Good Time Charlie

A story that's been adorning GTC's shops for decades:

A few years ago, a man who lived by the side of a well-traveled road made his living by selling hot dogs. He was hard of hearing, so he didn't own a radio. His eyesight was very poor, and as a result, he did not read magazines or newspapers. Despite his handicaps, the man could sell hot dogs! The sign outside his shop told how delicious his hot dogs were, and he stood on the side of the road and cried, "Buy a hot dog, Mister?"

People stopped...and bought! Every month he had to increase his order for meat and buns. He even had to purchase a larger stove to accomodate his spiraling trade.

Summer came, and his son returned home from college to help. The boy, with far more education and possessing a greater interest in current affairs, asked his father, "Dad, haven't you been listening to the radio? Haven't you been reading about the great Depression that has hit us?" He went on to tell his father how terrible the situation was. The man thought, "My son is informed and well educated; he reads and listens to the news, so he should know. If business is bad all over our country, it must be bad around here."

So, the man cut down on his meat and bun orders. He even took his road sign down. No longer did he stand by the road and solicit business. His hot dog sales fell almost overnight, and he literally gave.

"You're right, son" the father said to the boy. "We certainly are in the middle of a great Depres-sion."

This parable illustrates the tremendous impact of emotion and attitude as it affects business throughout the United States and the world. During the Great Depression of the 1930's, there were many people who, despite all of the obstacles, build tremendous fortunes and financial empires. Conversely, in times of great prosperity, there are many people who fail at business or who are in other ways unable to become a part of the general prosperity.

BUSINESS-IT'S AS GOOD AS YOU THINK IT IS OR AS BAD AS YOU EXPECT IT TO BE.

In 1955 GTC tattooed out of the back of a 1946 Chevy Sedan in Wichita. His flash was drawn on the car's headliner and visors. He would park it outside of bars at night, and with no machines, he used the method of Hand Poking, later Zeke Owen would say Charlie's hand poke was better than any machine.

.art exhibit curated by 2018.