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The King of Dudes

35 Comments

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I’m still sorting through the cornucopia of old family photos my husband unearthed in the basement … like this one of my grandfather (middle) who seems a tad overdressed for fishing.

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And this one… where he’s enjoying a backyard garden party with Wednesday Addams.

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It’s frustrating because very few of the photos are labeled or identify the subjects. So when I came across this picture I was thrilled.

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My grandfather was a well off Englishman who traveled the world and it doesn’t surprise me in the least that he was sailing on the Lusitania. Eager to discover who his companions were, I researched the man on the left and came up empty. But the gentleman on the right?

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Evander Berry Wall (January 14, 1861 – May 4, 1940[2]) was a New York City socialite and later an American expatriate in France during the Belle Époqueand beyond. He was famous for his extravagantly refined look and was crowned “King of the Dudes” in the 1880s.

The King of Dudes?

How bloody marvelous.

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My father and his father before him were both snappy dressers known for their sartorial splendor so I’m sure Berry felt right at home.

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A wise man, old Berry.

🤣

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35 thoughts on “The King of Dudes”

  1. The man had a chow chow named Chi-Chi? I envy you your treasure trove of family photos – I hope you’ve stocked up on carrots because that is one heck of a rabbit hole.

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  3. When my hair was longer, many people would remark on my resemblance to the Dude, as in Lebowski. I never believed it until I finally sat down and watched the movie. Bloody ‘eck, that guy stole my face right off of my head. (Miss you Jerry)

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      1. That indeed is a shame, imagine what stories you could have heard. I had my paternal grandfather until I was 10. I loved him so much and he was a character, such a great sense of humor. My maternal grandad, the Army vet was equally as humorous. Both were loving and generous, I just wish I would have had a chance to get more of their history from them.

        Liked by 1 person

  9. I see your love of alcohol comes honestly, though I doubt granddaddy would have liked your tastes.
    The only thing I know about my paternal grandfather was he appeared out of nowhere, had 8 kids with my grandmother in 8 years, then disappeared. The rumour was he was a wanted man, hiding out from the law. Maybe he got caught, or maybe he went into hiding somewhere else. He would not let his picture be taken, so no idea what he looked like.

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      3. Lol. I meant grandfather, and you know it.
        The thing is, given my grandfather’s probable pasttimes, he may have even met your gradfather, or the King of the Dudes. Were they ever swindled?

        Liked by 1 person

      5. The things we discover. Finding your book of pictures led us to communicate about swindling, from opposite sides of the experience. That was a journey no one could have expected.
        I hope your grandfather survived the experience.

        Liked by 1 person

      6. Here’s the story… my grandfather traveled to America in the early 1900’s, fell in love with a southern belle, swept her off her feet, married her and brought her home to England. Four children and a dozen years later he returned to the states on business and became deathly ill. She packed up the kids and a few heirlooms and jumped on a ship to be with him, leaving the family fortune in the hands of his relative. My grandfather died slowly and in that time the relative stole almost everything. She was left a widow with four children and very little else, my father was 10. They never returned to England or the grand life they previously enjoyed.

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