The Ford Barn

t-head · 05-22-2014, 06:47 AM

Ralph De Palma is seen here with some of his young followers at a Ford Lawn Party. This is one of two wonderful images showing the legendary driver and his young followers at a Ford event in a 1934 Roadster.

We are trying to learn more about these promotional get-togethers. See both images and many more of De Palma's racing career and let us know if you have any knowledge of them at The Old Motor.

V8COOPMAN · 05-22-2014, 11:17 AM

Can't help but wonder if any of those kids went-on to be a B-17 driver. DD

ford38v8 · 05-22-2014, 11:34 AM

Something about kids faces from the '30's... beyond the clothes that date the picture, just the faces alone stand out as being from a time of innocence, don't they?

With all of our modern advances, are we any happier or better off because we know about world events as they happen, or that we can ski in the Alps in the morning and attend a Hawaiiian Luau that evening?

BILL WZOREK · 05-22-2014, 02:37 PM

Freckle face Kids / a thing of the past ~ Adams apples of the young teens / Gone also.

REAL Gasoline / A thing of the past LOL / LOL

russcc · 05-22-2014, 06:56 PM

Notice the kids don't have their nose in some phone, and are very much alive and experiencing real life.

Fe26 · 05-22-2014, 08:22 PM

Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements)

...and no designer clothes and no 'attitude'

Tim Ayers · 05-22-2014, 08:47 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Fe26

...and no designer clothes and no 'attitude'

Not sure I agree. The kids in the front look like fun loving kids. Especially the little girl in the lower right hand corner. I bet she gave her parents a run for their money.

The one behind the driver looks like Butch from the Little Rascals.

BILLF/TRF · 05-22-2014, 09:14 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by V8COOPMAN

Can't help but wonder if any of those kids went-on to be a B-17 driver. DD

My Dad would have been a few years older than those kids and he did pilot B-17's in WWII. I'll bet some of those kids , now grammas and grampas are still alive today!

19Fordy · 05-22-2014, 10:10 PM

It's so refreshing to the days when kids were kids and enjoyed being kids - not miniature adults.

Tim Ayers · 05-22-2014, 10:14 PM

Does that beanie that the kid in the lower center has on have a name? Is it just called a beanie? I love those types of hats.

dumb person · 05-23-2014, 01:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILL WZOREK

Freckle face Kids / a thing of the past ~ Adams apples of the young teens / Gone also.

What happened to freckles? Come to think of it i have not seen someone with them in a while either..

FL&WVMIKE · 05-23-2014, 10:13 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by dumb person

What happened to freckles? Come to think of it i have not seen someone with them in a while either..

You just do not get freckles, playing video games or hanging out at the mall.
Love that 1934 roadster !
MIKE (mikeburch)

V8COOPMAN · 05-23-2014, 10:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by BILLF/TRF

My Dad would have been a few years older than those kids and he did pilot B-17's in WWII. I'll bet some of those kids , now grammas and grampas are still alive today!

My dad was 19 when he went into the right seat of a B-17. DD

CC33 · 05-23-2014, 12:40 PM

Those kids look like a Norman Rockwell portrait. I don't think you could capture the same effect with todays youth.

Brad Boyer · 05-23-2014, 06:47 PM

Those kids are typical 30's children...they have known deprivation. Look at the shoes of the kid sitting behind the driver...But they have hope..mainly because of FDR. The aristocract that really cared for the average American and his family!! Need an FDR today!!

Brad Boyer · 05-23-2014, 06:56 PM

That's right!!! The children of the 30's who grew up with nothing..And went on to fight in the Greatest War...If they survived.. they became the most prosperous and and well off generation!! Thank God!! They deserved it, as did my Mom and Dad..and countless Moms and Dads!! The Greatest Generation!! A much deserved moniker!!

Tim Ayers · 05-23-2014, 07:46 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Boyer

Those kids are typical 30's children...they have known deprivation. Look at the shoes of the kid sitting behind the driver...But they have hope..mainly because of FDR. The aristocract that really cared for the average American and his family!! Need an FDR today!!

Great pick up. Didn't notice the shoes at first.

FL&WVMIKE · 05-24-2014, 10:57 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Brad Boyer

Those kids are typical 30's children...they have known deprivation. Look at the shoes of the kid sitting behind the driver...But they have hope..mainly because of FDR. The aristocract that really cared for the average American and his family!! Need an FDR today!!

