"Dad was an electrical engineer at Bechtel, but even then was something of a Renaissance Man. He had played drums and percussion all his life, in both large bands (marching!) and orchestras. ... Dad kept bees ... more

"Dad was an electrical engineer at Bechtel, but even then was something of a Renaissance Man. He had played drums and percussion all his life, in both large bands (marching!) and orchestras. ... Dad kept bees and harvested the honey. On weekends he liked to bake our bread while Mom made yogurt. ..." less

"This photo was taken in the early 70s. My dad would have been around 27 or 28 years old. He was likely trying to impress us kids with his amazing one-handed, four-eyed juggling abilities."

"This photo was taken in the early 70s. My dad would have been around 27 or 28 years old. He was likely trying to impress us kids with his amazing one-handed, four-eyed juggling abilities."

"The photo is of my Dad, Karl Denk, in 1967 (age 29) with his soon to be wife (my Mom). He is the coolest guy I know -- he’s traveled the world; speaks five language fluently (English being his 5th); and ... more

"The photo is of my Dad, Karl Denk, in 1967 (age 29) with his soon to be wife (my Mom). He is the coolest guy I know -- he’s traveled the world; speaks five language fluently (English being his 5th); and makes friends wherever he goes. Best of all he’s always seemed oblivious to his own hipness. less

"... Ever the natty dresser, Dad was the first to sport the “emo” look, which later became so popular with all the kids. He wore a fedora to work at CalTrans every single day through his retirement in ... more

"... Ever the natty dresser, Dad was the first to sport the “emo” look, which later became so popular with all the kids. He wore a fedora to work at CalTrans every single day through his retirement in 1991." less

"My dad is to the far right, first row ... He is one of the smartest and fun men I will ever know, I remember loving to hold his hand growing up, I'm glad my kids get to experience him as a grandpa too! ... ... more

"My dad is to the far right, first row ... He is one of the smartest and fun men I will ever know, I remember loving to hold his hand growing up, I'm glad my kids get to experience him as a grandpa too! ... Happy Fathers Day!" less

"... My dad bought that jacket ... sometime around 1978, which would make him about 39 when this photo was taken. My mom tells me, 'Dad got so many compliments, as most people we knew had never seen anything ... more

"... My dad bought that jacket ... sometime around 1978, which would make him about 39 when this photo was taken. My mom tells me, 'Dad got so many compliments, as most people we knew had never seen anything like it.' Amen!" less

"It's a picture of my Dad in 1978 at a party my parents threw after purchasing The 6th Avenue Cheese Shop ... Unfortunately, the store is long gone, but that coat certainly lives on somewhere. And my mom ... more

"It's a picture of my Dad in 1978 at a party my parents threw after purchasing The 6th Avenue Cheese Shop ... Unfortunately, the store is long gone, but that coat certainly lives on somewhere. And my mom obviously still thinks he's pretty hip -- she keeps this photo on her nightstand." less

"Here’s a picture of my mom and dad wearing matching rabbit coats circa 1977. ... This is by far the longest I ever saw my dad wear his hair as he was usually pretty clean cut – although he did wear some ... more

"Here’s a picture of my mom and dad wearing matching rabbit coats circa 1977. ... This is by far the longest I ever saw my dad wear his hair as he was usually pretty clean cut – although he did wear some pretty awesome shirts!" less

"... My rugged dad grew up in Ohio and was stationed in sunny San Diego where he met a gorgeous red-head. My mom gave my dad the hip flower shirt for Christmas. ... Happy Father’s Day Dad! May mom keep ... more

"... My rugged dad grew up in Ohio and was stationed in sunny San Diego where he met a gorgeous red-head. My mom gave my dad the hip flower shirt for Christmas. ... Happy Father’s Day Dad! May mom keep helping you look sharp for years to come!" less

"Richard Doctoroff, known as Doc to everyone ... His favorite things are sports, newspapers, family, warm weather (even if this means blasting the heater), good deals, and never getting rid of a good piece of ... more

"Richard Doctoroff, known as Doc to everyone ... His favorite things are sports, newspapers, family, warm weather (even if this means blasting the heater), good deals, and never getting rid of a good piece of clothing or a great Tupperware." less

"Rick Williams. Original hipster. The Captain. He grew up in California, as an outdoorsman and is a self ascribed “survivor.” ... Note: there is a gold necklace hidden beneath that white Lacoste collar … ... more

"Rick Williams. Original hipster. The Captain. He grew up in California, as an outdoorsman and is a self ascribed “survivor.” ... Note: there is a gold necklace hidden beneath that white Lacoste collar … and a forest of chest hair." less

"This picture was taken on Balboa Island in So Cal on a family vacation in 1979. ... Note the combination of speedo, 3 band tubesocks and roller skates, lack of manscaping and large frame specs."

"This picture was taken on Balboa Island in So Cal on a family vacation in 1979. ... Note the combination of speedo, 3 band tubesocks and roller skates, lack of manscaping and large frame specs."

