There are some people who owe their fame not to their work or talents, but to the colour they add to the daily life of a city. The fame of such people have never provided them money, dignity or glory, but a mere reputation. Most of them silently passed

away under conditions of real poverty. No one knows their biographies or the where they are buried. They just made a name of their own, adding unforgettable colours and anectodes to a city's daily life. Back in 1955 a group of foreign journalist visited Istanbul. During their stay they made a list of such personalities of Istanbul. Among them were people known mostly by their nicknames: Ç›plak (nude) Mustafa, Oturaklı (heavy) Salih, Torbalı (baggy) Hüseyin, Acem (Persian) R›za, Arap (Arabian) ‹smail, Düğümlü (knotted) Dede, Eğrikılıç (twisted) Memiş Pasha, Deli (mad) Hidayet. The names of these people in the list can not be found in any encyclopaediae or booknowadays. Neither has anybody erected a monument in their memory. Just like their lives, their death has also been quiet. So, how was it that these people became so famous? The answer lies in the fact that all had a lifestyle of their own. One must admit that their common characteristic was that they were -in one way or the other- all a bit 'different'. For instance, all the clothing of Düğümlü (knotted) Dede were covered with knots. E€rik›l›ç (twisted) Memiş Pasa wandered in the streets of Istanbul with his sword attached to his belt, barefoot and no headgear. He was called a pasha solely since he bore a sword. Most probably he hadn't even done his military service. But the people of Istanbul named him a pasha, and treated him with love and affection but never stopper teasing.
Those who are over fifty now, remember well the other such faces of Istanbul. For instance, there was a certain Sülün (pheasant) Osman who would sell anything ranging from the Galata Bridge to the Dolmabahçe Palace Clock Tower to naive people he would come across. Then there was Uzun (tall) Ömer who sold lottery tickets with his gigantic body under the old Galata Bridge and his partner Cüce (dwarf) Simon; Karıncaezmez (gentle) Şevki who had everything (including his car and clothes) painted yellow and red -the colours of his favorite football team, Galatasaray. It's not easy to forget them.
It's seems only yesterday that they tried to sell a lottery ticket or a tram; all struggling along the streets of Istanbul, trying to earn a living. Now they are all memories. What now remains of them is only their anectodes and stories.
Another such face, (may be the most famous) was Pazarola Hasan Bey. His nickname Pazarola came from "Pazar ola", a phrase he would use to greet shopkeepers, meaning "I wish you good luck in your trade". Fifty years ago if you walked from Divanyolu and pass through Kalpakçılar, Grand Bazaar, Beyazıt Square, heading towards Şehzadebaşı and then from Vefa to Unkapanı and asked anyone on your way -all the merchants, all the locals, young or old, male or female- who Hasan Bey was, they would all say they've heard the name. But if you asked any of them the names of current dignitaries they'd say they do'nt know.They prayed to God to receive Pazarola Hasan Bey's greetings as they open their shops each morning. All merchants believed that he was the patron saint of all the shopkeepers and that he would bring abundance to wherever he goes. That's why the street salesmen wouldn't start the day before receiving his greetings and the shop owners wouldn't open their doors before being greeted as "Pazarola shop master".
Pazarola Hasan Bey didn't judge anybody by age, rank, fame, religion, wealth or sex. Everyone was the same for him: a creation of God. It did not matter if the person he encountered was a beggar or the mayor. He would adress them with their profession with 'usta' (meaning master) attached at tits end. Some took Pazarola Hasan Bey for dervish. Well, actually there wasn't any dervish lodge or shrine that he had not visited. He once told a reporter that he belonged to the Rufai sect of Islam.
Not only his greetings; whatever he would say to the merchants were interpreted as signs of good luck. Most people believed that since he had a big head, he has to have a big brain; so he must be very wise.
Although Pazarola Hasan Bey never had a job or any income, he never took any money from anybody. But he'd not refuse any money discreetly placed in his side pocket. Since

