Sweeney Todd: The Demon Barber of Fleet Street
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When it comes to the scariest barber of all time, the choice is simple. This Halloween, Booksy is proud to present a profile of the most notorious barber ever, the Demon Barber of Fleet Street, the one and only, the legendary Sweeney Todd.
How it all began
Sweeney Todd first appeared as a villain in the 19th century England. His first appearance was on the penny dreadful periodical series from the Victiorian Era, called The String of Pearls. Since that time, the story has become an urban legend in London and it has been retold many times, including in the Tony Award winning Broadway musical and in Tim Burton’s movie, starring Johnny Depp.In the archives, there is no mention of a barber named Sweeney Todd from the Fleet Street. However many historians claim that the legendary prototype exists…
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Sweeney's legend
The legend of a bloody barber states that Sweeney Todd was a successful chap, with a shiny barberpole in front of his barbershop at 185 Fleet Street. He had many clients, although the online booking system was not so popular at that time. Neither were electric clippers, nor regular scissors… if you wanted a clean shave - and in the 19th century London, if you were a true gentleman, you would most definitely want that! - you trust your barber with a razor. It was a mistake to trust Sweeney Todd!
With his specially constructed fancy barber chair he was able to throw you down to the cellar underneath his barbershop. You were lucky if he decided not to cut your throat before. You hit your head on the ground and dropped dead immediately. However you might have been even less fortunate. You might have laid in the cellar with broken spine, broken legs, broken everything (!) and had to wait for several hours, before Sweeney came down with his sharp razor to finish the job...
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That's not all!
That’s when your story, as a Sweeney’s customer would end. It’s not the end of the story, however. You would get robbed by Sweeney, but you probably don’t care at this point. But what would happen to your body? That’s where Mrs. Margery Lovett, Sweeney’s lover appears on stage. She was a baker and her speciality was London’s famous meat pies. You get the idea what would happen with you after Sweeney had dragged your cold, robbed and opened-throat body through the canals to Mrs. Lovett’s Meat Pie Shop, right?
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Although there is no historical proof of Sweeney Todd, the legend grew and became an urban myth in London and made people shiver from visiting barbershops across the city. Luckily now you can check a barber you’re about to visit, thanks to Booksy’s reviews system. If any review contains good meat pies from across the road - you know who you’re gonna visit!Have a spooky Halloween!
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- Booksy Team