"Here's a photo of my dad, Hector Rubio ... . My dad worked at US Steel in Gary, IN for many years and liked to dress up on his days off. He wore his finest checkered jacket and slacks on this trip, don't miss ... more

"Here's a photo of my dad, Hector Rubio ... . My dad worked at US Steel in Gary, IN for many years and liked to dress up on his days off. He wore his finest checkered jacket and slacks on this trip, don't miss the sandals partially buried in sand." less

"So that's my dad on the left in the firs pic. He's cheersing while my grandfather pretends (?) to give my sister cognac. My mother appears to approve as well. The other pic is my dad enjoying a Miller High ... more

"So that's my dad on the left in the firs pic. He's cheersing while my grandfather pretends (?) to give my sister cognac. My mother appears to approve as well. The other pic is my dad enjoying a Miller High Life." less

"My Dad was an Original Hipster. He shot pool with his own cue which screwed together. ... He’s near the end now - a long, slow process. I treasure our memories together and you can bet whenever ... more

"My Dad was an Original Hipster. He shot pool with his own cue which screwed together. ... He’s near the end now - a long, slow process. I treasure our memories together and you can bet whenever “Goodfellas” is on, I watch it. I love you Pop." less

"... What’s not be inspired about? He taught me how to love and care for people, how to fix things, know when to quit, know when not to quit, how to treat a woman, proper table manners, and most ... more

"... What’s not be inspired about? He taught me how to love and care for people, how to fix things, know when to quit, know when not to quit, how to treat a woman, proper table manners, and most importantly, how be a man." less

"... My Dad took me ... with his biker employees to see Evel Knievel ... Terry Kerns belongs in the Cool Dad Hall of Fame. Living life entirely on his own terms (mostly) as a true gentleman of the highway, he ... more

"... My Dad took me ... with his biker employees to see Evel Knievel ... Terry Kerns belongs in the Cool Dad Hall of Fame. Living life entirely on his own terms (mostly) as a true gentleman of the highway, he pulled over and parked it for good in '06. less

"... His real name is Vito, but Bill was cooler, so that's what they called him. I grew up in NJ and my Dad was a pretty cool hipster in his day. One year I was reading his yearbook and realized he was the ... more

"... His real name is Vito, but Bill was cooler, so that's what they called him. I grew up in NJ and my Dad was a pretty cool hipster in his day. One year I was reading his yearbook and realized he was the President of the Ham Radio operators club. ..." less

"This is my Dad, Joe Fugere (and Mom and me) in 1972 (age 25). You've got to love his crooked porn 'stache and the styling glasses. I do believe he made my lil suit too (out of a pair of curtains). The man is ... more

"This is my Dad, Joe Fugere (and Mom and me) in 1972 (age 25). You've got to love his crooked porn 'stache and the styling glasses. I do believe he made my lil suit too (out of a pair of curtains). The man is an all around hipster-stud!" less

"This is a picture of my dad Robert at age 20. He literally has it on his facebook album entitled "Summer of '69" with the caption 'Perhaps the only time that summer I was in a suit.' ... My dad may not rock ... more

"This is a picture of my dad Robert at age 20. He literally has it on his facebook album entitled "Summer of '69" with the caption 'Perhaps the only time that summer I was in a suit.' ... My dad may not rock the black rimmed glasses anymore, but he still is pretty damn cool!" less

"This was my dad's college student ID picture, making it the fall of '76 and him about 18. While the glasses and facial hair ooze hipster, I think most of the hipsterness resonates from the facial expression. ... more

"This was my dad's college student ID picture, making it the fall of '76 and him about 18. While the glasses and facial hair ooze hipster, I think most of the hipsterness resonates from the facial expression. ..." less

"This is my dad, Bob Wieland, in 1979 with my brother Ian ... Some of my best childhood memories are of dad blasting Mozart on the stereo and all of us doing wild interpretive dances in the living room. My dad ... more

"This is my dad, Bob Wieland, in 1979 with my brother Ian ... Some of my best childhood memories are of dad blasting Mozart on the stereo and all of us doing wild interpretive dances in the living room. My dad rules." less

"This is my dad Chris Peterson ... I love the aviators, the beard, the striped shirt and the Classic Big Gulp from 7-11. ... And, he was a wonderful father. He lives in Utah and will be in town to visit me for ... more

"This is my dad Chris Peterson ... I love the aviators, the beard, the striped shirt and the Classic Big Gulp from 7-11. ... And, he was a wonderful father. He lives in Utah and will be in town to visit me for Fathers Day. Can't wait!" less

"... Instagram? No, this is the real thing. My father Byron Stark, who went by Killer ... was an original hipster. Here, he is locally sourcing his own food and rocking a pancho that only the most adventurous ... more

"... Instagram? No, this is the real thing. My father Byron Stark, who went by Killer ... was an original hipster. Here, he is locally sourcing his own food and rocking a pancho that only the most adventurous hipsters dare sport." less

"... Every summer he drove straight through from Santa Cruz to Portland with four kids in the back seat, always talked to us about how proud he was of our accomplishments ... I always thought he was the best, ... more

"... Every summer he drove straight through from Santa Cruz to Portland with four kids in the back seat, always talked to us about how proud he was of our accomplishments ... I always thought he was the best, because he was!" less

"My father was a hipster before hipster was a thing. He had a sweet vinyl collection, an orange Honda Civic CVCC, nerd glasses, and he was in his 20s! ... He did not drink PBR, though. He drank Rose."

