Paper: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Deceased: 'RODEO BEN' LICHTENSTEIN, DESIGNER OF WESTERN ATTIRE
Date: February 12, 1985
Bernard Lichtenstein, 90, who for 50 years was known as "Rodeo Ben," died yesterday at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Northern Division. He lived in Chestnut Hill.
A tailor by trade, he came by the nickname through his western-attire business. His best customers for fancy duds and pointy-toed, high-heeled boots were bronco-busters, barrel-racers, calf-ropers and bull-riders.
Cowboys, rodeo types and country-western entertainers were always looking for something special, Mr. Lichtenstein had said. And they were willing to pay a little extra for it, even in the toughest days of the Depression.
That made them very special. So he went after their business. He went to every rodeo that played the Philadelphia area. He went to the places that hired country-western entertainers.
They got to know him and he got to know them. With their encouragement, he went after the business of Hollywood cowboys, too. He counted Roy Rogers and Gene Autry among his customers. The Sons of the Pioneers and Hopalong Cassidy were in his corral.
To one and all, the name Bernard was too long. Some of his customers called him Ben, so he was Ben.
But the wranglers and the bulldoggers wouldn't leave it alone. They wanted a longer title. So, figuring that he still put in his time at every rodeo that came to town, they named him Rodeo Ben.
In turn, he gave his nickname to the store he operated at 6240 N. Broad St. Rodeo Ben's was known from coast to coast.
For those a little less enthusiastic about the rodeo look, he stocked standard horse-show gear for English-saddle and quarter-horse competition.
And for those interested in plainer western clothes, he began designing for the Wrangler label. For years, Wrangler clothes carried a tag that read, ''Designed by Rodeo Ben, custom cowboy tailor."
The store became a landmark on North Broad Street. But the years caught up with Rodeo Ben. He retired six years ago. His son, Gerson Lichtenstein, took over. He, too, was known as Rodeo Ben.
But it wasn't the same. The building next door became derelict. Parking was difficult. And even the younger Rodeo Ben reached retirement age. He closed the store at the end of 1983.
There were other things in Bernard Lichtenstein's life. He was past president of Stashover Beneficial Association and of Kipiler Beneficial Association.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife, Fannie Stutman Lichtenstein; another son, David; daughters, Sarah Freedman and Blossom Fenster; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a sister.
Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Goldsteins' Funeral Home, 6410 N. Broad St. Burial will be in Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Collingdale.
Deceased: 'RODEO BEN' LICHTENSTEIN, DESIGNER OF WESTERN ATTIRE
Date: February 12, 1985
Bernard Lichtenstein, 90, who for 50 years was known as "Rodeo Ben," died yesterday at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Northern Division. He lived in Chestnut Hill.
A tailor by trade, he came by the nickname through his western-attire business. His best customers for fancy duds and pointy-toed, high-heeled boots were bronco-busters, barrel-racers, calf-ropers and bull-riders.
Cowboys, rodeo types and country-western entertainers were always looking for something special, Mr. Lichtenstein had said. And they were willing to pay a little extra for it, even in the toughest days of the Depression.
That made them very special. So he went after their business. He went to every rodeo that played the Philadelphia area. He went to the places that hired country-western entertainers.
They got to know him and he got to know them. With their encouragement, he went after the business of Hollywood cowboys, too. He counted Roy Rogers and Gene Autry among his customers. The Sons of the Pioneers and Hopalong Cassidy were in his corral.
To one and all, the name Bernard was too long. Some of his customers called him Ben, so he was Ben.
But the wranglers and the bulldoggers wouldn't leave it alone. They wanted a longer title. So, figuring that he still put in his time at every rodeo that came to town, they named him Rodeo Ben.
In turn, he gave his nickname to the store he operated at 6240 N. Broad St. Rodeo Ben's was known from coast to coast.
For those a little less enthusiastic about the rodeo look, he stocked standard horse-show gear for English-saddle and quarter-horse competition.
And for those interested in plainer western clothes, he began designing for the Wrangler label. For years, Wrangler clothes carried a tag that read, ''Designed by Rodeo Ben, custom cowboy tailor."
The store became a landmark on North Broad Street. But the years caught up with Rodeo Ben. He retired six years ago. His son, Gerson Lichtenstein, took over. He, too, was known as Rodeo Ben.
But it wasn't the same. The building next door became derelict. Parking was difficult. And even the younger Rodeo Ben reached retirement age. He closed the store at the end of 1983.
There were other things in Bernard Lichtenstein's life. He was past president of Stashover Beneficial Association and of Kipiler Beneficial Association.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife, Fannie Stutman Lichtenstein; another son, David; daughters, Sarah Freedman and Blossom Fenster; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a sister.
Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Goldsteins' Funeral Home, 6410 N. Broad St. Burial will be in Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Collingdale.
