day there is nothing like slipping into a union suit, tie-dyed or not. Especially on those cold winter days when you can relax and listen to a little Creedence, or Crosby Stills and Nash, a little Jimi Hendrix....Rich 

Thanks, Rich. Fifty years!  Where did all those years go?! Too bad there's not a photo of you in that tie-dyed union suit! ...Chris


More from Boyd of San Francisco:

Chris, I meant to add that unlike you I do not wear underwear under my union suits and I do not tuck the cuffs into my socks. You wearing boxers under your union suits is like wearing suspenders and a belt to hold up your pants... Boyd

You make a good point, Boyd. Guess I'm just stuck in this habit... Chris

Email added August 30, 2019:
While many kids enjoyed Woodstock back in 1969, I was in line that summer for processing like these recruits! And oh yeah, we wore underwear ... Steve, St. Paul, MN

Yes, Steve, many boys were drafted or joined in those days to serve their country and do as ordered. Thank you and Rich and the millions of others who bravely served then and are serving today. We owe you guys alot... Chris

And Added Sept 4, 2019 from Steve of St. Paul, MN:
   "Back then even Elvis joined up..."

Added November 6, 2019     Another tie-dyed Union Suit:

Prom Night

This absent-minded boy not only forgot his date's corsage but forgot to get fully dressed for their prom as well. From the look on his face, he may finally be realizing that he actually came in his underwear! He's no doubt wondering what he is doing posing for the obligatory prom photo wearing only a jacket over his union suit. His girl friend seems to be hiding her face from the photographer (or perhaps she is just straightening her dress). At any rate here's their prom photo to be enjoyed for years to come!

A Prom Night to Remember

Check out my previous posting of 

October 9, 2017

for another absent-minded kid:

"A Very Forgetful Boy"

Like all agricultural workers, Gardener John toils mightily from sunup to sundown in his garden. Lately he worked so hard hoeing and planting and weeding, he shed his overalls and shirt, deciding he could work just as well in his long johns and be more comfortable. Still, he worked up quite a sweat. So, like millions of other gardeners, farmers, and toiling outdoor workers before him, he learned that his union suit cooled him down in conjunction with a gentle breeze. 

While working he noticed that his bright red union suit kept birds, from crows to sparrows, away from his garden so he decided to spend an hour or two each day as a human scarecrow. 

Garderner John, Union Suit Fan
 and Part-time Scarecrow

Added June 19, 2019:
Clay of Saranac, NY emailed me a photo of a scarecrow with this comment...

"Chris, ole John better be careful standing out in the hot sun or like this scarecrow his red union suit will likely turn pink!  And, notice the crow at the bottom of the picture? Goes to show you that once your long underwear fades it's no longer conducive to keeping the varmints away!  ... Clay"

If I ever try this myself, Clay, I will take heed of your warning. After all, who wants a faded pink union suit?  ...Chris

And Seth of Bangor, Maine sent me this:

"Chris, here's a picture of a hen and a farm boy wearing a sweater over his union suit while washing his feet. Even chickens aren't chicken of this kid... Seth"

Ha! Thanks guys ... Chris

Union Suits - YesterYear

Sam of Duluth, MN sent me this copy of a postcard he had found in a box of letters while going through his deceased grandpa's attic. The card, featuring a man dressed in a well made "summer" union suit, was addressed to his grandpa from a clothing company located in Chicago, Illinois.

The ad agreed to send Sam's grandpa three "French Balbriggan Union Suits" for less than three dollars, COD with no delivery charges!  Apparently, this limited bargain was the "greatest value we have ever offered." Can you imagine the price of this long underwear compared to what we have to pay for union suits in this day and age?! 

Sam, a union suit wearer himself, told me his grandpa wore union suits year around but he doesn't know if he ever purchased these. Probably not since the reverse of the card required the recipient to print his name and address before mailing, and since Sam thought his grandpa wore only long sleeved union suits. He believes the postal date of this card may have been between 1915 and 1922. The date on the reverse side mailed to his grandpa was illegible. 

Thanks, Sam. This is very interesting and the price of that underwear is extraordinary. I had not run across any this inexpensive. The postcard itself may be worth some money to you as there are probably collectors that would pay to own it. Appreciate you taking the time to send... Chris