"My father was a hipster before hipster was a thing. He had a sweet vinyl collection, an orange Honda Civic CVCC, nerd glasses, and he was in his 20s! ... He did not drink PBR, though. He drank Rose."

"... My dad, Jim, is totally NOT a hipster. ... His complete guilelessness makes him an adoring Pappy for our girls, and now that I look at this picture again, I want to hire a seamstress so we can recreate ... more

"... My dad, Jim, is totally NOT a hipster. ... His complete guilelessness makes him an adoring Pappy for our girls, and now that I look at this picture again, I want to hire a seamstress so we can recreate it." less

"... Shaggy hair, groomed mustache, solid chin curtain. Those are his paintings on the wall. Above him is a self-portrait mimicking Modigliani's style. A hipster painting his hipster self - how meta. Notice Linus and Lucy just hanging out on his papers. less

"... My father was pretty cool. He was a jazz musician - trombone player in the Bay Area in the after moving out to SF from Detroit in the late '50's. The musicians union in the 1960s was bunch of slick ... more

"... My father was pretty cool. He was a jazz musician - trombone player in the Bay Area in the after moving out to SF from Detroit in the late '50's. The musicians union in the 1960s was bunch of slick cats." less

"... Here is a picture of my Dad from his days working for Newsweek in L.A. Equally comfortable hanging out with cast of Laugh In or a few Black Panthers, my Dad rocked the 70s with his outstanding style that ... more

"... Here is a picture of my Dad from his days working for Newsweek in L.A. Equally comfortable hanging out with cast of Laugh In or a few Black Panthers, my Dad rocked the 70s with his outstanding style that would make Andre 3000 jealous." less

"In 1976, our father, Glenn Roberts Sr., won a gold Cadillac Seville by entering a puzzle contest in the Oakland Tribune ... Although this photo went on to embarrass us for much of our young-adult lives, it ... more

"In 1976, our father, Glenn Roberts Sr., won a gold Cadillac Seville by entering a puzzle contest in the Oakland Tribune ... Although this photo went on to embarrass us for much of our young-adult lives, it now hangs in our homes proudly. We had the hippest dad of the 70’s, and he still has this suit ..." less

"... I'll thank him for a wry and irreverent sense of humor, easy laugh, healthy skepticism, and hazel eyes. I only wish I could pull off a tight leisure jacket, wispy mustache, and aviators like he ... more

"... I'll thank him for a wry and irreverent sense of humor, easy laugh, healthy skepticism, and hazel eyes. I only wish I could pull off a tight leisure jacket, wispy mustache, and aviators like he did." less

"My hipster dad loves wool hats, ridiculous glasses and cats. In fact, these are still his three favorite things (besides myself and my brother, of course). Picture circa 1978 making my dad about 20 years ... more

"My hipster dad loves wool hats, ridiculous glasses and cats. In fact, these are still his three favorite things (besides myself and my brother, of course). Picture circa 1978 making my dad about 20 years old." less

"... Here is my dad Gary Peter Messerotes on his 24th birthday in 1978. It was taken in a little bar in the Amazon jungle with dirt floors, no AC, but cold beer! ... My dad is the best dad out there ... I hope ... more

"... Here is my dad Gary Peter Messerotes on his 24th birthday in 1978. It was taken in a little bar in the Amazon jungle with dirt floors, no AC, but cold beer! ... My dad is the best dad out there ... I hope you pick us!" less

On father Gary Leuenberger: "This is my dad and me in 1979. My dad was 26. The beard, the shades, placid expression -- my dad the hipster. Not pictured: a can of Coors. We had just moved to Marin from San ... more

On father Gary Leuenberger: "This is my dad and me in 1979. My dad was 26. The beard, the shades, placid expression -- my dad the hipster. Not pictured: a can of Coors. We had just moved to Marin from San Francisco." less

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Thank you for your entries to My Father the Hipster, a tribute to the fashion of our fathers. Modern-day hipsters should be paying all of our dads royalties.

I was thrilled with your entries and especially the stories, which are included in their entirety below. (Most of the photos are in the above gallery as well, for people who want a quicker fix.) Please check out today’s Style section in the Chronicle, where many of these entries are featured. Also in the newspaper is an interview with “Dads are the Original Hipsters” blogger and author Brad Getty, who was extremely cool about the fact that I’m ripping off his idea.