Paper: Philadelphia Inquirer, The (PA)
Deceased: 'RODEO BEN' LICHTENSTEIN, DESIGNER OF WESTERN ATTIRE
Date: February 12, 1985
Bernard Lichtenstein, 90, who for 50 years was known as "Rodeo Ben," died yesterday at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Northern Division. He lived in Chestnut Hill.
A tailor by trade, he came by the nickname through his western-attire business. His best customers for fancy duds and pointy-toed, high-heeled boots were bronco-busters, barrel-racers, calf-ropers and bull-riders.
Cowboys, rodeo types and country-western entertainers were always looking for something special, Mr. Lichtenstein had said. And they were willing to pay a little extra for it, even in the toughest days of the Depression.
That made them very special. So he went after their business. He went to every rodeo that played the Philadelphia area. He went to the places that hired country-western entertainers.
They got to know him and he got to know them. With their encouragement, he went after the business of Hollywood cowboys, too. He counted Roy Rogers and Gene Autry among his customers. The Sons of the Pioneers and Hopalong Cassidy were in his corral.
To one and all, the name Bernard was too long. Some of his customers called him Ben, so he was Ben.
But the wranglers and the bulldoggers wouldn't leave it alone. They wanted a longer title. So, figuring that he still put in his time at every rodeo that came to town, they named him Rodeo Ben.
In turn, he gave his nickname to the store he operated at 6240 N. Broad St. Rodeo Ben's was known from coast to coast.
For those a little less enthusiastic about the rodeo look, he stocked standard horse-show gear for English-saddle and quarter-horse competition.
And for those interested in plainer western clothes, he began designing for the Wrangler label. For years, Wrangler clothes carried a tag that read, ''Designed by Rodeo Ben, custom cowboy tailor."
The store became a landmark on North Broad Street. But the years caught up with Rodeo Ben. He retired six years ago. His son, Gerson Lichtenstein, took over. He, too, was known as Rodeo Ben.
But it wasn't the same. The building next door became derelict. Parking was difficult. And even the younger Rodeo Ben reached retirement age. He closed the store at the end of 1983.
There were other things in Bernard Lichtenstein's life. He was past president of Stashover Beneficial Association and of Kipiler Beneficial Association.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife, Fannie Stutman Lichtenstein; another son, David; daughters, Sarah Freedman and Blossom Fenster; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a sister.
Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Goldsteins' Funeral Home, 6410 N. Broad St. Burial will be in Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Collingdale.
Deceased: 'RODEO BEN' LICHTENSTEIN, DESIGNER OF WESTERN ATTIRE
Date: February 12, 1985
Bernard Lichtenstein, 90, who for 50 years was known as "Rodeo Ben," died yesterday at Albert Einstein Medical Center, Northern Division. He lived in Chestnut Hill.
A tailor by trade, he came by the nickname through his western-attire business. His best customers for fancy duds and pointy-toed, high-heeled boots were bronco-busters, barrel-racers, calf-ropers and bull-riders.
Cowboys, rodeo types and country-western entertainers were always looking for something special, Mr. Lichtenstein had said. And they were willing to pay a little extra for it, even in the toughest days of the Depression.
That made them very special. So he went after their business. He went to every rodeo that played the Philadelphia area. He went to the places that hired country-western entertainers.
They got to know him and he got to know them. With their encouragement, he went after the business of Hollywood cowboys, too. He counted Roy Rogers and Gene Autry among his customers. The Sons of the Pioneers and Hopalong Cassidy were in his corral.
To one and all, the name Bernard was too long. Some of his customers called him Ben, so he was Ben.
But the wranglers and the bulldoggers wouldn't leave it alone. They wanted a longer title. So, figuring that he still put in his time at every rodeo that came to town, they named him Rodeo Ben.
In turn, he gave his nickname to the store he operated at 6240 N. Broad St. Rodeo Ben's was known from coast to coast.
For those a little less enthusiastic about the rodeo look, he stocked standard horse-show gear for English-saddle and quarter-horse competition.
And for those interested in plainer western clothes, he began designing for the Wrangler label. For years, Wrangler clothes carried a tag that read, ''Designed by Rodeo Ben, custom cowboy tailor."
The store became a landmark on North Broad Street. But the years caught up with Rodeo Ben. He retired six years ago. His son, Gerson Lichtenstein, took over. He, too, was known as Rodeo Ben.
But it wasn't the same. The building next door became derelict. Parking was difficult. And even the younger Rodeo Ben reached retirement age. He closed the store at the end of 1983.
There were other things in Bernard Lichtenstein's life. He was past president of Stashover Beneficial Association and of Kipiler Beneficial Association.
In addition to his son, he is survived by his wife, Fannie Stutman Lichtenstein; another son, David; daughters, Sarah Freedman and Blossom Fenster; seven grandchildren; eight great-grandchildren, and a sister.
Services will be held at 12:30 p.m. tomorrow at Goldsteins' Funeral Home, 6410 N. Broad St. Burial will be in Mount Lebanon Cemetery, Collingdale.
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