merchants believed that he'd bring good luck, they would insistantly invite him for a cup of coffee. He would take his pick, drink his coffee with him and leave right away. While drinking his coffee, he was respected and treated like a pasha.
While wandering in the streets, a gang of people always accompanied him. Especially women with problems would try to talk to him to hear the good words that would bring them the long awated good luck. Young girls who wished to get married, begged for him to glance at themselves. To them a brief glance of his meant immediate marriage proposal.Pazarola Hasan Bey, being considerate and not wishing to disturb anybody's business, would not talk or sit around long; he would leave soon as he finished sipping his coffee or offering his greetings, and move to another street or another neighbourhood.
Sometimes after his greetings, he would make jokes to certain people he had a liking for. While walking in Şehzadebaşı for instance, he would greet the famous actor of

those days, Kel (bold) Hasan saying "Pazarola theatre master" first, then he would add: "Don't ever loose your broom or you'll go broke" he'd say. Kel Hasan would always come to the stage with a broom in his hand. He was unthinkable without it.Although he was the mascot of streets, the good luck charm of merchants, hope of the poor, good luck to unfortunate; despite the extent of his fame, Hasan Bey's life was quite unknown. Following a traffic accident, Hasan Bey has been bedridden at his home for a long period of time. A reporter who visited him in those days wrote of his father as saying "After that traffic accident, he doesn't feel very well, that's why he doesn't go out often. But thanks God, he has lots of visitors. Every day quite a few Turkish, Greek, Jewish, Armenian visitors come to touch his hands and receive his blessings."
From this interview made in 1957, we learn that Hasan Bey was 47 years old at the time of this interview but looked only 25. He had some income; lost his mother when he was 2 and he lived in a little house at Atlamataşı near Unkapanı. The rest are all unknown.
Pazarola Hasan Bey was not a topic for press only. There were plays and operettes about him. The theatre world recognised his charm and tried to take advantage of his popularity. In the advertisement for a play, at the beginning of the 20's, it wrote: "If you want a two hour non-stop laughter and see the greatest actors of our country we advice you to come to Şehzadebaşı Theatre and watch the superb play on Pazarola Hasan Bey written by Eyüb Sabri Bey,and acted by comedian Hasan Efendi, Naşit Bey, Balı Rıza Efendi and İsmail Efendi. Details to be found on the handouts."
Following this play, Darülbedayi -or Istanbul City Theatres of today- staged a 'revue' written by Osman Cemal Kayg›l›. Later this revue was to be staged at the Refah Theatre. In the revue, Pazarola Hasan Bey was symbolised with a big mask made by Münif Fehim. His partners in the play were Governor Dr. Emin Bey and other famous personalities of Istanbul. Next, painter and musician Rasih Sonat staged another revue in Ankara with again the leading character as Pazarola Hasan Bey. The revue played to a full hose for a long period of time.
In short, as with the merchants, the abundance of Pazarola Hasan Bey's humor invigorated the theatre world. He became so famous that every one tried to get his share of his charm, luck and blessings. One of those who got his fair share was a publisher from Istanbul. Following the trend, he published a humor magazine titled Pazarola Hasan Bey for a long period.

Then a time came when one could no longer see Pazarola Hasan Bey walking the streets. The vendors started the day slowly; the shops opened less willingly; the looks of the young girls waiting for their match,recived no reply; those who looked for a remedy gave in to their worries. All eyes were looking out for this little man with the big head.
Soon after, the rumour had it that he was dead. Then rumour proved to be reality itsself. Nobody now knows where he is buried. Had it been known, it would definitely have been made a holy shrine of some sort.
Let's go back to the beginning: As we said, these famous characters of Istanbul streets do not take their places in the history books. They even perish from memories. In the course of time they are totally forgotten. They are no saints or man of wisdom as some believe them to be. But they shouldn't be taken as 'mad' either. When poverty and hopelessness exhausts all remedies, they appear as a hope, fulfilling the expectations as volunteers of a false consolation. In short, these famous characters are the fadeless colours of the city iconography. Just like Pazarola Hasan Bey…