A few entrants mixed up “hip” with “hipster,” which was an honest mistake. But I included those below as well, because after a while, the funny and touching stories about everyone’s fathers became more important to me than the hipster/not hipster distinction.

I hope you enjoy the photos as much as I did. I’ll announce the winner later today Monday morning.

Thanks to everyone who entered. Please don’t send more entries! Save them — we’ll have another Father’s Day tribute next year.

My hipster dad loves wool hats, ridiculous glasses and cats. In fact, these are still his three favorite things (besides myself and my brother, of course). Picture circa 1978 making my dad about 20 years old.

Hi Peter!

This is my dad and me in 1979. My dad was 26. The beard, the shades, placid expression–my dad the hipster. Not pictured: a can of Coors. We had just moved to Marin from San Francisco. At the time, Dad owned a piano store on Market St. and consulted for Yamaha, creating sounds for the DX-7 synthesizer–unequivocally the sounds of the coming decade. Around the time this photo was taken, members of the Doobie Brothers, including Michael McDonald (also a bearded hipster of his time) visited our home to hear the latest sounds from Yamaha.

Sincerely,

Annie Leuenberger

Hipster Father: Gary Leuenberger

My dad was, and in many ways still is, a hipster. Don’t be fooled; that aloof, intimidating demeanor is just a façade, left over from being a shy/kind of cool outsider as a teenager (think track, not football). His 20’s were spent having an existential crisis at his folks’ house on Long Island, as a waiter/perpetual student in NYC and living on a communally-owned farm in Canada. He drinks more coffee than anyone, ever. He’s creative in a completely oblivious, strange way (www.dadisworking.wordpress.com). His taste in indie rock, unintentionally ironic fashion sense and ability to grow a mustache are unrivaled.

Ellie Casson

Hi Peter! Love reading your blog.

Here is my dad Gary Peter Messerotes on his 24th birthday in 1978. It was taken in a little bar in the Amazon jungle with dirt floors, no AC, but cold beer!!! He was in the country for about 4 or 5 months and didn’t speak Portuguese well enough to tell a barber how to cut his hair. After about another month or so, he had to cut it himself. I know they say Greek boys have a lot of hair but this is just a bit ridiculous! My Dad is the best Dad out there and he really deserves to win the hipster contest. I hope you pick us!!

Thank you

Kristin Messerotes

…these were taken about three years apart in the early 70s and I always appreciated how my father and mother basically switched hairstyles.

My father and I haven’t always been the tightest (old story) but we are more alike than I’d perhaps like to think (older story). Having come to terms with that, I’ll thank him for a wry and irreverent sense of humor, easy laugh, healthy skepticism, and hazel eyes. I only wish I could pull off a tight leisure jacket, wispy mustache, and aviators like he did.

Joel.

Dear Peter,

First, thank you for running this contest. My brother and I have been waiting for an opportunity like this for many, many years.

In 1976, our father, Glenn Roberts Sr., won a gold Cadillac Seville by entering a puzzle contest in the Oakland Tribune. Our family was featured in this newspaper photo, taken at Pat Patterson Cadillac in Oakland, along with a newspaper article about my dad’s big win. Needless to say, that newspaper clipping went everywhere with us for several weeks to show everyone we were famous. Although this photo went on to embarrass us for much of our young-adult lives, it now hangs in our homes proudly. We had the hippest dad of the 70’s, and he still has this suit.

P.S. The car was handed down to us to drive to Acalanes High School (Lafayette) in the late 1980’s. We have some classic photos of that era as well. Perhaps for a future contest.

Sincerely,

Cathy (Roberts) Kawakami

Got to second this one, Peter — an accordion player, stock car racer, former newspaper delivery boy, musical instrument store owner. He’s a true hipster, take it from his son who inherited that bad-boy caddy in my teen years.

Those sideburns don’t lie.

Glenn Roberts, Jr.

Hi Peter,

I’m not sure if he’d win a hipster prize, but I’m sure he would win the prize for bad ass.

Name: John Dotson

Here is a picture of my Dad from his days working for Newsweek in L.A. Equally comfortable hanging out with cast of Laugh In or a few Black Panthers, my Dad rocked the seventies with his outstanding style that would make Andre 3000 jealous. He is the only man I know who uses the phrase, “that cat” and actually sounds cool saying it. Even though he spent my childhood traveling and working late covering major news stories of the seventies and eighties, he always made me feel like I was front page news—above the fold even.

Hope that will do!

Thanks!

