Tips for Single Ladies (1938)

Mary · Feb 18, 2010

He's plain boring and she's a laugh. They would never hit it off. As true in the thirties as today.

*Schatzi* · Feb 18, 2010

Now I know why I am single. If only I had read this earlier.

Carlisle Blues · Feb 18, 2010

The man is a bore, but, I do not think having a drunk for a date is any more fun.[huh] [huh] Especially if she soils my shoes....

lol

Story · Feb 18, 2010

Carlisle Blues said:
I like it!!!! Here is more. A thread has already been started.

Ya know, I *thought* I saw this before on FL. Ran '1938' and 'dating' as search terms, came up with bupkis and started this thread.

Hey Bartender, can I get a thread merge over here?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZzP0GCILr7c

Story · Feb 18, 2010

Mary said:
He's plain boring and she's a laugh. They would never hit it off. As true in the thirties as today.

Actually, kinda looks like he slipped her a roofie but like you intimated, plus ca change plus la meme chose.

Diamondback · Feb 19, 2010

I'm gonna call "Bull" on a lot of this--if I'm dating a girl, the world shouldn't revolve around me just for being a guy, and since I can't read people she's gotta tell me point-blank what's on her mind, including if it looks like we have potential for a next date or longer-term situation. However, I'll agree about the passing-out drunk part... I don't have a lotta upper-body strength (darn misshapen shoulders) to carry her home, and there's no fun in spending time with a functional-zombie, y'know? Schatzi, don't let 'em get ya down... not everything about the "Golden Era" was truly "Golden", especially for those who couldn't or wouldn't display anything less than slavish adherence to The Norm.

HadleyH · Feb 19, 2010

I mentioned this one on the other thread before, but in my opinion, this is the worst habit of them all.

... he is angry... and i dont blame him! shakeshead

Diamondback · Feb 19, 2010

Hadley, good point--that's one of the valid issues. Crying's fine if there's really a problem or I'm Failing The Objective that badly, but do it just to manipulate me and you've hit a fast-track to cheesing me off. I will try to be polite about making that status known, but if first notice goes unheeded it will be quickly followed with a "showstopper warning"...

Baron Kurtz · Feb 19, 2010

I've never met a woman who cried to manipulate me. Maybe i've just been lucky? I always assumed my experience was typical, and that the "manipulative female" stereotype was just for the movies.

(Note: I have seen the American dating scene in action in a college town in Indiana. Boy am i happy i never had to deal with all that rubbish. Awkward, awkward, awkward, with unbelievably strange expectations on both parts. I know a guy, for example, who broke up with a girl because she offered to split the bill. How dare she question his ability to pay!! What's the point of it all, really?)

bk

Carlisle Blues · Feb 19, 2010

Baron Kurtz said:
I've never met a woman who cried to manipulate me. Maybe i've just been lucky? I always assumed my experience was typical, and that the "manipulative female" stereotype was just for the movies.

(Note: I have seen the American dating scene in action in a college town in Indiana. Boy am i happy i never had to deal with all that rubbish. Awkward, awkward, awkward, with unbelievably strange expectations on both parts. I know a guy, for example, who broke up with a girl because she offered to split the bill. How dare she question his ability to pay!! What's the point of it all, really?)

bk

I remember watching the 1964 movie "Sex and The Single Girl" with Natalie Wood and she used what seemed to be fake tears to manipulate Tony Curtis. Total cheese..

I am more weary of the ones who use other means to manipulate or otherwise use their partner for selfish ends..

Sweet Caroline · Aug 10, 2010

Love the...

Expressions on the models! That would be a fun photoshoot

sportell · Sep 14, 2010

Wow is that ever sexist. I can't imagine it would even be sound advice for the times, in most of the cases. Yes, don't attempt to manipulate the guy or ruin his hanky. That's just rude. Also, using his car mirror is definitely not safe. Maybe that's why the passenger side has its own mirror now?

But really? Don't show affection? Don't talk to other men? If I did that, my Fella would want to know what the heck was wrong with me. He loves little shows of affection and he'd fear my self-esteem was taking a nose-dive if I didn't talk to others. Were men really so shallow back then? I wouldn't be surprised if this was actually written by a prudish older woman and not by someone of that generation. That's how these articles usually were written.

Pompidou · Sep 14, 2010

I might bring a copy of this on my next first date, and point out rule violations when conversation dwindles, IE: "Don't drink to much. Man expects you to keep your dignity all evening," enunciated in the obligatory Tarzan-speak, because, apparently, that's what "Man does".

LordBest · Sep 14, 2010

I must say that if I were on a date, I would be on my best behaviour and not go getting drunk and flirt with other girls, and I would expect my date to pay me the same courtesy.

Some of the advice may be sound, but the overall tone is quite obnoxious.

Pompidou · Sep 14, 2010

Out of the frying pan and into the fire - follow those rules just right and then you get to follow these.

HadleyH · Sep 16, 2010

Some rules are ok... some others are plain wrong!

they say don't be familiar .... but hey! this is the headwaiter!!!!!!!!!!!!! he gets you a good table! he serves you promptly! he gives you the best food!!!!!
OMG be nice to the headwaiter for heavens sake!

now, this one .... i totally agree !!! ....it bores me to death when people bring up clothes like that! how gauche!

de-stressed · Sep 16, 2010

Pompidou said:
Out of the frying pan and into the fire - follow those rules just right and then you get to follow these.

Thanks for the laugh!
There's just so many things wrong with this, I don't know where to start lol
The 13th one down is just brutal!

Nik Taylor · Sep 16, 2010

This happened.........

This reminds me of a girl I dated once. I was wearing a pocket square and she plucked it from my suit jacket and then put it to her nose and soiled it. I worked on it and ironed it then folded it. She did not even ask permission. When I told her the purpose of a pocket square she just did not get it.

That spoiled the whole night and I never saw her after that..

Gilboa · Oct 5, 2010

Baron Kurtz said:
And for god's sake don't have an opinion. Man hates that. I love the amount of third person reference to "man" going on in those pictures.

Man, times were bad for women …

bk

Most steps in that guide seem to me common sense, even now, appart from:

"Men deserve, desire your entire attention" - A two way street.

"Please and flatter your date by talking about things he wants to talk about" - And yet another two way street.

I am afraid a male individual that thought (thinks) 9 & 10 are naturally meant to be one-way, very obviously cannot deal with a head-strong woman. To me he would most likely come accross as dull, mundane, repetitive. I could not endure such company for very long, at most until after the aperitive!

Looks like I would have been on the shelf forever in those days, and quite happily so! lol

Geesie · Oct 6, 2010

I don't think he's particularly upset... lol

Tips for Single Ladies (1938)

Practically Family

Familiar Face

My Mail is Forwarded Here

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

My Mail is Forwarded Here

New in Town

New in Town

One Too Many

Practically Family

One Too Many

I'll Lock Up

New in Town

One of the Regulars

One of the Regulars

Practically Family

Similar threads

Log in

Forum statistics