Thursday, December 22, 2016

Mental Hygiene Film: What to Do on a Date

In a bygone era, once teens started dating, there was the universal question "What to do?" As part of the Zeitgeist of that era, training movies to be shown in schools instructed teens on what to do on a date. Here's a 1950's vintage Mental Hygiene film on "What to Do on a Date." See how a clueless, somewhat shy guy learns how to do it: 

These mental hygiene films were made in a different time, in which different dating practices took place. This film, unfortunately, has Jason and the Bots making cheap wisecracks added to it that were added to be annoying. Still, if you ignore them, you can get the oh-so-serious didactic approach to this early training film. I wonder how well these films were received. My guess is that they were with relief, as they substituted for an ordinary class.





By way of contrast, here are 100 ideas suggested by for young adults by Cosmopolitan magazine. The bed and breakfast date idea seems over the top, particularly for a first date! 


9 comments:

Mike said...

In Cosmo the 90's hold out the most hope. The rest are just no.

Chuck the Grumpy Cat said...

That film was totally lame. The kid is clueless.

Blue Grumpster said...

What can I say? Time for a reboot? Don't you love that word: swell?

Gorilla Bananas said...

To cut a long story short, don't have sex. Was that the subtext of the 1950s film?

Cloudia said...

Vintage film, Hollywood classics, pre-code stuff, industrial films, stuff like this one today: are where we can SEE history living walking around breathing! Closest thing to time travel if one - as you are - is sensitive enough to really perceive the zeitgeist breathing before you. TCM is a treasure trove. Thanks for the great post, and for giving me the opportunity to share with you, Angel. You are always a pleasure. Wishing you a happy season. I'll be here ;)

Rammer Jammer Yellow Hammer said...

When is he going to get Kay's knickers off?

Clarissa said...

Going to the ballet can inspire lustful longings.

Stephen T. McCarthy said...

>>... The bed and breakfast date idea seems over the top, particularly for a first date!

Oh, I couldn't agree more! I NEVER have breakfast with a woman on the first date.

I texted the following to a few friends some months back:

I really hate tattoos on women. So, one time I was sucking on this woman's toes when I suddenly noticed that she had small ankle tattoos. I yelled, "Get dressed and get out! We won't be going on that first date after all!"

My friends just thought: Stephen bein' Stephen.

~ D-FensDogG
'Loyal American Underground'

eViL pOp TaRt said...

Ah, mon ami Stephen McCarthy: I once went on a breakfast date. No prelims to it. Just breakfast. It was civilized. Chicory coffee and beignets was to be had. Other times a brunch date may be tried, if it is not a work day.