Gene Hartman pulls himself from the mustard-colored barber’s chair as a customer walks through the front door.

“What will it be?” he asks the burly customer.

“The ears, eyebrows and a little off the back and neck,” the customer replies. “Not too much off the top; I don’t have much.”

DRC/Al Key

Longtime customer Bill Neaville, right, gets his hair cut by Gene Hartman at his Campus Barber Shop on Thursday in Denton. Hartman has several customers who have been with him for more than 45 years.

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Hartman gives the customer, Carl Mauck, a slight nod, unfurling a plastic barber’s cloth and picking up his clippers and comb.

As the clippers vibrate, the two men talk high school football, which is part of a good haircut at any barbershop, Mauck said.

Hartman has been clipping hair on Fry Street for 50 years and will celebrate with a community party today at the barbershop.

Hartman’s business, the Campus Barber Shop, is one of a handful to survive the razing of the 1920s retail strip three years ago, which caused protests from residents and current and former University of North Texas students.

The vacant lots where businesses used to thrive have likely hurt the shop as pedestrian traffic slows on Fry Street, Hartman said, but the barbershop has continued to have a steady stream of customers.

“Some people are surprised I’m still here and some people think we closed down, but business has been good,” Hartman said. “Business has stayed steady throughout the years, especially considering everything around here has been torn down.”

When Hartman was 18 years old and a recently trained barber, he said, he moved to Denton from Muenster and started cutting hair in the Fry Street area.

And he didn’t leave. He’s followed hair trends from the conservative ’50s flattop to the long hair in the ’70s to the occasional request for a mohawk today.

“It doesn’t seem possible that it’s been that long,” Hartman said. “It’s been good. It’s been a fun time, and I’ve been able to meet people over the years.”

Those years are well-documented by the barbershop bathroom’s walls, covered with newspapers reporting Richard Nixon’s resignation and the death of Elvis Presley.

The walls also bear numerous thank-you cards from the community.

About 85 percent of Hartman’s customers are Denton men who stop by for “good, regular haircuts,” he said, although the barber can cut almost anything under the sun for men and the occasional woman.

The old-style barbershop is a place where men can be men, have their hair tidied and listen to a bunch of bull, whether it’s wanted or not, Mauck said.

“I wouldn’t go to a salon for all the money in China,” he said. “First, I’m too cheap to pay $25 for a haircut when I can get one for $11 here, and I don’t want to look all Gucci.”

There are no appointments taken at the Campus Barber Shop and walk-ins from the street are welcome, Hartman said.

Over the decades, four and five generations of families have taken their turns sitting in Hartman’s adjustable chair, he said.

Jack Scroggs is part of a four-generation tradition of Scroggs men on the receiving end of Hartman’s clippers, the longtime customer said.

Scroggs has had his hair cut by Hartman for the last 38 years and will sit in line, if necessary, to get a cut he doesn’t need to think twice about, he said.

“When other barbers are there, they know when I sit down that I’m waiting for Gene,” Scroggs said.

As Hartman finishes Mauck’s haircut, he lathers the man’s neck with fluffy white shaving cream before pulling out a straight razor.

“You can’t get a neck shave at a beauty shop,” Mauck said, tilting his head forward.

A few minutes later, Mauck pulls himself from the barber’s chair and expresses his satisfaction, even though “it’s like putting a blue ribbon on a cow turd,” he said.

CANDACE CARLISLE can be reached at 940-566-6889. Her e-mail address is ccarlisle@dentonrc.com.

IF YOU GO

What: 50th anniversary celebration for Gene Hartman

When: 6:30 p.m., or after the University of North Texas football game today

Where: Campus Barber Shop, 116 Fry St.

Details: The celebration includes music, barbeque sandwiches and a surprise guest for customers from throughout the years.