| There are three biker jackets etched on the marble | | | | who wore it? |
| walls of history. Why are those jackets so notable? | | | | James Dean's jacket's voice screamed directly from |
| Because those jackets fit the images of the wearers. | | | | the dark edgy 1950's disenchanted 'restless youth of |
| The wearer of the biker jacket is often seen as | | | | America'. In an era that was the beginning stages of |
| anything but a "goody two shoes", and most who | | | | the cold war, America's youth began to question |
| wear the coat are rarely thought od as totally evil. | | | | authority and why do those who have authority |
| There are few exceptions to this rule, as we see | | | | have it. Not having the answers to the questions |
| those people as mostly ones that live on the edge. | | | | they had, some youth became disenchanted with the |
| Our inner selves scream to be like them. No jackets | | | | American dream. They became rebels. The rebel that |
| can come close to comparing the lasting impression | | | | Dean represented was one on the edge, but had a |
| of the 'rugged good-guy' than the jackets worn by | | | | true heart. His is the jacket that makes women melt |
| Evel Knievel, James Dean, and Marlon Brando. | | | | at the "bad boy" image. The guy that races for the |
| Not many who were around in the era of that | | | | sheer excitement, and loves with unbridled passion. |
| magical red, white and blue (mostly white) jacket and | | | | His jacket is the protector of the rebel spirit. |
| cape fly over buses, fountains, cars, and just about | | | | Maybe the "coolest" biker jackets is the one sported |
| anything that would would hold still, will not soon | | | | by Marlon Brando, a.k.a. Johnny Strabler, in 'The Wild |
| forget that we also watched to see if those | | | | One'. 'The Wild One' was the original biker film. But, |
| garments would land unscathed. We also watched | | | | the movie was layered with characters that on the |
| because Evel Knievel dared us to. Evel was bravado | | | | surface were mindless beasts, and under closer |
| brought to life. Famous for his crashes and daring, | | | | examination had very humane qualities. Johnny |
| Evel was The P.T. Barnum of the 1970's. Here was a | | | | Strabler being the most human of them all. The |
| man self promoted his own bogus legend by | | | | wandering rebel, looking for his soul and trying to hide |
| pretending he was several different members of the | | | | it all in the same snarl. Johnny was the penultimate |
| press so that he could get his first Las Vegas jump. | | | | chaotic good character, never meaning to do much |
| For the rest of his career, Kneivel played on our need | | | | harm and trying to do right as he saw fit. His jacket |
| to be thrilled. We would cheer when he landed and | | | | was well worn and just the look of it said it had |
| gasp when he failed, either result would have us | | | | many stories to tell, some not too wonderful but not |
| talking for weeks. How many of us built ramps in the | | | | all together hateful. When we see that jacket, we |
| allies and streets to jump our banana seated bikes | | | | think of how we would ride with Johnny, bit would |
| across, because of that leather jacket and the man | | | | feel uncomfortable if he came into our cafe. |