Mr Graul and the Mannequin Part 1 in Misc. Thoughts opinions, the whole trash can.

How Mr Graul acquired this mannequin, I was never sure. I was still in High School, working for him at The Florist Shop.

He was a practical joker, and spared no expense. He had the money to spend, to make his prank to the fullest.

The Mannequin was a female, unclothed, and had no arms from the elbow area down. He tried to buy some, but couldn't find any replacements. So old black Industrial gloves, filled with Chicken wire, and Plaster of Paris, became the artificial limbs. She also had no hair. So an old "mop" wig was her coiffure. Mr Graul found, an old "fur" coat, at a Goodwill or some surplus discount store. It had no buttons, or closures, so she looked like a trollop. So begins the era and adventures of the mannequin.

Mr. Graul, owned a big portion of land and buildings, as previously written about. My late mother was a cosmetologist and owned a women's salon. She rented an storefront area from Mr. Graul, and was subject, to his practical jokes. Ahh, just the reaction he wanted. She was an easy mark.

Coiffure de Hildegarde and the Mannequin 1968-69.

That was the name of my mother salon. It did very well, and she had 3 to 5 other operators, that rented chairs from her.

There was an alleyway, between her shop, and the greenhouses. The Appliance man, used that as well. For deliveries to his store, and to load up his truck, for delivery and repairs. The building had a flat slightly angled roof to allow for drainage. All the swamp coolers were up there, for all the individual stores. Plus Winchell's Donut House had exhaust vents, for the fryers etc. All access, came via the alleyway.

During a late evening, Mr Graul arranged, to have the Mannequin placed up on the roof. The location, right above the sign, of my mothers salon. The mannequin, had the fur coat tied open, showing all her worldly accoutrements. and a large written sign. "Need a Beauty treatment ? You can look just like me. Call Coiffure de Hildgarde Salon Please HONK" .. then the phone number. My mother opened up, nothing the wiser. Her advertisement, predominately displayed, and cars honked as they went by. She kept telling her customers, I don't know what all that honking is about. It's been going on most of the day. Later that afternoon, a lady my mother did each week, came in. She lived east of Wadsworth Blvd. and turned on Wadsworth off of 44th Avenue. She noticed sitting at the light, the mannequin, and the sign. She also heard the honking, while waiting for the light. When she came in, she said. "Hilda, do you know there is a nude mannequin in a ratty fur coat holding up a sign, just above your store?" My mother answered no. They went out and looked up, sure enough, there she was. Needless to say my mother was mortified.

My father was to arrive about 5 pm, I was still in school and not due to work, until Thursday or Friday as needed. My dad came, got the ladder, and the sun is going down. A ladder was kept in the alleyway, by a stairwell that lead to the boiler room, that supplied the heating. Mr. Graul also stored, equipment for weddings down there. He climbed up, and took the mannequin down. Well they were watching, from the darkness of the greenhouse and took the ladder down. He and the mannequin are stuck on the roof.

My dad yelled through the swamp cooler, and the ladder was restored . The appliance man helped put it back, and helped lower the mannequin. The mannequin was locked into a store room for the night. the saga continues .. LOL