– Dottie

PS: But he still corrects my grammar. Once an editor always an editor…

Peter,

My father was pretty cool. He was a jazz musician – trombone player in the Bay Area in the after moving out to SF from Detroit in the late ’50’s. The musicians union in the 1960s was bunch of slick cats. We have a bunch of pictures of him during this time. here is one. I also did a little page on my website for him and as we collect and sort his music. My family has been amazed to get emails from the various people he worked with over the years in his career as a musician. http://mergy.org/fred

Peter:

I enjoy your writing. I really enjoy your contests. My wife and I are not parents (yet) and we were great kids (we think), so we have no photos of us or our offspring screaming at Santa or the Easter Bunny. But I do have a dad, and he was one heck of hipster. I think he thinks he’s still hip. That’s debatable. Attached is my photo submission to the My Father the Hipster contest. Here is the story:

This is my dad, Barry Kahn, circa 1970-1972 during his college daze at The Ohio State University. He’s now 61. Given this photo, it’s no surprise he ended up in Marin. Shaggy hair, groomed mustache, solid chin curtain. Those are his paintings on the wall. Above him is a self-portrait mimicking Modigliani’s style. A hipster painting his hipster self – how meta. Notice Linus and Lucy just hanging out on his papers. Thick-rimmed glasses sitting on the bed, blue (velvet?) jacket draped over his legs, satchel full of trusty books at his side.

-Steven Kahn-

In this photo taken on May 25, 1972, Jim is 27 years old and I am 2 years old. What makes this photo even cooler is that it was taken on OUR birthday…we share the same birthday! Please note the awesome hair, sweet shirt and the Beatle/harness/motorcycle boots complete with buckle. Jim and my mother had just moved to San Francisco from Wisconsin—making the move out west (with a 2-year old) with nary a job or a house. Hipster all the way, man. I would also like to mention that he is one of the greatest fathers ever!

-Jessica Kusz

Daughter and Jim Kusz fan

My hipster Dad in the early 70’s, he was way cooler before I was born in 1973.

This is my favorite family portrait, EVER (sorry, little brother. You’re still five years away.). This is likely 1976–I was born in August 1975, and these dresses are definitely springtime. I’m the nearly-bald baby. The adorable toddler is my sister, Samantha, and check out Mom (Lorraine) rocking the sweet collared dress.

My dad, Jim, is totally NOT a hipster. He’s is one of the sincerest people I’ve ever known, and is incapable of the cynical kind of irony required by 2012 hipsters. He’s genuinely very nice, a raging dork, thinks wearing suspenders over an undershirt in public, with his teenage daughters, is acceptable, and unfortunately also believes that as long as you recognize that you’re being irrational, that it’s then OK to be irrational. Did I mention he was also my high school guidance counselor?

His complete guilelessness makes him an adoring Pappy for our girls, and now that I look at this picture again, I want to hire a seamstress so we can recreate it.

Jody Handley

Dear P Fresh,

My father was a hipster before hipster was a thing. He had a sweet

vinyl collection, an orange Honda Civic CVCC, nerd glasses, and he was

in his 20s! Oh, and in this picture (thanks mostly to the fact that he

was in Bermuda) he is wearing a pink (ironic?) shirt and riding a

moped. He did not drink PBR, though. He drank Rose.

— “The only people who drink PBR are hipsters and people living on a

deserted island who have no other choice….”

Melinda Bailey

Patches (Amy) and I (Beth) grew up with a dad named Craig who always navigated his own Norwegian trail. He always seem so cool and collected, even during the time he attempted to catch our loose, very wild horse on Father’s Day in a big field, armed only with a 2×4. All animals (except cats) loved my dad, and kids did too. He never yelled, hardly lost his temper and when he did, he hit his palm to his knee and said “Jesus Christ”. I loved watching Watergate with him (required summer tv) because he and his best friend yelled and hooted and taught me a lot about politics.

When we were growing up, he was working full time and building our house in the evenings and the weekends. His Levis were always so dirty, and his Jack Purcells no longer white, but I loved sitting with him and surveying the house. Every Friday night he paid the workers and treated them to a case of Buckhorn beer – many of which are still underneath the house! My parents still live in the house they built in 1972 and it’s our hang out to this day.

Every summer he drove straight through from Santa Cruz to Portland with four kids in the back seat, always talked to us about how proud he was of our accomplishments, and was there to throw a ball or drive us down to the beach to swim and catch a wave on our old air mattresses.

I always thought he was the best, because he was!

Shaboo aka Beth

Instagram? No, this is the real thing. My father Byron Stark, who went by Killer, even in the phonebook and at the Court where he worked, was an original hipster. Here, he is locally sourcing his own food and rocking a pancho that only the most adventurous hipsters dare sport. He always had a case of Old Milwaukee and appreciated a fine whiskey. He was rarely without a pair of rainbow suspenders. If anything my dad did isn’t hip yet, I’m sure it will be soon.

He died in the Spring of 2004 of liver failure. Photo date, unknown, probably early 1960’s, somewhere in Central Utah.

This is my dad Chris Petersen and my baby brother in 1986; my dad was 37. I love the aviators, the beard, the striped shirt and the Classic Big Gulp from 7-11. At 37, he had 5 kids! And, he was a wonderful father. He lives in Utah and will be in town to visit me for Fathers Day. Can’t wait!

Michelle

This is my dad, Bob Wieland, in 1979 with my brother Ian who clearly selected his own outfit. Dad is 35 here but is now retired and loves woodworking and classical music. Some of my best childhood memories are of dad blasting Mozart on the stereo and all of us doing wild interpretive dances in the living room. My dad rules.

