H91.39.1

This pair of shoes was worn only once, by donor's sister who wore them when she appeared in a film while a student at the University of California, Berkeley, in the 1940's. A: right shoe; B: left shoe. Sole in excellent condition. Shoes orignially cost $4.00. Donor's father, Ben Smith, donor's dather, graduated from St. Mary's College, Oakland, in 1891. (At that time St. Mary's - now in Moraga - was located on Broadway in Oakland and was affectionately called "The Brickpile". At the time of his graduation the husband of a friend of his mother died. As a favor, to close the store, Ben went to work in the deceased man's shoe store, Young's, which was located on Washington Street in Oakland. Following the 1906 earthquake rents in Oakland escalated, so he closed the store on Washington, moved the shoe department around the corner to 437 13th Street, and opened up Money Back Smith. He worked in the store until his death in 1940. His wife continued the business until 1945.

Used: Young's | Money Back Smith | Oakland