Buzz
The 1950s and 1960s marked an era of simplicity in America, where traditional gender roles were deeply ingrained—men were the providers, and women were expected to maintain the household. However, this didn’t mean life was without its challenges. From mastering the art of baking a cake to ensuring your overworked husband could unwind, or even handling the audacious women who dared to venture into the workforce, there were plenty of societal expectations. Thankfully, a series of instructional films were produced to guide the youth through the complexities of mid-20th-century life.
10. The Relaxed Wife (1957)
This film perfectly captures the stark contrast between the overburdened, stressed-out husband and his carefree, serene wife. After a grueling day at work, he’s bombarded with chaos—screaming children, endless arguments, and even a cup of tea that’s too hot. How can he possibly relax? Enter his wife, who, with her effortless calm, shares her wisdom on managing stress. She hands him a book on relaxation techniques and guides him through mental and physical exercises, all designed to help him achieve her level of tranquility.
Despite her own challenges—raising children, managing household chores—she remains unflappable, letting life’s troubles resolve themselves. And if all else fails, modern medicine offers a solution, transforming anxiety into serenity and ensuring even the most tense husband can find his way to a state of blissful relaxation, culminating in a satisfying end to the day.
9. Boys Beware (1961)
Produced collaboratively by the Inglewood, California school district and police department, *Boys Beware* is a jarring short film that highlights the perceived threat of homosexuals. The narrative follows Jimmy, a naive teenager who frequently hitchhikes home after baseball games. What seems like an innocent habit takes a dark turn when he accepts a ride from Ralph, an older man who initially appears friendly. Their casual acquaintance soon escalates into fishing trips, exposure to explicit material, and visits to motels, leading Jimmy down a dangerous path.
Jimmy’s story takes a grim turn as he becomes ensnared in a troubling relationship with Ralph, who is portrayed as mentally disturbed. Thankfully, Jimmy recognizes the danger and confides in his parents, who intervene to have Ralph arrested. The film emphasizes that Jimmy was fortunate, as not all homosexuals are depicted as “passive.” It warns that some might abduct boys from public spaces or use deceitful tactics to lure them into cars. Public restrooms are also flagged as potential hotspots for such predatory behavior, urging boys to remain vigilant.
8. Cooking: Terms And What They Mean (1949)
Set in 1949, this film introduces Margie, a newlywed struggling to adapt to her role as a homemaker. Determined to impress her hardworking husband with a home-cooked meal, she faces the challenge of deciphering basic culinary terms. Despite her efforts to replicate his mother’s recipes, Margie finds herself baffled by instructions like “stir” and “cream,” highlighting the gap between her enthusiasm and her kitchen skills.
Thankfully, this educational film, created in collaboration with the University of Kansas’s Department of Home Economics, comes to the rescue. Margie will master all the essential culinary terms required to excel as a homemaker. From stirring and folding to boiling (and identifying the right bubbles), she’ll even grasp the concept of “kneading dough.” A competent wife must also know how to stew and simmer meats, though things get tricky when terms encompass multiple actions. The film also imparts a moral: consult the glossary, and ensure that cake is perfect by lunchtime if you want to keep your husband’s affection.
7. The Trouble With Women (1959)
Aimed at plant supervisors, *The Trouble With Women* delves into the challenges of managing female employees in the workplace. The film opens during a training session, where a woman struggles to operate a machine with two knobs. Frustrated by her inability to grasp the task, the supervisor confronts the personnel manager, demanding an end to the “experiment” and requesting a male replacement.
The supervisor vents about his other female staff: they frequently leave to get married, resist adapting to changes, and clutter the workspace with beauty products. Despite the personnel manager’s argument that women are detail-oriented and capable workers, the supervisor remains skeptical. He laments that trained female employees often don’t show up, and retraining is a hassle since they supposedly lack the comprehension skills of their male counterparts.
6. Snap Out Of It! (1951)
Howard, a typical high school student, has dedicated the entire year to boosting his academic performance. However, when report cards are released, he only achieves a B, falling short of the A he believes he earned. This disappointment sends him into a spiral of self-doubt, and he refuses to show the report card to his parents. His failure to return it to his teacher lands him in the principal’s office, where he explains his frustration. The principal offers sage advice: others won’t always value his efforts as he does, and that’s not their fault. Life doesn’t always go as planned, and while aiming high is commendable, it’s important to accept setbacks gracefully—because life isn’t fair, and that’s simply how it is.
Howard observes classmates struggling with their own emotional turmoil, all resulting from setting lofty goals and failing to achieve them. The film’s message is clear: embrace mediocrity to avoid the sting of disappointment when things don’t go your way.
