How the American suburban family in 1956 bonded. Or maybe you have an alternate explanation?
Curbside Caption: Family Time
– Posted on February 14, 2012
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Curbside Classics Archives
How the American suburban family in 1956 bonded. Or maybe you have an alternate explanation?
Later, Cousin Bill (ridding the running board) would grow up to become a Ford executive and push the Expedition through Ford Motor Company and into production.
With self retracting running boards, no less.
Long after they escaped the grinding poverty of the Dust Bowl and settled down in the Valley, the Joads couldn’t quite leave behind some of their old ways.
+1
I was thinking “the Joad family sports car”…
At least they qualify for the car pool lane.
Left turn coming up. Everybody shift. Get a couple more on that running board.
“Stop complaining, Timmy, I told you that when you’re ten years old, you get to ride INSIDE the car.”
This picture brings back a few fond memories:
When I was growing up, the elderly man across the street would occasionally take my family for short rides in his working model T Flyveir and tell us stories about the Depression. Riding in a rumble seat is an experience everyone should have at least once in their lifetimes. I’m still not too sure how six people managed to cram into that car.
Around the same time, my siblings/cousins and I would also ride on the top of my grandparents’ station wagon, with our legs dangling down through the sunroof as it bounced down dirt roads. Since there was only room for two or three of us on top, competition was fierce.
Riding on the running boards of their pickup was also a coveted spot. I bet the kids stuck riding inside of the car were the unlucky ones.
I used to get rides on the running boards and roof rack of our VW. Can’t imagine today’s parents conceiving, let alone allowing such a thing.
If the Joads had gone east instead of west, they would have won the first full-scale soap box derby.
Bill set out to prove that mass transit could be made profitable in the midwest.
Okay, I’d like to know what Ralph Nader think about that?
In the Bickerson family, the calling of “shotgun” for a ride in the front seat usually resulted in an argument.
The folks weren’t kidding when they said they were leaving NOW! Fortunately, the kids were able to catch up.
Once on the way back from a keg party in my 1935 Dodge sedan, my crazy friend climbed out through the front window and stood on the running board. Ah, to be 18 again….
Watch that speed bump!