Buster Mary Brown Shoes Janes Company Shopping Popular

In the early 1920s, Buster Brown was a popular "comic strip" (a series of humorous drawings that appear in the newspaper every day) about a boy named Buster Brown, his girlfriend Mary Jane, and a dog.

The Brown Shoe Company "bought the rights" (paid to have permission to use copyrighted materials) to the Buster Brown name. Many of their shoes had a "label" (a small piece of fabric or a stamp with information about what something is, what size it is, and where it was made) showing Buster Brown and his dog. The company also organized special events where a boy dressed as Buster Brown would go to the stores and "appear" (be seen in) advertising materials. The stores also gave away Buster Brown comics to customers.

The company also began selling Mary Jane shoes, and soon the name was being used to refer to the style of shoes rather than just the company's "brand" (a name used by a company to sell its products). Mary Janes are simple shoes with a rounded toe and a single strap across the top of the foot, often fastened with a "buckle" (like the piece that connects the two ends of a belt) or a button. Mary Janes are usually made of black leather, and today, they are popular with little girls who wear formal or dressy clothing. In countries with school uniforms, it is common for girls to wear Mary Janes every day. The shoes used to be worn by boys, too, but now that is uncommon.