These kid's families did not think that the government owed them a living.
FDR provived them jobs, through great work projects, such as the WPA and the CCC Camps, etc.
MIKE (mikeburch)

t-head · 05-24-2014, 01:09 PM

Thanks to reader Ivan Pozega from Australia we figured out that the Ford Lawn Party was a 3-day affair, you can read all the interesting details here in our comments:

http://theoldmotor.com/?p=120653#comments

Has anyone heard of a Ford Lawn Party being held in other cities??

BlueSunoco · 05-24-2014, 08:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 19Fordy

It's so refreshing to the days when kids were kids and enjoyed being kids - not miniature adults.

Amen to that..... I wondered too, if any of those little fellows made it thru the War, who was killed, who was injured........

05-22-2014, 06:47 AM	#1
t-head Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: In my machine shop. Posts: 1,047	Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Ralph De Palma is seen here with some of his young followers at a Ford Lawn Party. This is one of two wonderful images showing the legendary driver and his young followers at a Ford event in a 1934 Roadster. We are trying to learn more about these promotional get-togethers. See both images and many more of De Palma's racing career and let us know if you have any knowledge of them at The Old Motor. Last edited by t-head; 05-22-2014 at 06:53 AM.

05-22-2014, 11:17 AM	#2
V8COOPMAN Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: East Shore of LAKE HOUSTON Posts: 11,130	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Can't help but wonder if any of those kids went-on to be a B-17 driver. DD __________________ *Click Links Below* __ ▼ *'35-'36 W/8BA & MECHANICAL FAN* *T5 W/TORQUE TUBE*

05-22-2014, 11:34 AM	#3
ford38v8 Senior Member Join Date: Jul 2011 Location: SF Bay Area Posts: 6,680	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Something about kids faces from the '30's... beyond the clothes that date the picture, just the faces alone stand out as being from a time of innocence, don't they? With all of our modern advances, are we any happier or better off because we know about world events as they happen, or that we can ski in the Alps in the morning and attend a Hawaiiian Luau that evening? __________________ Alan

05-22-2014, 02:37 PM	#4
BILL WZOREK Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Florence Ma. Posts: 2,404	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Freckle face Kids / a thing of the past ~ Adams apples of the young teens / Gone also. REAL Gasoline / A thing of the past LOL / LOL

05-22-2014, 06:56 PM	#5
russcc Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Posts: 2,871	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Notice the kids don't have their nose in some phone, and are very much alive and experiencing real life.

05-22-2014, 08:22 PM	#6
Fe26 Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Sydney, Australia Posts: 949	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Sponsored Links (Register now to hide all advertisements) ...and no designer clothes and no 'attitude'

05-22-2014, 10:10 PM	#9
19Fordy Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: Coral Springs FL Posts: 11,026	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? It's so refreshing to the days when kids were kids and enjoyed being kids - not miniature adults.

05-22-2014, 10:14 PM	#10
Tim Ayers Senior Member Join Date: May 2010 Location: NJ Posts: 6,271	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Does that beanie that the kid in the lower center has on have a name? Is it just called a beanie? I love those types of hats.

05-23-2014, 12:40 PM	#14
CC33 Senior Member Join Date: Jan 2011 Location: Massachusetts Posts: 465	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Those kids look like a Norman Rockwell portrait. I don't think you could capture the same effect with todays youth.

05-23-2014, 06:47 PM	#15
Brad Boyer Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: South Carolina Posts: 16	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Those kids are typical 30's children...they have known deprivation. Look at the shoes of the kid sitting behind the driver...But they have hope..mainly because of FDR. The aristocract that really cared for the average American and his family!! Need an FDR today!!

05-23-2014, 06:56 PM	#16
Brad Boyer Junior Member Join Date: Aug 2013 Location: South Carolina Posts: 16	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? That's right!!! The children of the 30's who grew up with nothing..And went on to fight in the Greatest War...If they survived.. they became the most prosperous and and well off generation!! Thank God!! They deserved it, as did my Mom and Dad..and countless Moms and Dads!! The Greatest Generation!! A much deserved moniker!!

05-24-2014, 01:09 PM	#19
t-head Senior Member Join Date: Jun 2010 Location: In my machine shop. Posts: 1,047	Re: Ever Heard of the mid 1930s Ford Lawn Partys? Thanks to reader Ivan Pozega from Australia we figured out that the Ford Lawn Party was a 3-day affair, you can read all the interesting details here in our comments: http://theoldmotor.com/?p=120653#comments Has anyone heard of a Ford Lawn Party being held in other cities??