Re: tights and stockings

So Jan 10, 2021 10:24 am

Hi Polly,

so sind Männer halt.
Ich kenne sie zwangsläufig.
Aber du wirst das schon schaffen.

Syl
Moni

Di Feb 09, 2021 8:29 pm

Di Feb 09, 2021 10:01 pm

Hi Polly,

das ist ja der Wahnsinn.
Damit ist der endgültige Beweis erbracht, wie nützlich doch Tights sind.
Nicht nur als Kleidungsstück zu verwenden, sogar für dutzende andere Gelegenheiten.

Syl
Moni

Fr Feb 12, 2021 12:02 am

Liebe Leser

Traumberuf Stewardess Laufsteg über den Wolken

Von wegen Saftschubsen! Auf dem höchsten Laufsteg der Welt trugen Stewardessen früher nicht nur Verantwortung für die Passagiere, sondern auch richtige Gläser und adrette Kostüme. Als Fliegen noch als Privileg galt, waren immer auch Glamour, Stil und Sexappeal mit an Bord.
Von Sebastian Heilig
22.05.2008, 23.16 Uhr

tights and stockings - Seite 4 40529692zj

tights and stockings - Seite 4 40529692zj

Erinnern Sie sich an Ihren Traumberuf als Kind? Feuerwehrmann, Lokomotivführer oder Pilot - Klassiker bei den Jungs. Bei den Mädchen: Entweder Prinzessin oder Stewardess. Was den Glamourfaktor anging, war das lange fast das Gleiche. Stewardessen waren nicht irgendwer, sondern echte Elite: ehemalige Mannequins (wie Models noch genannt wurden), die elegant geschnittene Kostüme und kecke Hütchen trugen, mit denen sie wie Grazia Patricia von Monaco aussahen, mindestens.

Stewardessen flogen in viermotorigen Luxuslinern um den Globus - zu einer Zeit, als andere sich im Familien-Käfer über die Alpen nach Rimini quälen mussten und das für die große weite Welt hielten. Stewardess zu sein, das hieß: zum internationalen Jet-Set zu gehören, im Wortsinn. Montag Shopping in Kopenhagen, Dienstag Piña Colada in Rio, Mittwoch mit Blumenkette am Strand von Honolulu, Donnerstag Disko in Miami, Freitag Café au lait in Paris - dabei immer souverän lächelnd, mit perfekter Frisur und ebenmäßigen Zähnen. Sexy, schon, aber nicht zu sehr.

Heute werden Stewardessen "Flugbegleiterinnen" genannt und rangieren bei den Traumberufen irgendwo zwischen Arzthelferin und Altenpflegerin. Spätestens die Billig-Airlines haben aus dem Glamour- einen Ballermannfaktor gemacht. Statt kosmopolitischem Flair herrscht heute an Bord der Bumsbomber Sonnenstudioatmosphäre, die schick geschnittenen Uniformen von einst sind unförmigen Poloshirts in Hansaplast-Rosé mit Halstüchern in Zahnbelag-Gelb gewichen. Und statt des Drei-Gänge-Menüs, serviert mit einem freundlichen "Guten Appetit!" von rotgeschminkten Lippen, wirft eine lustlose Jobberin mit deutlichem Übergewicht trockenen Marmorkuchen aus der Tüte auf den Klapptisch. Dazu gibt es schale Billigcola im Plastikbecher.

Sky Girls und Cabin Boys

Als der Zeppelin "Schwaben" 1911 mit dem ersten Steward der Luftfahrtgeschichte abhob, servierte der den Fluggästen noch Köstlichkeiten wie Masthuhn, Gänseleberpastete und Malossolkaviar, reichte dazu Champagner, gerne auch ein Likörchen für die Damen oder einen gediegenen Malt als Absacker für die Herren - das Selbstbild seines Berufsstandes war eben noch das des Butlers an Bord.

