Voting Station

Kenneth Battelle

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Stylist

The Resume

    (April 19, 1927-May 12, 2013)
    Born in Syracuse, New York
    Worked in the salons of Helena Rubinstein (1950-55) and Lily Dache (1955-63)
    Opened his own salon in New York (1963-90)
    After the salon was destroyed in a fire, operated beauty parlors in the Helmsley Palace Hotel (1990-92) and Waldorf-Astoria Hotel (1992-2002)
    Created Jacqueline Kennedy's bouffant hairdo (1961)
    Other clients included Marilyn Monroe, Judy Garland, Audrey Hepburn, Lauren Bacall, Brooke Astor, Happy Rockefeller, Rosalyn Carter and Gloria Vanderbilt

Why he might be annoying:

    His choice of career disappointed his mother 'because red-blooded American boys didn't do that.'
    Professionally, he went by just 'Kenneth.'
    He lied about having Fifth Avenue experience to get his job with Rubinstein.
    He was dubbed the 'Secretary of Grooming' in the Kennedy administration.
    In the late 70s, he tried to promote a style he called 'Park Avenue punk.'
    Clients had to wait up to three months to get an appointment.

Why he might not be annoying:

    When he was twelve, he went to work to help support his mother and four sisters after his father got a divorce and left.
    He encouraged women to move away from permanent waves, bleach and hairspray in favor of a softer, more natural look: 'healthy hair you want to touch.'
    Lucille Ball called him 'God.'
    He said about his status as one of the first celebrity sylists, 'I just think about what Halston told me a long time ago: You're famous because of your clients, not because of you.'
    His salon was known for its indulgence and impeccable service: 'I believe in coddle, coddle, coddle.'
    As he watched his salon go up in flames, a reporter asked him how he felt. He replied, 'How the fuck do you think I feel? Go away.'

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    In 2023, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 9 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 2 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 5 Votes: 80.0% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 14 Votes: 64.29% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 59 Votes: 57.63% Annoying