Before Egypt’s Abdul Nasser, there was King Farouk…
…and long before Farouk there was Yul Brenner.
By the end of his 16-year reign in 1952, Farouk declared
all inanimate objects must carry the Mark of the Stache.
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Farouk considered the purchase of 5000 Lockheed Constellations because his mark would easily fit on the airplane. When he found that his treasury was unable to afford that number, he purchased 8000 Revell hobby kits of same.
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A shutterbug from way back, Farouk ordered that all court photogs use gold-plated equipment when photographing him.
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In a sweet deal with the Franklin Mint, King Farouk formed a partnership which allowed him to force Egyptians to buy his coins if they wanted to purchase anything in Egypt.
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His Franklin Mint 8-piece dinner service was the only dishware Egyptians could use. The commemorative snow globes were unable to find a market in Cairo and were remaindered to gift shops in Lebanon.
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A stickler for punctuality, King Farouk always kept eight of these pocket watches on his person. A 17-man crew made certain the watches were wound and correct.
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The Pyramid World-Wide Money Market Investment Co., Ltd
built this 300-foot high structure for King Farouk. Ostensibly a gift, many felt PWWMMICO’s “Triangulated Fez” was a bribe.
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This baby was the erstwhile King’s favorite vehicle. Legend states that Harley Earle personally designed this pimped caddy. The continental tire folds down to form a roulette wheel and the balloon tires were filled with helium for a smooth ride.
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In 1957, the King was a body double for William Conrad
and did most of the latter’s stunts.
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Images: (Caddy) madle.org; (camera) marcoant.com; (coins) aurorahistoryboutique.com; (later pix) c. lexicorient.com; (Time) img.timeinc.net;(pyramid) historycentral,com; (Constellation) godickson.com; (watch) culture.hautehorlogerie.com (Young Farouk) library of congress photo collection via g eric & edith matson collection;(plate) egyptgiftshop.com