Charlie's "CHUCK" Page

[Charlie: "PLEASE DON'T call me CHUCK!"]

A Baby Boomer Boy Fondly Remembers
Converse "Chuck Taylor" All Star Sneakers

Chuck - The original:

Look here for more information about Charles H. ("Chuck") Taylor, the real-life man behind the sneaker.

Chuck - the one-time factory:

At one time, this was the home of "Converse Rubber Shoes." (Note the horse-drawn wagon and the antique automobile.)

Chuck - the Box Tops:

Given the number of years Converse has been producing the "Chuck," it seems appropriate that they have used a number of different box designs.

NOTE: Converse forgot to mention feature #12: The ankle patch provides additional ankle support! If it was strictly for product advertising, it would make more sense to put it on the outside... think about it!

Chuck - Official Care Instructions:

Chuck - Notable Appearances:

Chucks on the small screen

Given that they are (after all) the most popular sneaker of all time, Chucks have been seen extensively:

in movies
on television
on the feet of musicians
and in advertising and promotional material for other products.

Chuck - Dropping to New Lows, Rising to New Highs:

In 2002, Converse produced a backless sneaker ("mule") based on the Chuck.

Some may call these Chucks "low," but their popularity was high for Baby Boom Boys.

In addition to the low-top version, Chucks come in the traditional and beloved "high-top" design.

Around 1986, Converse even had a "knee-high" (NEEHI) version. Note the metal snaps on the sides of the shoe. They allowed the wearer to fold down the sides to merely "high-top" level.. Converse produced a similar "XHI" model starting in 2003. Converse made a "mid-high" version in 2011 that was approximately the height of a Chuck patch.

SPECIAL SUMMERTIME FEATURE: Summer come along, and you feel like you want to hang loose and low-topped all summer? A few minutes and a pair of sturdy scissors will convert your high-top Chucks into a pair of low-top Chucks!

Chucks - Known for Generations:

Chucks have been known and worn for generations that have found uses for them from A to Z. There have been some changes over the years:

The inside lining by the toe:
- When I grew up: Two layers of cloth.
- Now: One layer of cloth.
Pricing:
- 1957: $6. One of my loyal readers reported that when his basketball coach told him to buy a pair, his father bought him the Chucks. Then his father said, "I can't believe I just paid $6 for a pair of gym shoes!" (Followed by several expletives.)
- My first pair (1973): $10. Considered more than a bit expensive.
- 1999:
  - In the USA: $20 on sale, $25 every day at some stores, over $30 is pricey. Considered inexpensive.
  - In New Zealand: One of my many readers special-ordered a pair of red high-tops and paid $95 NZD (about $40 USD) for them. She told me, "Most people who see them here are quite amazed, which is good because I like to be different."
- 2003:
  - In the USA: $29 on sale, $35 every day at some stores. Converse sells most colors for $38 on their Web site. That's definitely not as inexpensive as they were in 1999 but at least Converse isn't bankrupt any more.
  - In Australia: Around $80 AUD ($59 USD).
- 2016:
  - In the USA: Usual price seems to be $50 for the much inferior low-tops and $55 for the much superior high-tops. That price has remained pretty much constant for the past couple of years.
Aroma of a new Chuck:
- When I grew up: Tangy, pervasive rubbery smell.
- Now: THIS has remained unchanged!
Bar codes on the tongue:
- When I grew up: Bar codes? What are bar codes? Something in science fiction movies?
- 1999: On the inside top of the right tongue.
- 2003: The bar codes are gone again!
Color of side trim:
- Older Production: Red and blue (white), black (other colors).
- Recent Production: Frequently matches canvas color.
Ankle Patch:
- 1950s: Monochromatic, Chuck's signature inside the star
- 1960s-on: (Usually) Red, white, and blue, Chuck's signature outside the star.. what they use today.
Heel Patch:
- 1950s: Red with white printing.
- 1960s - 1970s: Black with white printing.
- 1980s - on: White with black printing.
Colors:
- Before 1966: Only black and white.
- Around 1966: Team colors were added; in retrospect, they didn't seem to become popular until the 1970s.
- Later on: Lots of patterns and unique materials.

One of my readers complained to Converse that the upper and sole weren't as thick as they used to be. Converse sent him a reply to the extent that "they are made the same way." I've been sent pictures of old Chucks and new Chucks that prove otherwise. And how else can you explain the "All Star 70" that they've been hawking in the 2016-17 time frame?

Chuck - In Season:

Basketball as the Baby Boomers played it... in Chucks! During the Baby Boom years, basketball season was prime time for the Chuck. My experience as a teenager was that any kid halfway serious about basketball had a pair, either the low-top or (more usually) the high-top. If the teams were named after their sneakers, the great majority of basketball games would have been "Chuck vs. Chuck." As I remember, some teams always wore the low-top version, and some teams always wore the high-top version, and some let the players decide which they preferred. Here's a picture of my high-school friend Randy coming down from on high with the basketball, wearing a pair of red low-tops, and with his opponent in the white high-tops breathing hot and heavy down his neck!

Gals ready for hot hoop action in their high-top Chucks! In the Baby Boom years, the girls' basketball team wore Chucks just like the boys did. As you can see, these Baby Boomer girls have their high-top Chucks on... and they're ready to go!

Mikey Likes His "Chucks!"

One of my many readers, Michael (I don't think his last name is "Jordan"), sent me a picture of his tattoo. He told me, "I can never be without my Chuck Taylor's."

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Last Updated: 17 June 2017

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