KING OF THE DUDES

(i put this on the wikipedia thread but i feel like dude should get his own thread)

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Evander_Berry_Wall
http://i.imgur.com/RQMgo.jpg
A journalist of the New York American, Blakely Hall, made Wall famous, proclaiming him in 1888 "King of the Dudes" for having won the "Battle of the Dudes" against Robert "Bob" Hilliard, another sartorial dude when, during the blizzard of 1888, he strode into a bar clad in gleaming boots of patent leather that went to his hips.[4] Nevertheless, some historians still consider it was Hilliard who won that dude battle.[8]

Wall won another contest in Saratoga against John "Bet a Million" Gates, for having changed clothes 40 times between breakfast and dinner, appearing on the race track "in one flashy ensemble after the other until, exhausted but victorious he at last entered the ballroom of the United States Hotel in faultless evening attire" [4]

http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,764721-1,00.html
http://i.imgur.com/BDvpp.jpg

A Broadway swell, parading through the theatre district in violent waistcoats and loud checked suits, young Berry was much annoyed when "a lot of actors and racing men and sharps began imitating me." At Saratoga Springs he introduced the dinner jacket to the U. S., got ordered off the dance floor for not being in evening dress. He decided to go West, got as far as Kentucky, where he admired the women, bought a stable, nearly fought a duel. Back in Manhattan, he sprained his leg dancing the cancan, then went to Montreal on crutches for the Hunt Ball to meet the Governor General. Against doctor's orders, he danced until 5 o'clock in the morning. Berry Wall decided that the way to live long is to have nothing to do with doctors, observed " There are more old drunkards there are old doctors."