Eine Frau drang überhaupt erst 20 Jahre später in die Männerdomäne ein - was auch damit zu tun hatte, dass die Flugbegleiter des frühen Flugzeugzeitalters keineswegs nur Drinks servierten, sondern auch Koffer schleppten und die Maschine betankten. Am 15. Mai 1930 trat die 25-jährige Ellen Church im kalifornischen Oakland ihren Job bei "Boeing Air Transport" (BAT), dem Vorgänger von United Airlines, an - die erste Stewardess der Welt. Eigentlich hatte sich die Krankenschwester mit Flugschein als Pilotin beworben, doch es klappte nur mit Plan B: Churchs Argument, dass eine Krankenschwester an Bord doch eine tolle Sache sei, kam an.

Nach nur drei Monaten Testbetrieb mit Church engagierte die Fluglinie gleich sieben weitere junge Damen für den Dienst in den Wolken. Die "Sky Girls", so die offizielle Bezeichnung, verteilten vor dem Start Kaugummis, halfen den Passagieren dabei, ihr Gepäck zu verstauen, und servierten Hühnchen mit Fruchtsalat - zur offenkundigen Zufriedenheit der Fluggäste, doch zum entschiedenen Missfallen der männlichen Kollegen, der "Cabin Boys". Den Herren am Himmel waren die fliegenden Frauen suspekt: Sie seien zu beschäftigt, um sich während des Fluges auch noch um eine "hilflose Frau" zu kümmern, hieß es. Die Rekrutierung weiterer "Sky Girls" führte zu einer Flut von Beschwerdebriefen bei den Fluggesellschaften - Absender waren die Ehefrauen der Piloten.

Über Deutschlands Wolken waren zu diesem Zeitpunkt immer noch Männer für den Service zuständig. Erst 1938 stellte die Lufthansa sogenannte Luftstewardessen ein. Der damalige Verkehrsleiter legte bei der Auswahl viel Wert auf "ungekünstelte Liebenswürdigkeit, Welterfahrenheit und Beherrschtheit in jeder Situation". Diese konnten die Bewerberinnen gleich zu Beginn ihrer Ausbildung während eines "Kunstflugs" unter Beweis stellen: Der Pilot durfte zeigen, was man mit so einem Flugzeug alles anstellen kann. Bewahrten die Bewerberinnen auch während Sturzflug und Steilkurve die Contenance, bestand an ihrer Flugtauglichkeit kein Zweifel mehr. Die Aspirantinnen lernten dann ab 1955 an der in Hamburg eigens dafür gegründeten Stewardessenschule das Handwerkszeug einer Flugbebleiterin - neben Erster Hilfe, Aerodynamik und Etikette stand auf dem Lehrplan auch gerades Gehen in hochhackigen Schuhen.

Hotpants und Heiratsverbot

Wer weiß - das rasante Wachstum der Luftfahrtbranche nach dem Zweiten Weltkrieg war womöglich auch dem Chic der Stewardessen geschuldet. Die aparten jungen Damen, die dem Fluggast jeden Wunsch von den Augen ablasen, erwiesen sich jedenfalls von Anbeginn als zugkräftiges Argument beim Ticketverkauf. Und da die Kunden zumeist männlich waren, legten die Airlines großen Wert auf ein adrettes Äußeres. "Sky Girls" etwa durften nicht älter als 25 Jahre sein und höchstens 43 Kilogramm wiegen, bei einer Körpergröße von maximal 1,65 Meter.

Außerdem mussten sie unverheiratet sein - eine Bedingung, die bei United Airlines noch bis 1968 gültig war. So nahm hoch in den Wolken manche Affäre ihren Anfang, nicht selten auch gleich eine Ehe. Die damals 34-jährige Olympic-Airways-Stewardess Dimitra "Mimi" Liani landete 1988 den vielleicht größten Coup, der je einer Flugbegleiterin gelang, als sie sich den (verheirateten) griechischen Regierungschef Andreas Papandreou an Land zog.

"Sex sells Seats" jedenfalls wurde bei den Airlines früh zu einer erklärten Marketingstrategie - die in den Siebzigern mit dem Modetrend zu Minirock und Hotpants eine durchaus heiße Liaison einging. "Ich schaue mir erst die Beine an, dann wandert mein Blick nach oben", gab ein Sprecher der texanischen South-West Airlines unumwunden zu: "Wenn die Mädchen keine Hotpants tragen können, bekommen sie den Job nicht." Tatsächlich stöckelten South-West-Stewardessen mit orangefarbenen Hotpants und weißen, kniehohen Lackstiefeln durch die Kabine. Ein Krankenschwesterexamen war jetzt nicht mehr notwendig.

