In the 19th century. The first tattoo shops in the US can be traced back to ol’ New York, San Francisco, and East LA. initially catered to sailors (SF & NY) and the gang members of East LA. They all shared one common intrest, looking good and marking their bodies. Most would stop for a fresh shave and a haircut and some permanent ink. During this era, the tattoo and barbershop often shared a storefront, leading to the appearance of barber poles. These storefront ornaments reflected the common belief that barbers were “doctors” of the days (blue – veins, red – blood, white – bandages). From this, the A.R.T. & B.S. idea was born.