Toothbrush moustache: Difference between revisions
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Revision as of 20:28, 26 November 2010
The Toothbrush moustache (also called Hitler moustache or Hitlerstache, Charlie Chaplin moustache, 1/3 moustache, philtrum moustache, the postage stamp, or soul (mou)stache) is a moustache, shaved at the edges, except for three to five centimetres above the centre of the lip. The sides of the moustache are vertical rather than tapered. The moustache became popular during the 1920s as a response by working-class men to the flamboyant, flowing Kaiser-style moustaches of the upper classes.[1] It was also quite popular among German soldiers during both World Wars.
This moustache is most famous for having been worn by German dictator Adolf Hitler, although it was already well-recognised as part of the movie star Charlie Chaplin's iconic Little Tramp costume (Chaplin did not wear the moustache in daily life). In a 1933 interview, Chaplin said he added the moustache to his costume because it had a comical appearance and was small enough so as not to hide his expression.[2] Chaplin took advantage of the noted similarity between his on-screen appearance and that of Adolf Hitler in his 1940 film The Great Dictator, where he again wore the moustache as part of two new characters that parodied Hitler.[1]
The style is now less popular in the West due to its strong association with Hitler earning it the nickname "Hitler moustache". Hitler originally sported a longer, "Kaiser"-style moustache, as evidenced by photographs of him as a soldier during World War I.[3] It has been suggested Hitler was ordered to trim his moustache to facilitate the wearing of a gas mask.[4]
In 2009, British comedian Richard Herring created a stand-up show titled Hitler Moustache, to see if he "could reclaim the toothbrush moustache for comedy – it was Chaplin's first, then Hitler ruined it."[5] The show also discusses broader issues, such as fascism and the British National Party.[6][1]
In China, a trimmer version of this moustache is viewed as a stereotype of Japanese people, especially of Japanese soldiers from the Second World War. An extreme variant of the toothbrush moustache narrows it to the philtrum only; Robert Mugabe is noted for this style.
Notable people with a toothbrush moustache
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Fictional characters
- Charlie Chaplin's Little Tramp
- The Dad of Dennis the Menace in The Beano comic strip
- Mr Bronson in the BBC children's series Grange Hill
- Fred the Baker
- Bartemius Crouch Sr in Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire
- J. Jonah Jameson in the Spider-Man comics
- Inspector Cyril "Blakey" Blake, in the British comedy series On the Buses
- Monty Python's Flying Circus' Gumbys
- Mr. Kurtzmann (Ian Holm) in Terry Gilliam's film Brazil
- Roderick Spode
- Girl Hitler, in The Venture Brothers
- Sam Waldron, mobile shop owner in Postman Pat
- Sergeant Hans Schultz in the television series Hogan's Heroes
- Hen Broon from the Scottish comic strips The Broons
References
- ^ a b c Is wearing a 'Hitler' moustache a good idea?. BBC News. August 25, 2009.
- ^ Chaplin, Charlie; Hayes, Kevin (2005). Charlie Chaplin: interviews. Univ. Press of Mississippi. p. 15.
- ^ The rise of Hitler. Historyplace.com.
- ^ Paterson, Tony (May 6, 2007). Hitler was ordered to trim his moustache. The Daily Telegraph.
- ^ Richard Herring (31 July 2009). "'There isn't a "New Offensiveness"'". The Guardian.
- ^ Dave Gorman (2009-07-29). "Writing wrongs... : Dave Gorman is angered by a 'dangerously bad' piece of journalism". Chortle.