History Low Riders, Zoots Suiters and "Pachucos"

We all just need to get along.

 

This was my experience a couple weeks ago, went to a lowrider show, had a great time.
Keeping on topic, a few pictures...photo quality attributed to Modelo.

 

You have to admire the time, effort, planning, and thought processes of some of these paint jobs. Solid color cars that look like glass and the multi color jobs that use miles of tape.

 

Growing up around racing, hot rods and cruising I got to see and absorb the car culture. There are many facets of the hobby. Some of this culture can be lost unless you're involved with a social group/ club.
Lucky for me, I still get to see and I still get a charge when I see these cruises. The sirens are annoying as hell but they are part of the this thread's culture.
Martin Tudor Park here on Sierra Ave. is loaded with the bombs, low riders and customs on the weekends.
Anyway, here is a video that fit's this thread. Enjoy...

 

Love it!

 

am i wrong, or was the problem with zoot-suiters that they were perceived as draft dodgers or something along those lines? that era was just a bit before my time...

 

@dan c i had to do some googling to get a better idea of the meanings and what occurred.

 

The major problem was the material used for the suits. A lot of material was banned for use for the war effort. Wool, silk etc. With these guy's wearing the materials, it was considered to be a slap in the G.I.'s face.
As far as being draft dodgers? No. That wasn't a main issue as a lot of the Pachucos/ Zoot Suiters were way under age.
It turned into a race/ cultural thing.
In the military channels we have a guy who goes by the name of JODY. When troops go off to war, Jody steps in to try to take their place. Jody is a punk ass snake and the G.I.'s thought these guy's could have been chasing their women. Anyway, this was also a reason for the riots.
"Ain't no reason to go home, Jody's got your girl and gone"
These reasons are only small reasons for what happened.

 

In the 50's where I lived and played, L.A. El Monte, Tujunga Ca. the look was Kakies, Knit Suspenders, tucked in white "T" shirts with an overcoat and Spit shined French Toes. This was the mid to late 50's and was the thing at El Monte Legion Stadium Dance and Shows featuring Johnny Otis, Art Laboe, Hunter Hancock produced dances. Acts like The Coasters, Jacks, Chuck Higgins, Joe Turner, Big "J" Mc Neeley, Don and Dewey etc.. Everybody was "High Zoot". Great times it was, cars were Kustoms, lowriders were not invented yet. they came along later. Oh Ya, and a half pint tucked in your socks so you could smuggle it into the dance. JW

 

Estimated between 400-500k latino men served during WW2
Uncountable numbers of Latinos, including women, served in home front duties in war plants, civil defense and Red Cross and related.
Zoot Suit riot in cliff note form: (From the WW2 museum)



WW2 recruitment in Spanish

 

El Tio Sam

 

You should put it on your bucket list to ride in a Lowrider. Reactions I get from people---- A form of vocabulary that I don`t hear too often. In a good way.

 

Usually Mad Dog, Night Train, or Ripple Pagan Pink. And don't forget the girl's hair style., stacked high on the top. Good times.

 

The last place that still sells Zoot cloths is Greenspans on Tweety Blvd in South Gate, check them out on the net.

Greenspan's (greenspansstore.com)

My current rig, a pre lowrider

 

If you've never been to a cruise, Just go!
Take the family.
Take Mom and Dad.

 

Laying down the cruising rules.
A Good watch.

 

Doubtful if very many people here would recognize a Pachuco tat. My barber is 83 years old and has one that is very faint. We’ve had some very interesting conversations on the subject.

 

Pachuco Cross with the 3 little accent marks between thumb and first finger done with India ink and a needle by hand was the 50's deal.
My rig. pre lowrider chopped convert

 

Other than the cars, how about staying out of their lifestyles. It will lead to yet another (surprise) thread closing due to bickering & gate keepers.

 

Who's bickering? I don't see it.
Any cruising is about life styles.
What the thread turned into is the history behind the cruise and the outfits that fit the cruise. If people can't comprehend then maybe they are the ones who need to stay away from this.
Blues4u has the right idea.

 

Hey can anyone post the James Parsons from the Far Side cartoon about the first low rider?

 

Originally only offered on panel trucks and very pricy if you could find a set. I believe it's currently being re-popped.

https://www.chevsofthe40s.com/detail/42306/Deluxe_Fender_Mouldings_Front_And_Rear_12Pc_Set.html

Also, a good film about the low-n-slow car culture with a lot of bombs in it

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/La_Mission_(film)

 

I don't know the one you're referring to, but Gary Larson did the Far Side.

 

Sorry guys you are correc Gary Larson is the correct name. It's a hilarious cartoon I wish I could post it

 

I love Bombs and always stop to look at them.

My first encounter was when a group of them came rolling into the Pomona swap meet early 90s. I was a probably 13 or so.

I heard this noise that sounded like I was about to be divebombed by a P51 Mustang or the like….it was the kool Kats in those bombs rapping those 235s and 1” pipes to the moon….

I’ll never forget the sound and how cool they were!

 

I'm not sure what connection the Rock Group The Who has to this topic , but I'm reading that this is the 1st song they released (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Zoot_Suit/I'm_the_Face )here is a video with the song

 

I do remember this tune. Sounds close to "Secret Agent Man"

 

Some Interesting stuff here
http://kustomrama.com/wiki/Lowrider