5. Easy Does It (1940)
This short film explores the question of how much effort the “little woman” truly puts into her daily tasks, saving its main point for the conclusion. It praises the modern woman through thinly veiled compliments, highlighting her ability to type all day and still return home to cook on tired feet. Women are shown climbing stairs repeatedly, carrying cleaning supplies, doing laundry, mending clothes, and ironing their husbands’ shirts countless times.
Men, the film suggests, are the ones who invent labor-saving devices like sewing machines to ease women’s burdens. They’ve also simplified driving, enabling women to take the wheel instead of relying on chauffeurs. Older cars were too cumbersome for women, but thanks to men’s ingenuity, driving has become manageable. Now, women have energy to spare for applying makeup—until men inevitably find a way to streamline that, too.
4. Why Study Home Economics? (1955)
This film emphasizes the importance of home economics education for young women, as they are expected to become homemakers. It argues that a solid foundation in this subject is essential for maintaining a household and ensuring their husbands’ happiness. The school’s guidance counselor explains that home economics isn’t just about cleaning; it also covers preparing nutritious meals, sewing or purchasing appropriate clothing, and decorating homes, whether modest or grand.
Home economics isn’t exclusive to girls—boys are also encouraged to enroll in courses that teach financial management and basic construction. When a student questions what happens if she remains unmarried, the counselor acknowledges this possibility. Even if she attends college, home economics provides valuable skills, such as understanding chemistry. Post-college, she might work before marrying, making these skills indispensable. The film concludes that home economics is a lifelong asset, as others will always rely on her homemaking abilities.
3. Social Class In America (1957)
This short film examines the stratification of American society. From birth, individuals are placed into social classes. Gilford Ames III, for example, is born into privilege, residing in a mansion with a bright future. In contrast, Ted Eastwood represents the middle class, with a father in a stable but unremarkable job. Meanwhile, Dave Benton embodies the lower class, born into a family with modest aspirations like renting a home and securing a basic education.
The film traces the lives of these individuals as they navigate their predetermined social classes. Gil, from the upper class, is sent to college to mingle with his peers, while Ted is steered away from his aspirations and into a mundane office job. Dave, on the other hand, is praised for quickly securing a job at a gas station. Ted eventually pursues his dreams, working tirelessly to escape his dead-end job and seizing opportunities in New York City. Yet, back home, he remains firmly middle-class, with no escape from his social standing. The film’s message is clear: no matter what you achieve, the class you’re born into defines your place in society—welcome to the American dream.
2. Alcohol Is Dynamite (1958)
Two high school students approach reporter Tom, asking him to buy them beer for a party. Tom refuses and proceeds to explain why they should be grateful they can’t purchase alcohol. He describes alcohol as a potent narcotic that directly targets the brain’s reasoning abilities. To drive his point home, Tom recounts the story of three other high school boys: a musician, a basketball player, and a boy known only for his wealthy father.
Paul, the musician, convinces the group to start drinking. Though they initially dislike it, they soon become addicted. However, the risks are severe—even a small amount of alcohol in the bloodstream can render someone unable to stand, and a slightly higher concentration can be fatal. The boys quickly spiral into daily drunkenness, with the basketball player losing his spot on the team and the rich kid relying on his father to bail him out of jail.
Alcohol becomes their crutch, and they encourage others to drink, as drinkers often resent those who abstain. The trio’s reckless behavior escalates, culminating in a drunken drive to the hospital with an unconscious friend, leaving chaos in their wake. While some recover, others fall into poverty, but the resilient ones manage to break free from the destructive cycle of alcohol dependency.
1. A Word To The Wives (1955)
Jane visits her friend Dawn one morning and is introduced to Dawn’s modern, cutting-edge kitchen and laundry room. Instead of feeling happy for her friend, Jane becomes disheartened by her own outdated home. However, Jane’s mother falls ill, requiring her to stay with her for a few days. This gives Jane’s husband the chance to experience firsthand the challenges of maintaining their old, inefficient house.
Following her friend’s advice, Jane ensures her husband faces the full brunt of homemaking difficulties. Predictably, he struggles with even the simplest tasks—taking out the trash results in a mess, cabinets jam, pots boil over unattended, and the ice cube tray is perpetually empty. When little Jimmy takes a bath, there’s no hot water. The weekend becomes a disaster. After enduring this ordeal and witnessing the convenience of their friends’ new kitchen appliances, Jane’s husband is so convinced of the benefits that he doesn’t mind being persuaded to remodel their kitchen for her.
