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The Flash Barber Shop and Beauty Salon was established 65 years ago in 1950 by Charles Hunt (Charlie). Charlie ran the Barber Shop while his wife Doris ran the Hairdressing Shop. The Hunt family including children Richard, Judy and Patty lived in the apartment above till 1959 when Charlie built a house out on the outskirts of Brandon, McDiarmid Drive. Doris retired from hairdressing and went to the teaching profession. When Charlie retired, the business was taken over by his son Richard (me)...AND...Richard's son Ryan worked in the Barber Shop briefly until he was accepted into the RCMP. Charlie had the most loyal hairdresser by the name of Marg Beatty who moved into the upstairs suite and worked the beauty salon for ?? years. She finally retired at age 71?? and moved to Winnipeg. The main lady of the Beauty Salon was Richard's wife Beth. Beth with her expert hairdressing talents built the Beauty Salon to the point where she and Marg were becoming unable to handle the increased business. Sadly we lost Beth in a car accident in 2002. She was our cornerstone and was, and still is, and always will be missed by all of us. Alas, it's the end of an era...The Flash Barber Shop and Beauty Salon is no more !! The building has been sold.  
 
 
On behalf of myself (Richard) and everyone who ever worked with me and my Dad, I would like to thank everyone who ever patronized our business. Your support was greatly appreciated.  
 
Richard Hunt.  

Thank you for your years of service to the Brandon area and we loved your wife Beth nearly as much as you did. I got the first perm at the Flash done by her that I didn't hate! Lol. Best wishes to you and your family !!

I was always curious how it got its name - Flash.

Thanks for the history post, Richard!  
 
I was an off-and-on patron for many years and always appreciated the no-nonsense trimming, the friendly atmosphere -- and the low prices!  
 
Man, I'll miss that huge brass cash register. Hope it has a good home.  
 
All the best!

Nice to here from you. Sad to hear your shop is no longer.Had some good laughs and stories, as well as the best haircuts,(when I had more hair!)Had the pleasure of getting my haircut from you, your son Ryan, and once with your dad Charlie who was filling in for you as you were away. Very nice man and had a great talk/story-telling haircut that day.Loved the old til you used and the old pictures and newspaper clippings on the wall also! Are you still calling bingo?! Anway, take care and thanks for all the memories from Flash Barber and Beauty Salon. Darryl  
 
Edited by DARRYL, 2015-06-16 12:42:09

I remember Flash with fond memories. I believe all the Baker clan cuts were done there in the 60's, although the cuts were very infrequent in the latter half of that decade.  
 
All the best to you & your family.

It seems like another old time place has now gone in Brandon, but it will be forever in the history of the City. Thanks for your years of service. My father knew the Flash Barbershop and Charlie throughout the years.  
 
Good retirement and memories.

I enjoyed the stories being told and the cash register. If the cash register could talk, I am sure it had many stories too. Richard, Thank you for the great haircuts and stories.

Back during the war Dad was a barber...he was so fast at cutting hair, he earned the nickname of 'Flash' He kept the name even after the war...No...it didn't have anything to do with standing on a corner and .........

The cash register is with Ryan who intends to go back to barbering when he retires from the RCMP.

Thanks folks for all your kind comments.

Thank you Richard, Ryan and Zoey for many fine haircuts & a lot of great conversation!  
You will indeed be missed!  
Sincerely, "Mr. CKX"