Sonia Wieland

This was my dad’s college student ID picture, making it the fall of ’76 and him about 18. While the glasses and facial hair ooze hipster, I think most of the hipsterness resonates from the facial expression. My father gets a lot of flack for how he dressed as a teenager; Infamously, my grandmother bought him several pairs of bell-bottoms in a desperate attempt to get him to dress a bit more “with the times.” He absolutely refused to wear them until bell-bottoms went out of vogue, after which he wore them every day.

Becky Booroojian

This is a picture of my dad Robert at age 20. He literally has it on his facebook album entitled “Summer of ’69” with the caption “Perhaps the only time that summer I was in a suit.”

This is the summer he met my mom at a peace retreat in the Santa Cruz mountains. I am not sure why he is wearing a suit, but it must have been some event for him to take a break from his usual moccasins, poncho, floppy hat and old nikon camera hanging from his neck. My dad may not rock the black rimmed glasses anymore, but he still is pretty damn cool!

-Karin

Hi Peter:

Attached is a photo of my Dad, Bill Liuzza. His real name is Vito, but Bill was cooler, so that’s what they called him. I grew up in NJ and my Dad was a pretty cool hipster in his day. One year I was reading his yearbook and realized he was the President of the Ham Radio operators club. In this picture he’s likely rotating the tires on my Mom’s car while listening to his 8-track player in the van.

He spent the 70s and 80s working for my grandfather’s store as a TV repair man. He was semi-cool, but mostly the van was to lug tools and TV’s around the tri-state area. He even got bit by a German Shepherd at our neighbor’s house. He decided to let it go and not sue them or ask them to pay the medical bill because they were poor. But that’s the kinda guy he is.

He never takes a day off. Has worked 6 days a week in the TV and appliance business since I can remember, and then on Sundays he’s fixing cars and doing yard work, etc. We didn’t know what a new car was back then. Now that he’s 66 and just got his first SS check, he’s toying with the idea of getting a new truck. Something tells me that’s not going to happen.

Angie Liuzza

This is my Dad, Joe Fugere (and Mom and me) in 1972 (age 25). You’ve got to love his crooked porn ‘stache and the styling glasses. I do believe he made my lil suit too (out of a pair of curtains). The man is an all around hipster-stud!

Here is my Dad (age 36) & little sister, Nancy. At our Suisun Valley

home, late summer/early fall,1970. The bad stars & stripes paint job

on the gas tank was done by the previous owner.

My parents were truly hip-we went to see ‘Hair’ at the Orpheum

theater as a family. My Dad took me, (12 yrs. old, his only son) with

his biker employees to see Evel Knievel

at the Cow Palace. My contemporaries in school were in awe, although

few were allowed to visit our ‘wild’ household.

My Dad, Terry Kerns, belongs in the Cool Dad Hall of Fame. Living

life entirely on his own terms (mostly) as a true gentleman of the

highway, he pulled over and parked it for good in ’06.

Keith Kerns

Nevada City, Ca.

If this picture doesn’t ooze cool, I don’t know what would. This is him on his pride and joy, His triumph trophy 650. He tore the bike down and shipped it in boxes to Scotland when he was in the navy because they wouldn’t ship a motorcycle for him. He ended up putting it together in the living room on a second floor flat. My mom wasn’t that thrilled about the whole thing, but this picture was snapped right after he finished putting it together in Dundee, Scotland.

Like most sons, my dad has always been an inspiration to me. What’s not be inspired about? He taught me how to love and care for people, how to fix things, know when to quit, know when not to quit, how to treat a woman, proper table manners, and most importantly, how be a man.

Jason Standiford

My Dad was an Original Hipster. He shot pool with his own cue which screwed together. He played guitar, loved live music and photography. And gangster movies. We once saw a double feature – “Goodfellas” and “A Bronx Tale.” To him, nothing beat that. Unfortunately, he was afflicted with early-Alzheimers when he was 55 – He’s received amazing care for 17 years from a longtime girlfriend, who’s a Saint in every sense. He’s near the end now – a long, slow process. I treasure our memories together and you can bet whenever “Goodfellas” is on, I watch it. I love you Pop.

Attached photo: Sheldon Kugler, and son Rafi.

34 years old

Palo Alto, CA — August, 1972

Wow. The commentary is illiterate. I sent that from iPhoto and obviously that was hard for me.

The first pic is 1975. The second is probably 1969/1970. Both in SF. By the time we payed attention to such things, our dad was not the fashion plate you see here, so we love looking at the old photos.

Hel

Hello Mr. Hartlaub,

Here’s a photo of my dad, Hector Rubio, on a family outing to the beach in Lake Michigan. My dad worked at US Steel in Gary, IN for many years and liked to dress up on his days off. He wore his finest checkered jacket and slacks on this trip, don’t miss the sandals partially buried in sand. I think mom bought that jacket for him. Mom’s friends always said he looked like Paul Newman, maybe….

