In the beginning, back in the year 1901, Charles R. Walgreen (Sr.) was a shoe shiner for a rundown barbershop. He made extra money on the side by polishing the knobs of the local mobsters and government officials at 2 bits a blow. The Chicago Times-Herald quoted Sir Ian McKellen as saying: “That Charlie gives some good dome. Now if only he'd stop spitting the load out on my loafers.”