Shirley Polykoff

FAMILY LIFE

"I remember as a child, reading magazine advertisements with special attention. They seemed to be a window opening onto a wondrous world - the world of mainstream America - that I avidly wanted to be a part of. In those days, living in Brooklyn in a neighborhood filled with immigrant families like my own, crossing the bridge into Manhattan was like finally getting to the Promised Land. And in my dreams - dreams styled by the values I saw in those glossy magazine ads - I'd know just how to fit in."

~ Shirley Polykoff, 1997 ~

Shirley Polykoff was the Brooklyn-born middle daughter of Russian Jewish immigrants, Hyman Polykoff, a small-time necktie merchant, and Rose, a housewife and mother (Gladwell, 1999).

Shirley Polykoff at age 9 (right of Momma),
and her sisters, Ellenore (lower left) and Lillian (far right)
(Photo from Does She... Or Doesn't She, 1975)

Shirley Polykoff's mother had hoped she would be a boy, because a boy could become a fardeener (or money-earner) for the family. This was the hope for a young immigrant couple who had come to America with only a feather bed, two pillows, one heavy Russian spoon, and some dried fish to hedge against starvation. Despite being born a girl, Shirley Polykoff said, "There's one thing I know if my heart - I'm a fardeener, Momma" (Polykoff, 1975). From the age of 11, when she sold coats in a Brooklyn department store, Shirley Polykoff "relished proving herself in the traditional masculine role of breadwinner" (Thomas, 1998).

Hyman Polykoff was quite educated for a Jewish immigrant at the turn of the century. He was quick in mathematics and had a fine background in literature. Prior to moving to America, he had owned a lumberyard, which was good business for a small-town Jew in Czarist Russia. Rose Polykoff, on the other hand, had no formal education. She taught herself both Russian and Yiddish, as she was orphaned at the age of six and raised by distant cousins. Although not affluent, Shirley Polykoff's home was a warm, happy one. Shirley Polykoff describes her mother, Rose, as a woman who "had great joy in her. She could invest the most ordinary happenings with gaiety and excitement... Her enjoyment and zest for life colored every inch of our living." Her father, Hyman, was "painfully shy and introspective and awkward in his actions, yet he could be bold and arrogant or quite gracious and rather gallant when we least expected it" (Polykoff, 1975).

At the age of twenty-five Shirley Polykoff married George P. Halperin, the son of an Orthodox rabbi from Reading, Pennsylvania, in 1933. They had known each other only three weeks, when George invited her to come meet his family. Such an invitation was usually tantamount to a proposal of marriage. The idea excited her, so she accepted the invitation. They first met at a New Year's Eve party at a place called Red Oaks near Rumson, New Jersey. George left the party early and said he'd call. Two months passed before he sent roses to Shirley at her office. The enclosed card indicated his phone number and requested that she call him for a date (Polykoff, 1975).

Rather than call George, Shirley continued to focus on her current task - the I.J. Fox Spring Fashion Show. The show was such a success that everyone celebrated afterwards with champagne. Having overdone the champagne, Shirley was escorted back to the office, where her co-workers would see to getting her a ride home. One of her coworkers suggested calling "the flower guy" and asking him to escort her home to Brooklyn. They explained, "[Shirley's] had a triumph and needs someone to share it with." George agreed, and met Shirley the second time in her drunken state (Polykoff, 1975). They continued to see each other everyday thereafter. Six and a half weeks later they were married on George's birthday at City Hall. Soon after, in the midst of the Depression, Shirley and George had two daughters, Alix and Laurie.

View Family Portraits of Shirley, George, Momma and Poppa, and daughters Alix and Laurie.

Shirley Polykoff kept her maiden name for use in the office, as she had already established a reputation under this name, but used Polly (a foreshortening of Polykoff) Halperin at home. Shirley Polykoff was so separate from Polly Halperin that many people didn't realize the two were actually one (Polykoff, 1975). George, being quite liberated for his time, was fine with Shirley's decision to continue forward using both names.

Continued...

~ Home ~ Table of Contents ~ Introduction ~ Family Life ~
~ Early Career ~ FC&B ~ Clairol ~ Miss Clairol Ads ~ S.P. Advertising ~
~ Ad Collection ~ Honors ~ Conclusion ~ Bibliography ~