Lagerfeld oder Lidl?

Andere Fluglinien setzten auf klassischen Stil und beauftragten namhafte Designer, um Uniformen für ihr Personal entwerfen zu lassen: Coutouriers wie Christian Lacroix, Nina Ricci, Pierre Balmain oder Karl Lagerfeld beherrschen bei den renommierteren Fluglinien noch heute den Laufsteg namens Mittelgang. Wieder andere locken erfolgreich mit exotischen Nationaltrachten: Singapore Airlines etwa machte das in einen traditionellen Sari gewandte "Singapore Girl" bereits 1973 zum festem Markenzeichen - mit so durchschlagendem Erfolg, dass der amerikanische Spielwarenhersteller Mattel 1991 gar eine "Singapore Girl"-Barbie auf den Markt brachte. Dass die "Saftschubsen" und "Düsen" der Billig-Airlines jemals als Barbies verewigt werden, steht kaum zu befürchten.

Aber natürlich gibt es auch ein Leben nach dem Trolley: Unter deutschen Promis tummelt sich so manche Ex-Stewardess: Talkshow-Moderatorin Sabine Christiansen etwa oder die hessische SPD-Chefin und Fast-Ministerpräsidentin Andrea Ypsilanti. Und auch die Nachfolgerin von Alice Schwarzer als "Emma"-Chefredakteurin Lisa Ortgies hat in einem früheren Leben Passagieren mit einem routinierten Lächeln auf den Lippen den korrekten Umgang mit Schwimmweste und Sauerstoffmaske erklärt. Echte Stewardessen sind eben: Elite.
Quelle: Spiegel.de

Monika

Mi Feb 24, 2021 10:11 am

Zwar keinne ich keine einzige dieser abgebildeten Airhostesses, dafür den Vogel von innen. Da der 1. Concord-Flug 1969 stattfand, ist es nicht abwegig davon auszugehen, dass die eine oder andere Flight Attendant prächtige Strümpfe anstatt "borring tights" trug. Mindestens während der Ausbildung war bis 1970 bei der TWA das Tragen eines Hüfthalters mit Strümpfen Pflicht, was auch kontrolliert wurde

Schade dass es kein Comet de Havilland ist, der abgebildet ist, denn dann wären alle Stewardesses in Girdles und Stockings

__________

AUG 4, 2013
Girdles with Garters
GG BABA

My Class with Instructor

On Wednesday, September 2, 1964, I attended an airline graduation as one of the participants, along with 35 others. We were two classes merged together to receive our personalized silver wings. My class totaled 18, and I was the youngest. Just four days earlier at the United Airlines training center, I had turned 20.

As I look back, it is hard to comprehend the speed of time. It is amazing that it has been over 48 years since I entered my first jet plane, a Boeing 720, and flew non-stop from San Francisco to Chicago with five other young women.

We were lucky because we were heading to “Stew School.” We had been accepted into one of the most glamorous career fields that existed for women at that time. I was excited! I was experiencing my first jet flight, my first airline meal, and my first interaction with a real “stewardess.” OMG, I wish I could remember her name. I had a feeling that she felt we were so stupid and unsophisticated – unlike her – and I was. Mindset is everything, and her opinion of herself was extremely high. She taught me a lot on that flight, but mostly how not to be like her.

After we landed and entered O’Hare International Airport, I knew this was the beginning of my own “Yellow Brick Road.” I had already experienced San Francisco’s domestic terminal, but this airport was gigantic! I was now in the middle part of the United States – the farthest I had ever traveled from my home in Stockton, California. Prior to this, the furthest was a car trip to southern Oregon.

As we walked down the long concourse to the baggage claim area, I am sure my heart was pumping faster than normal, probably because I didn’t get much sleep the night before – or even days before – as I stayed out late having fun with my friends and boyfriend. I was tired and running on adrenalin.

