JWB's inner anger

[Dave Taylor]

I shared my thoughts with Heath in an email, but I thought I'd put them here as well.

I don't think that the picture necessarily shows Booth sporting a bald spot but, instead I think it is merely the studio lights reflecting off of Booth's hair. Here's a larger version to look at.



It's possible this is the beginning of a bald spot, but I think it's more a trick of the lights.

That being said, I think many of Booth's photographs make it appear as if he had a receding hairline. This seems particularly true when you look at how far back the part in his hair went:





If you look at this chart which documents the steps of male baldness I think Booth, was definitely showing signs that he was in step 2 or 3 near the end of his life.



Notice how these pictures of Booth really demonstrate how he was developing that "M" shape pattern at the front of his hairline:





It may be helpful to see that it was probably hereditary. John Wilkes' brother Junius clearly had a receding hairline as well: http://boothiebarn.com/picture-galleries...ly/jbb-jr/

I think Booth did have a receding hairline and, as Heath points out, that could have had a deep impact on his self image.