Figure 1.--Here we see popular fashions of the late-1930s in Louisana. Rural boys still wore bib-front overalls. Boys also wore short pants, especially common for younger boys and boys from well-to-do families. Notice Betty's Shirley Temple sausage curls. The children look to be about 8-13 year old. Ciuntless little girls in the 1930s tried to emulate her. Click here to see the governor and Dick with President Roosevelt dedicating Federlly financed improvements in City Park, New Orleans (1937). The President was commonly pictured in cars because of his disability, but convertables so he could be seen.

Dick Leche was the son of Louisiana governor Richard W. Leche. He was chosen to replace Huey Long after he was assasinate, but had to resign after arrested for misuse of Federal funds (1939). Louisiana has a nited history if srate coruoption. The photograph here shoes Dick at a party in the governor's mansionfor the new legislative pages. The mansion was the scene of some real goings on with the King Fish (Huey Long) was governor. President Roosevelt considered him the most dangerous man in America. The legislative pages were teenagers and you can see some of them in the background of the photograph taken at the party. But because they were youths, Dick was made the official host. The press caption read, "Betty Jane Stutmann, entetainer at the stag party young Dick Leche, son of Governor Ruchrd W. Leche of Louisiana, gave at the executive mansionn honor of the pages of the legistasture, is an interested listener to the conversation betweeb Dick and Louis and Charles Font, peanut vendors in the capital, who were honored guests. Left to right, -- Louis, Charlie, Dick, and Betty." American boys in the 1930s wore short pants, knickers, and long pants. It was the younger boys that mosty wore short pants, but there were also social class conventions, boys from well-to-do and socially prominent families like the governor's son here were also more likeky to wear short pants. Also notice Dick's sport shirt, fashionable but made to be worn without a tie, butb motherv had insusted on one. Knickers in 1938 were going out of style, but were still worn to some extent in the 1940s, especially the early-40s. Long pants were becoming more common, even for younger boys. Overalls were still common in the 30s, but mostly worn by boys in rural areas. especiallyb amongb low-income families. Notice the two boys boys here wearing bib-front overalls are working-class boys who sold peanuts. Overalls rapidly went out of style after America entered World War II (1941). People in rural areas began moving into the cities where well-paying jobs were available in the booming war industries. In addition, small rural schools were being closed and the children bussed to town schools. As a result, the rural kids didn't want to look like 'hicks' and bega dressing like city kids. Very quickly the clothing difference between town and country disappeared. Notice that while the two peanut boys do not looked like they dressed up, they are wearing their best pair of overalls that look brand new. .

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Created: 10:46 PM 10/20/2022
Last edited: 2:11 AM 10/21/2022