When Englewood was 50 years old in 1953, the Golden Jubilee was a cause for celebrating with a parade and the streets were painted gold. The men sported beards and people dressed in 1900's styles for the whole year. Merchants and Jubilee committee members gathered at Midnight to wash the downtown streets and sidewalks in preparation for the start of the festivities, scheduled from July 26 to August 1.
This unusual project probably brought more publicity to Engelwood than any other in its history - with the possible exception of the Cherrelyn Horsecar.
Early in May, 1953, beard permits were sold to more than 4,000 Englewood men who let their whiskers grow for three months. Men without beards were arrested by a team of "vigilantes" and taken before "Judge" V. A. Guy, Englewood garage owner. Prizes were awarded for the best beards and on the last day of the celebration, five Englewood barbers volunteered to shave each contestant for $2, with the proceeds going to charity.
(excerpt taken from Englewood, Colorado: Its people and its history. 1903-1993, pp. 150, 155.)
