StoryCorps: Paul Crowley and Anthony Bravo Esparza
From: StoryCorps
Series: StoryCorps
Length: 01:50
Many veterans seek out the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital in hopes of feeling better. Thanks to Anthony Bravo Esparza — known to his friends as “Dreamer” — those veterans often end up looking better, too.
Since the 1970s, Dreamer, a veteran himself, has been giving free haircuts to vets.
He can be found in a red, white, and blue painted trailer parked at the VA, where he averages about 200 haircuts a month.
Last year, Paul Crowley showed up looking for a trim. Today, he’s Dreamer’s assistant.
At StoryCorps, the pair sat down to speak about their friendship.
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Related Pieces
Piece Description
Many veterans seek out the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs Hospital in hopes of feeling better. Thanks to Anthony Bravo Esparza — known to his friends as “Dreamer” — those veterans often end up looking better, too.
Since the 1970s, Dreamer, a veteran himself, has been giving free haircuts to vets.
He can be found in a red, white, and blue painted trailer parked at the VA, where he averages about 200 haircuts a month.
Last year, Paul Crowley showed up looking for a trim. Today, he’s Dreamer’s assistant.
At StoryCorps, the pair sat down to speak about their friendship.
Broadcast History
NPR's Morning Edition 2/24/12
Transcript
Paul Crowley (PC): When I showed up, I was washed.
Anthony Bravo Esparza (ABE): Yeah, you’d been drinkin’.
PC: I was totally out of hope. And part of that was the way I looked. I hadn’t shaved in a couple of weeks; my hair was filthy and scraggly. But, getting the haircut made me feel, for lack of a better word, normal–which I hadn’t in a long, long time.
ABE: When I first ran into you, I saw a guy that could at some point, rise above it. And I just felt that, I can help ya. Abraham Lincoln once said, “Never underestimate the power of a haircut.” Of course, he never said that, but he should’ve said it.
PC: I try to help you out.
ABE: Yeah.
PC: And, I mean, I’m not cutting hair, but when I’m there at the trailer, I’ve watched a guy that just came right off the streets, not doing too well, and the only thing he has to pay you with is an orange.
ABE: Whatever you got, we’ll make a de...
Read the full transcript
Intro and Outro
INTRO:Time again for StoryCorps.
This project is recording conversations between friends.
Today -- we'll hear from two VETERANS.
Anthony Bravo Esparza is known by his friends as "Dreamer."
From a trailer in the parking lot at the West Los Angeles Veterans Affairs campus ...
... he offers FREE HAIRCUTS to fellow vets, and a space to hang out.
Last year, Paul Crowley went in for a haircut.
Today -- he's Dreamer's assistant.
OUTRO:Anthony Bravo Esparza -- known as Dreamer -- with Paul Crowley, at StoryCorps in Los Angeles.
Their conversation -- and all the others -- are archived at the Library of Congress.
There are pictures of Esparza's trailer -- at NPR-dot-ORG.
Musical Works
| Title | Artist | Album | Label | Year | Length |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Black Fur | Fredrik | Na Na Ni. | The Kora Records | 2008 | 00:25 |
Additional Credits
Capella University
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