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December 1940. San Diego, California. "Three boys from Los Angeles who are looking for work. A friend who is already employed told them that they could make twenty dollars a week as laborers and they plan to save some money to go to school in hopes of getting in an airplane factory. The following conversation with their friend was overheard:
"You can go to work before noon tomorrow. Just go out where you see some work and apply."
"We can sure use the money."
"It's up to you fellows, you just got to hustle."
"We done plenty of that."
Medium format negative by Russell Lee. View full size.
That kid in the middle has such a California face. He's a combination of Olympic high-jumper Dwight Stones, Dave Stollery of the Disney show "Spin and Marty," and Dean Torrence of the singing group Jan & Dean, all from Southern California.
Is to go to Hollywood and they'll be stars with those James Dean looks.
Our boy in the middle looks amazingly like a young James Coburn.
There will be more work than you can imagine.
With those outfits this photo looks like it could have been taken today.
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