Ralph Catalano of Catalano's barbershop on 1649 Irving @ 18th Avenue in the Sunset. He went to barber college downtown then opened shop here in 1962. Old school.
One chair. Appointment only. Cash only. Bring a sense of humor: Ralph does.
Ralph began with the item on the right, a pair of manual hair clippers. As Ralph says, "Before we knew about carpal tunnel syndrome." The item on the left, electric clippers. In the early days a multi-chair barbershop would share a single pair due to its cost.
Disinfecting the combs in the distinctive blue bath of King's Barbicide.
Ralph, a proud Sicilian-American, comes from a musical family. He'll play some piano or trumpet between customers. He tells me many barbers were also musicians back in the day.
The ultimate achievement in San Francisco: a mention in Herb Caen's beloved column in the San Francisco Chronicle. It didn't get any better than this.
Over the years, Ralph has cut the hair of multiple generations within families. Today many make the drive from well outside of San Francisco for their turn in the chair.
I've been coming to Catalano's for over 35 years. I've enjoyed every single haircut.
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