While waiting for our bags to come down the chute, I checked my personal letter from United. This letter was filled with directions, and it told me which door to use to exit baggage claim and where to stand curbside while waiting for the gray United bus. Once it arrived, I thought this new adventure would start to wind down, but it only got better as more new hires made it to curbside, arriving on different flights from around the United States. These were the young ladies, who had been selected by United to become stewardesses, and United prided themselves on their “GIRL NEXT DOOR” image, and they liked to hire from every state. What that image actually was we were going to find out over the next five and a half weeks.

When the bus departed from O’Hare, excited and accelerated voices filled the space. This was not a group of shy young women. If we had been, we would not have been on that bus. Instead, conversations were overlapping, filled with high volume laughter.

It took a few minutes to leave the airport area, and once on the road, there were many turns and stoplights. The United complex is listed in Google as being only two miles from O’Hare International Airport, but it seemed like the bus ride took at least 15 minutes. We finally saw the GUARD at the gate of the United complex. As we entered the COMPOUND, we could see a nicely planned industrial park. The two buildings that stood out were the headquarters building and the 2-story training center. Surrounding these modern buildings were manicured lawns, trees and a beautiful man-made lake. I was impressed, but hey, I wasn’t even 20. What would I know? I was impressed I had made it as far as Chicago and had found the correct bus.

As we exited and gathered our bags, and entered the lobby of the training center, we were greeted by a woman whose title was the “House Mother.” Her job was to watch over us like a mother hen. She would be the one we talked with if we got sick, or wanted to leave training and go home, or for any other personal reasons. She was also the one that would be waiting in the lobby on the weekends making sure we made our curfew, which I believe was 11:00 p.m. Even though it initially seemed comforting to be greeted, there was no warm cozy feeling emanating from the building. As I looked around the lobby, I saw few furnishings and the flooring was industrial, high-gloss gray vinyl tile. With so much gray, it seemed cold and sterile. I was becoming aware that this was a very controlled and very structured program. We had just entered “Stew School;” we were now United’s “property.”

It’s complicated turning out a generic “girl next door” (GND) stewardess. It is no easy task, so to do it properly, there must be standardization. This requires very specific rules that must be followed without exception. That is why we had a training manual that was approximately two inches thick. Unfortunately, some of the people in the training center relied too much on that manual. These manual specialists took the printed word seriously and did not mind upsetting those being turned into the GNDs. After all, they knew it was needed, and the feeling of power and control over others was exhilarating. These few rule fanatics were strategically placed to make the operation work. But again, what did I know, I was still 19.

It was time to go up to our rooms and get settled in. We had Sunday to get familiar with our new environment, and our classes would begin on Monday morning.

Memories of “Stew School” are vague, so I consulted with one of my classmates, another who graduated a year later, and another who still lives in the Chicago area. Here is a collage of our memories along with information provided by the Flight Path Learning Center (an airline museum near LAX airport) which shared documents with me written by the United Airlines Historical Foundation. This included information on the 1960’s as well as a United brochure we received when we were recruited.

Our rooms were on the second floor dormitory-style and were quite large. Each room had its own bathroom. Four of us shared a room, so instantly I had three roommates for the next five and a half weeks. The two oldest– in their mid-20’s – were placed in a smaller room where they had more privacy. One had been a practicing nurse and was very attractive. None of us remember having a key to our rooms, so the upstairs must have been very secure. I remember that visitors and guests had to be met in the lobby.

When classes began on Monday, we wore business attire because the United info sheet stated that. In those days pants and jeans were a no-no. Jeans were for cowboys and cowgirls or for those who wanted to emulate “the Fonz” look on “Happy Days.”

On the first floor were the classrooms. Our info sheet told us the room number and time to meet our instructor. Her name was Sharon Ann and besides being a stewardess, she was also a nurse. She was 26 years old, and at the time I wondered why she was not married – she was certainly pretty enough. I mean, really, in those days that was almost an “old maid.” A couple years later when I was based in Miami, I found out our Sharon Ann had been sent off to Stew School to teach because United wanted to separate her from her pilot boyfriend, who she was living with. Those were the days we were not allowed to be married. (She later married her captain, had children, and eventually retired and went back to nursing.)

