Since he was 10
years old, Jerry "Doc" Burris has been polishing shoes across
the land, from Atlanta to San Francisco and back again. The
good "doctor" has handled his share of famous kicks, from
Suzanne Somers' petite feet to Bill Bellamy's stylin' shoes.
Now, with his wife, Edna, Doc is shining at Mister Shine in
the U.S. Bank Building on Southwest 5th Avenue.
Willamette Week: What is the secret to snapping
the towel?
Doc Burris: A lot of times I'm not even aware I'm doing
it because I've been doing it so long. It's kind of like
playing drums: It's something you develop in the wrist.
You just enjoy doing it--I do. Well, I love shining shoes.
What's the correct way to apply polish? Is it considered
weenie if you don't use your hands?
I use my hands. For a good shine, any real bootblack--and
when I say a bootblack, that's the professional name for
a good shoe shiner--that's the way he applies it.
What's your take on tassels?
When you're shining them, you just hold them up. A lot
of times we'll tape them. You work around them because they
are so easy to break, and a lot of times tassels can't be
replaced. Now, I wear mostly cowboy boots, but to me, there's
nothing like a good-looking pair of tassel shoes.
Can you shine a sandal, you know, one of those fancy
sandals, on a person's foot?
Oh yes. The only thing we do is put bags on their feet,
so polish don't get on them. We get that all the time from
women. Pumps, straps, high heels. All sorts of shoes.
How about pleather? Can you shine that stuff?
Oh yes. A fellow I knew called it Corinthian leather, but
I still call it plastic.
How often should a good pair of shoes be shined?
If you've got a 9-to-5 job and you're wearing a tie, you
should get them shined every 10 days. But some people come
every week whether they need it or not. You would be surprised
how particular some men are about their footwear. We've
got guys that come in here every week, like a guy we call
the Seven-Day Man. He's in here every seven days, and he
brings his wife's shoes in here, makes sure they're looking
good, too.
What can be done to prolong a shine and preserve a pair
of shoes?
The shoe will last twice as long if you've got shoetrees
you stick in 'em. And hit it with something soft, like a
T-shirt, or an old pair of BVDs every day, and that shine
will come right back.
What's the worst thing you can do to the shine on your
shoes, the thing
that makes a guy like you frown?
People putting silicone spray on, Instant-Shine and all
them things on there. Then when it messes up they come and
want us to straighten it out. But you know what bugs me
most? People standing outside somewhere, taking their feet
and rubbing them on the back of the pants. It scratches
the shoe, and I wouldn't want that on my pants, would you?
I see people do that all day, and it's really annoying.
Do women visit your stand?
Man, we get more women customers from this building than
men. It's beginning to be another way for women to pamper
themselves. They don't like men to outdo them. Years ago,
a woman wouldn't be caught in a shoeshine stand. And they
didn't ever used to sit in the chair; now, they jump right
in there.
Finally, Doc, when it comes to shiny shoes, does size
matter?
No, uh-uh. That ain't got nothing to do with it. I shined
Bob Lanier's shoes, and he wore size 22. I teased him, "What
are these, violin cases?" And being the good sport he is,
he said, "Don't worry about it, just shine them." And you
don't argue with Bob Lanier. No, size don't mean nothing.
I just consider it a challenge.
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Willamette Week | originally
published September 29,
1999
|
