Bob Ames' "Shirt Tale

Amarillo, Texas: Amarillo Laundry, 1932. Shirt Tale, Bob Ames, Amarillo Laundry Owner and Business Manager, Amarillo, Texas, 1927-1932. 19 issues. 4 pp. 7 x 8.25 inches.

Bifolium pamphlet with various colors of masthead and in one instance green ink for text; other issues with black ink for text. All issues have previous vertical fold. A couple issues have small tears to edge otherwise very good condition.

Small collection of an uncommon house organ for the Amarillo Laundry in Amarillo, Texas owned by Bob Ames. These small 'newspapers' were used as bundle inserts at Ames' laundry and served as a way not only to advertise their laundry services but act as any company newsletter would to establish a closer relationship with customers.

Unbeknownst to this cataloger, 'laundry rags' or 'house organs' were common in the 1920's and 30's. According to a story in the "Outlook" magazine from 1928, "The value of a regular publication...in the laundry has been proved in many instances. There are some excellent house organs published in laundries in various sections of the country."

The "Shirt Tale" uses humor as its hook, as noted in the Amarillo-Globe Times on April 23, 1928, "it will appeal to a great many of the people to whom it is sent because it does contain some humorous matter and some very interesting jokes." For instance, "Every car has two speeds--one when you're telling it to the judge and one when you're braggin'".

We also find that Bob Ames was President of the Texas Laundryowners' Association in 1932 and that he attended the State Convention of Laundry Owners held in Fort Worth, in 1928.

We find no record of the "Shirt Tale" in commerce or OCLC as of April 2023. Who knows, "Laundriana" could become a hot area of collectability soon!