shoeshiner
thumb|A boot polisher on a railway platform in Mumbai, India. Shoeshiner or boot polisher is an occupation in which a person cleans and buffs shoes and then applies a waxy paste to give a shiny appearance and a protective coating. They are often known as shoeshine boys because the job was traditionally done by a male child. Other synonyms are bootblack and shoeblack. While the role is denigrated in much of Western civilization, shining shoes is an important source of income for many children and families throughout the world. Some shoeshiners offer extra services, such as shoe repairs and gene
Article
10 sectionsContents
- History
- Modern profession
- Famous shoeshiners
- Portrayal in popular culture
- Film and television
- Literature and publications
- Music
- See also
- References
- External links
thumb|A boot polisher on a railway platform in Mumbai, India. Shoeshiner or boot polisher is an occupation in which a person cleans and buffs shoes and then applies a waxy paste to give a shiny appearance and a protective coating. They are often known as shoeshine boys because the job was traditionally done by a male child. Other synonyms are bootblack and shoeblack. While the role is denigrated in much of Western civilization, shining shoes is an important source of income for many children and families throughout the world. Some shoeshiners offer extra services, such as shoe repairs and general tailoring.
==History== thumb|The earliest reliably dated photograph of a person, taken in spring 1838 by Louis J.M. Daguerre|Daguerre, shows a person getting a shoeshine. thumb|left|The Independent Shoe-Black by John Thomson (photographer)|John Thomson, 1877. thumb|left|A young war-orphan shoeshiner in Japan, 1947