Title:
Fancy Cowboy Boots, but No Problem Finding Buyers
Description: This is
a VOA Special English General News Report.
See text below
Text:
The Houston Livestock Show and Rodeo in Texas is a
good place to find cowboy boots. Abby came in boots
made from ostrich skin.
ABBY: "They're stylish for this occasion." But her
boyfriend Stefan rarely wears cowboy boots.
STEFAN: "It is definitely a stylish fashion
statement at this point because this is the rodeo
type deal, you know. If it is everyday life, I don't
know how anybody does it. I think you'd have to go
to the chiropractor every couple months."
At rodeos, cowboys compete in riding and other
events. Most owners of cowboy boots say they are
easy on their feet. Sheldon and his son did a lot of
walking in their boots.
SHELDON: "They are comfortable, good to walk in.
We're walking in these for over three hours now so
they're real comfortable." Real cowboys want high
boots for protection. Other people like cowboy boots
for their looks and comfort. Lawyers and businessmen
in Houston are often seen wearing boots.
M.L. Leddy's has made boots for everyone from Elvis
Presley to American presidents. The average price is
$1,600. M.L. Leddy's General Manager Mark Dunlop
says the company has no trouble finding buyers.
MARK DUNLOP: "Those who are in a higher income
bracket certainly are a big part of our customers,
but I will tell you, we sell a lot of cowboys cowboy
boots."
He says the secret to comfortable footwear is
support.
MARK DUNLOP: "Once we get a boot on you and we get
that arch support set properly, everything else kind
of follows."
Dunlop says the steel support shown here is
important. But the materials and other details also
make a boot comfortable and long-lasting. The
process starts with careful measurements of both
feet. These alligator-skin boots cost $10,000.
Dunlop says people choose non-traditional skins for
many reasons.
MARK DUNLOP: "A calf skin, for example, is a
smooth-finished leather, very tough leather, but it
can scuff and scratch. Ostrich, elephant, leathers
of that type have a very durable finish to them, and
so they can withstand a lot more punishment."
There also is the detail of the boot tops.
MARK DUNLOP: "Hand-tooled tops, inlaid tops,
monogram tops, hand-stitched tops -- we do them all
and it's just up to the imagination of the buyer."
In the end, it may be all about imagining yourself
as a cowboy. I'm Doug Johnson.
Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
To post a comment:
• Click "Comment using..." in
the window below
• Click your favorite service: Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, Hotmail
• Login to the service
• Click "Add a comment..."
• Post your comment in the window
Students: Please post a
comment stating what you found interesting about this video. You are
welcome to include links to your English study blogs and any
other materials you think might be useful for learning
English.
Teachers: Please post your
thoughts about this video. You are welcome to include links to
your sites, blogs, and any other materials you think might
be useful for learning English.
Hi. I
personally reviewed this video and found it appropriate for
the news section of English Global Group. This
is a Voice of America video which covers an interesting
topic in Special English. I would appreciate some feedback from both
students and teachers about this video. You can comment in
the window below using any of a number of different services
including Facebook, Yahoo, AOL, and Hotmail.