Regards,

Hector Rubio, Jr.

Hercules, CA

This picture was taken on Balboa Island in So Cal on a family vacation in 1979. I was 8 eight years old and distinctly remember The Knack’s “My Sharona” playing on every radio that summer. Note the combination of speedo, 3 band tubesocks and rollerskates, lack of manscaping and large frame specs.

Matthew Gandin

My brothers, Blake and Tommy, and I cannot wait for you to read through this submission of our father, Rick Williams, as The Captain — an original hipster. He was 30 in this photo (it was his birthday party on the Bay), and he is 63 now. Enjoy!

-Lauren Williams, daughter of The Captain

Rick Williams. Original hipster. The Captain. He grew up in California, as an outdoorsman and is a self ascribed “survivor.” (He eats nasturtiums and thinks he can survive a nuclear winter.) He has a long history of taking the helm (like when he sunk the boat in Tahoe…and when he flooded the boat in Tahoe….and when he broke another boat [actually the same one he sunk] in Tahoe), and holy moly, he dresses the part. Note: there is a gold necklace hidden beneath that white Lacoste collar…and a forest of chest hair. Rick Williams – an original hipster.

Richard Doctoroff, known as Doc to everyone

My dad is 37 here in 1981. He has always believed that my sister and I could do anything we wanted. When I’ve expressed interest in marrying Justin Timberlake or being on Saturday Night Live, he saw no barriers to these dreams. He used to dress us in themes like “stripes” or “polka dots.” His favorite things are sports, newspapers, family, warm weather (even if this means blasting the heater), good deals, and never getting rid of a good piece of clothing or a great Tupperware.

A friend referred me to this contest because for a couple of years now I have proudly displayed this photo of my parents on my fridge and would point out my dad’s hipster-like qualities to any new visitor. Thanks for the opportunity to share.

This photo was taken in 1972 just before my parents were married. My rugged dad grew up in Ohio and was stationed in sunny San Diego where he met a gorgeous red-head. My mom gave my dad the hip flower shirt for Christmas. This is a favorite photo of mine because most photos of my dad during this time are of him wearing a plaid flannel, kneeling next to his latest kill, and sporting his signature pipe. Happy Father’s Day Dad! May mom keep helping you look sharp for years to come!

Wendy Block

Here’s a picture of my mom and dad wearing matching rabbit coats circa 1977. This one includes my grandma’s thumb at the bottom, a fixture in many of the photos I found while researching this project. This is by far the longest I ever saw my dad wear his hair as he was usually pretty clean cut – although he did wear some pretty awesome shirts! Speaking of shirts, I wonder what was printed on my mom’s t-shirt underneath? All I can make out is “Eg”. I can’t remember the last time I had to count the number of words in something I wrote – probably high school. Thanks, Peter!

Sincerely,

Brandy Moses Hollingshead

It’s a picture of my Dad in 1978 at a party my parents threw after purchasing The 6th Avenue Cheese Shop at 6th & Clement in San Francisco. Not only is his coat and collar combo pretty snazzy, but we think he was pretty hip to be peddling cheese 30 years before artisan cheese became so popular in the Bay Area (and just think of all the fondue parties he enabled!). Unfortunately, the store is long gone, but that coat certainly lives on somewhere. And my mom obviously still thinks he’s pretty hip- she keeps this photo on her nightstand.

Thanks so much for this contest! We had a ton of fun looking through photos and laughing at those cheese prices on the board behind him!!! Ahhh the 70’s!

Elissa & Jeanine Creighton

Hi Peter,

My hilarious, 74 year dad has a huge Facebook following devoted to his farcical and sometimes bawdy poetry, which he writes under his nom de plume, Omar Kayak. Although he’s a brilliant linguist and philosophizer, he’s never been one to take himself too seriously, which is what CRACKS me up about this photo. There’s nothing ironic about that metallic jacket.

My dad bought that jacket at a trendy shop on a visit to San Francisco sometime around 1978, which would make him about 39 when this photo was taken. My mom tells me, “Dad got so many compliments, as most people we knew had never seen anything like it.” Amen!

Christina Kerby

Here is a photo of my dad’s side of the family plus my mom. There is a whole lot of hip here so I bet it is 1976/1977.

My dad is to the far right first row with my sister Jenny in the tan jumper dress on his lap. He had that mustache for a long time, I think until he stopped drinking in the 80’s actually.

He was and still is a great dad; funny, patient, kind and firm when he needs to be. He is one of the smartest and fun men I will ever know, I remember loving to hold his hand growing up, I’m glad my kids get to experience him as a grandpa too! Happy Fathers Day!

I hope my uncles don’t mind this photo!

Thanks Peter!

Emily Larsen

New Year’s Eve 1979, shortly after Clarence’s 50th birthday. In popping open a fresh bottle for his best girl, he can hardly help from flexing his guns.