Even though I was naïve in many ways I had a keen sense of staying away from those who attracted the drama, and there was certainly plenty of that. Many of my classmates had previously had jobs and some had lived on their own, experiencing freedoms that were foreign to me. I on the other hand had just graduated from junior college, lived at home, and only worked part time. I needed to stay focused because I wanted to graduate.

It was fun, though, being around those with super animated personalities, especially those with strong southern accents. The one that stood out was a girl from Mississippi who missed her boyfriend. To relieve some of her anxiety she would make sounds like a rooster up and down the hall. This would make us all laugh. Interestingly, she graduated but only lasted a couple of months before deciding to go home and marry her boyfriend.

The first four weeks of our training focused on the airplanes in our fleet, the services, the location of supplies on the different aircraft, airport routes and codes (example, Portland was PDX), and passenger psychology which was the thread to public relations. We also learned about our “legalities” which had been negotiated and agreed to by the company and our union. These rules and regulations had their own section in our manual. We had a lot to learn about our rights.

A fun part of training was going into cabin mock-ups and playing out different scenarios of what could happen while working a trip. These scenarios were sometimes exaggerated situations with questions like, “What would you do if one of your passengers went into labor?” or “How would you handle a drunk who pulls his pants down in flight?” But often they were reasonable situations like what would you do if a passenger got sick from turbulence and wanted you to sit by him during landing. As these scenarios played out and the questions asked, they watched and listened to our responses and noted our comments.

In the mock up cabins we would also learned about our meal services and how they were to be done. Once again the manual had all the answers. To get an actual feel for the proper procedures, we would serve each other meals under the watchful eyes of our instructors.

When we were not attending classes, we were privy to a wonderful cafeteria which was full of tantalizing food. The assortment of desserts and fattening side dishes were abundant. In a way, it was like the Hansel and Gretel tale, but instead of trying to fatten us up for the kill, they just wanted to test our control. Our grade came every Monday when they weighed us. There were established weight and height limits outlined in the manual. We quickly learned that the manual was “the Bible.” The written words within covered every aspect of our profession.

Included in sculpting us was a beauty consultant who gave guidance on hair style, fashion, make-up, proper body carriage, good posture, and what they called “figure control.” By the time she was through with us, we were ready to compete in the Miss America pageant – like she actually had. The funny thing about all these beauty tips was that highlighted hair was not accepted. My hair had been highlighted, but by graduation day it was deep brown with a red glow – ugh! Our hair could not touch our collars, so we got haircuts. I guess that was better than wearing hair nets while serving food. Eyeliner was not allowed, but we could curl our eye lashes and wear moderate mascara. The lipstick of choice – theirs, of course – was Persian Melon by Revlon. And we were encouraged to wear blue eye shadow. Was that to coincide with the red, white and blue paint job on our aircraft fleet? As for jewelry, we were allowed one watch and one ring. The “girl next door” image was taking hold right before our eyes.

What is really laughable now is how the classrooms were described in our brochure. They said they were cheerful, and we would also have beautiful grounds and facilities which included a swimming pool, tennis courts and a modern exercise room to enjoy in our spare time. The fact is, we had an incredible amount of material to absorb in a short period of time. In those days, there were classes graduating almost weekly, and the program was designed to get us in and out of the training center and on to the airplanes as rapidly as possible. So for me personally, I don’t remember taking advantage of those extra perks, because I was busy studying and memorizing.

As we were getting closer to graduation, we were being fitted for our uniforms. In the summer of 1964, the uniform was designed by Ben Rieg (an international New York couturier) for Fashionnaire – the uniform manufacturer. The uniforms a few years earlier looked similar, but differences were the accessories and the manufacturer. Those ’61 and ’62 classes wore Spectator pumps which were navy blue and white. We were told to buy solid navy blue shoes and were allowed a little shorter skirt – just beneath the knee – WOW, SEXY! My first uniform blouse was made of white cotton, rounded notched lapel, short sleeved with four toggled pearlized buttons down the front. The bottom of the blouse had a zig-zag finished look. The skirt fabric was 100% worsted wool in aqua blue tone, straight design, with back kick pleat and side zipper and bottom closure. The lining was diamond pattern in aqua blue with no pockets. The fitted jacket, same fabric as the skirt, had no collar, three-quarter length sleeves, with three aqua buttons down the front and two vertical pockets. The lining was the same as the skirt with the same label. We also had a full-length aqua raincoat to match our uniform. Our raincoat was lined in aqua blue toned satin. The label for the raincoat read “Ceiling Zero”, styled by Blauer, made in the USA.

