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October 1938. "Boys at the National Rice Festival parade. Crowley, Louisiana." Photo by Russell Lee for the Farm Security Administration. View full size.
Crowley couldn't have been a very big place in 1938 (or 2012 for that matter.) Perhaps someone from there actually knew these guys and could provide their story; I also agree that the 2 on the left are very likely brothers.
with older brother as escort sporting teeth as nice as photos in a dentist's office.
I suspect from his lack of expression, that the middle boy is blind and the boy on the left is explaining what's happening.
I believe the guys are trying to impress, amuse or aggravate a girl or a group of girls just out of the picture. All worthy causes for boys of that age group.
The rice straw is most probably on a float, as in the picture of the contestants. So these boys were either on a float or next to one. Given the pose, and the laughing third boy, I think they were hamming it up for the camera. Perhaps an exaggerated gaze and stance which drew a chuckle from number three.
[It's a fence lining the parade route. - Dave]
They look like brothers to me.
The Rice Festival is still held in Crowley, La.
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's....
I'd bet a pound of Popcorn rice that this is their first date.
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