Ever the natty dresser, Dad was the first to sport the “emo” look, which later became so popular with all the kids. He wore a fedora to work at CalTrans every single day through his retirement in 1991.

John Champlin

The photo is of my Dad, Karl Denk, in 1967 (age 29) with his soon to be wife (my Mom). He is the coolest guy I know- he’s travelled the world; speaks five language fluently (English being his 5th); and makes friends wherever he goes. Best of all he’s always seemed oblivious to his own hipness.

-Stephanie Rehak

This is my dad, Brooks Hoar, at Cyanide Manor in 1950, aged 28. Dad and a bunch of Cal Tech grad students, most of whom were recent WWII vets, moved into the carriage house of some decaying estate in Pasadena by promising the elderly widow who owned the estate that they’d look after it and her. And they did. But they drew all over the walls of the carriage house and threw endless parties and played loud jazz there at all hours. Exterior pictures show a yard littered with motorcycles and motorcycle parts. Cheers, dad! (He’s still kicking at 90!)

This photo was taken in the early 70s. My dad would have been around 27 or 28 years old.

He was likely trying to impress us kids with his amazing one-handed, four-eyed juggling abilities.

Mr. Hartlaub—

I know this is a longshot.

My father is going to be celebrating 90 years of hipster-dom this July. I know he pre-dates the demographic by a good thirty to forty years, and I know this is a stretch, but here are his hipster credentials.

This is my father, Bill Irwin, age 8, 1930.

My father’s always had personal style— the overalls in the picture led logically to a Hawaiian-shirt (real coconut buttons) and eventually to a Member’s Only jacket. Except for a few years in the Eastern Sierra, he has lived in the City’s hippest neighborhoods, the Upper Haight, the Lower Haight, the Mission, and now is the thin edge of the hipster-wedge in the Outer Sunset. He knows beer backwards, forwards, inside and out from working at Lucky Lager on Newhall Street. Lucky Lager was hip before PBR caught on. He’s a fantastic (and hip) dad.

Does it help that my father reads the Chronicle?

He’s going to be 90 in July—that’s a lot of Chronicles.

Thanks,

Bob Irwin

Hi Peter,

I just noticed your contest & I immediately thought of my father. . .

This photo was taken in the early 1960’s in Los Angeles. My awesome hipster father, John Libberton was straight out of Mad Men. Seriously, he was in the advertising business & directed commercials. He will turn 88 next month and he is still suave, cool & a ladies man.

Andi Bird in Sausalito.

My coach. My mentor. My teacher. My father. My hero. I’ll forever remain hopeful that my Dad knew he was (and always will be) my hero. Chuck Wyllie was larger than life. Although just six feet tall and 185 pounds soaking wet, he was a gentle giant of a man. As a boy, I’d marvel at the size and strength of his hands. The power in those paws was immense — fingers of woven steel, forged in the fire of hard work. In November 1969, Dad was a 38-year-old lineman for ‘Ma Bell. I was an 18-month-old handful of The Poop.

Take care Peter.

Doug Wyllie

Here’s a picture of my dad, this was taken in Germany when he was in

the Army. That’s a sweet Mercedes he had when he was in the

service. This is in the wine region of Germany on a trip from

Germany to Paris my mom and dad took shortly after they were married.

Kyle

Dear Peter,

Below is a picture of my dad, Tim, with my lovely mother Lois. They are attending a citizenship party for a friend in September 1971. Both of them would have been about 28; I was four, my brother two.

Dad was an electrical engineer at Bechtel, but even then was something of a Renaissance Man. He had played drums and percussion all his life, in both large bands (marching!) and orchestras. We lived in suburban MD (about 10 miles outside of DC), but Dad liked to keep a large garden, growing much of our food, while Mom canned it for winter. Dad kept bees and harvested the honey. On weekends he liked to bake our bread while Mom made yogurt. Dad would split wood for our stove so that we wouldn’t have to use the heater. My parents did all of this and remained staunchly conservative Republicans.

At the time this photo was taken, Dad had started making furniture on weekends. Our annual vacations always included Williamsburg, PA, where we were forced to stand around while Dad took photos of highboys and Windsor chairs. He would then make designs for this furniture himself, as often there were no plans to be found. We would look at George Washington’s desk, and then within a few months, there would be a replica in the living room.

My favorite memories of Dad include hanging out with him in his shop. He would listen to Blood, Sweat, and Tears and turn ball and claw legs for a side table while I played in the sawdust.

Dad is now an accomplished furniture maker whose services are sought after from Fine Woodworking to local adult schools. He has revolutionized the use of Google sketch-up for furniture design and has published two books about it. His listening tastes have changed, though – when I catch him in the shop now, it’s usually NPR.

Cheers, Elizabeth Killen Boegel

PETER HARTLAUB is the pop culture critic at the San Francisco Chronicle and founder of this parenting blog, which admittedly sometimes often never has nothing to do with parenting. You can follow him on Twitter @PeterHartlaub.