{"id":28030,"date":"2016-01-12T12:26:19","date_gmt":"2016-01-12T18:26:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/?p=28030"},"modified":"2016-01-19T09:10:42","modified_gmt":"2016-01-19T15:10:42","slug":"clothing-manufacturer-arnold-jim-bennett-has-private-rites","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.crescentcityjewishnews.com\/blog\/clothing-manufacturer-arnold-jim-bennett-has-private-rites\/","title":{"rendered":"Clothing manufacturer Arnold ‘Jim’ Bennett has private rites"},"content":{"rendered":"

ARNOLD JEROME BENNETT, 97, a clothing manufacturer, who was credited with sparking and maintaining the fashion trend of bell-bottom blue jeans in the 1960s and 1970s, died on Monday, January 11, while in hospice care.<\/p>\n

Known as “Jim” to his friends and family, Bennett was employed throughout his lifetime at his family business, B. Bennett Company, a Central Business District manufacturer of casual wear and work clothing.<\/p>\n

Following his graduation from the Tulane University School of Business in 1937, he was married to the former Teal Freedman, the older sister of the famous Freedman triplets. When the nation entered World War II, Bennett became an officer, rising to the rank of captain while serving as an ammunition supply officer in the 20th Army Air Force in the Pacific theater of conflict. He saw action on the islands of Guam and Saipan, where he was stationed until the Japanese surrendered. For his service, Bennett received the Asiatic Pacific Campaign Medal along with three Bronze Stars. <\/p>\n

After he returned to work and began raising a family, Bennett was promoted to a buyer and designer in addition to his managing the business. Inspired by a low-waist, wide cuff pattern he had observed in the Merchant Marines, Bennett thought about instituting what became the bell-bottom jean in 1967. He had noticed several of the long-haired residents of the French Quarter had slit their jeans and sewn additional material in order to flare out their cuffs. His idea became a fashion statemen, which soon became a trend and, eventually, was a craze, heavily marketed under the name B. Bells. Bell bottom jeans, which inspired a song by supergroup Derek and the Dominos (“Bell Bottom Blues”) were so popular, especially in the south, it was said that no no self-respecting high school or college student would ever be without a pair for more than a decade.<\/p>\n

Bennett rose within the company and served as its president for several years prior to his retirement.<\/p>\n

Bennett was president of the Touro Synagogue Men’s Club for a two-year term of office and promoted a friendly rivalry between Touro and nearby Congregation Gates of Prayer, then located only a few blocks away, in an annual basketball competition. Bennett was an active member of the Audubon Golf Club and played the sports regularly until his most recent decade.<\/p>\n

Bennett was married to his wife for 67 years until her death in 2004. \u00a0He is survived by a sister, Evelyn Bennett; a daughter, Macky Bennett of Denver, CO.; a son, Dan Bennett of Jackson Hole, WY.; three grandchildren, four great-grandchildren; and a companion, Betty Fishman.<\/p>\n

Private memorial services were held on, Wednesday,\u00a0January 13, at Lambeth House.<\/p>\n

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