There was also the infamous “sugar scoop” hat which we all loved – NOT! But we had to wear it. The reason we were told was that the hat was a symbol of authority and also completed our look. Plus, it came with a hat pin that we were told we could use for minimal protection. This hat was made of worsted wool – aqua blue with multi rows of aqua stitching, trimmed in the back with a narrow aqua gros grain ribbon that ended in a center bow. A matching material hat pin was included. Part of the jewelry allowed was a silver logo half-wing pin which was worn on the left side of the hat. All our uniform costs including undergarments would be taken our of our pay checks monthly until they were paid off. But after this initial cost, new uniform items were not our responsibility.

Now our look was almost complete. We had our jackets, skirts, blouses, plus a hat and raincoat. All we needed now were the accessories. These accessories were short white gloves, navy blue leather standard uniform purse and navy blue pumps. We were encouraged to buy the 3” heel because it made our legs look their best. To stay within the parameters of the GND look, we were reminded again – one watch, one ring, and ABSOLUTELY NO EARRINGS.

The week we were fitted for our summer uniforms, we were also fitted for the winter one as well. That uniform was a royal blue called “Blue Vision” which came with long navy blue leather gloves. DID LOVE THOSE GLOVES! The winter uniforms were manufactured by “Delta Designs” and were also designed by Ben Reig. Both of these uniforms used the same purse and suitcase. The latter was a 21” hard navy blue Samsonite case.

As part of our on board attire we were also issued smocks. The standard summer uniform at the time featured a multi-colored pastel striped material which had originally been earmarked for DC-6 airplane curtains. However, we were given the smock that was to be worn with the winter uniform instead. This smock also had stripes, but they were narrower and had colors of soft turquoise, purple, green and tan. It buttoned down the front, and the neckline had a collar that tied in the front through two buttonholes. We wore this cover-up through mid-1967.

Even though the tailors came to the training center to fit us for our new uniforms, we had to go out of the Compound to buy the proper foundations which included girdles with garters and bras with good support. I remember we took the United bus, but details are vague. Luckily, one of my consultants actually worked at the girdle shop part-time after graduating from training. The shop was called “The Stewardi Dress Shop” and was located on Miner Street in the Illinois suburb of Des Plains. This small town had a few shops, restaurants, and bars for our weekend get-aways. But if I had any great weekend adventures there, they are now hidden deep within my memory.

As I learned more about our uniforms, I realized we graduated at a time the conservative look was about to disappear – at least for a while. That was a good thing! The jet age with the DC-8, the Boeing 720, French-made Caravelle, and the new Boeing 727 was dictating a more sophisticated image, which would soon be visible in our new winter uniform. The piston DC-6 and Viscount turboprop, along with the Convair 340 were being flown on shorter routes while the the jets were getting more exposure on the longer ones. Even though the number of jets in our fleet was growing, we the class of September 2, 1964 departed training with propeller-age attire. We had been caught in a vortex between the old and the new – the more relaxed and conservative age of the prop aircraft versus the rapid and aggressive style of the new jet age.

When we became stewardesses we had specific guidelines (all in the manual). It would take only a few years for these rules to change dramatically. Manual revisions were done monthly, and page after page was being replaced with new material. It was like a revolving door of paper. The new paper brought new guidelines. The no eyeliner rule changed to encourage false eye lashes. Sugar scooper hats turned into hats so tall they could be knocked off exiting the plane. And the girdles with garters became just garter belts holding up new white nylons.

Starting in the late-60’s through the 1970’s the airlines spent mega-bucks on their different uniform looks. Each carrier tried to outdo the other with wild colors and high fashion. The stewardess/flight attendants were now being packaged to attract passengers. The meal services and the inflight crews were important differentiators in higher revenue numbers. During this period air travel passenger numbers doubled from 100,000,000 in the mid-60's to 200,000,000 in the mid-70's. (Note 2) The major push started in 1965 when the jingle “Fly the Friendly Skies” debuted in television ads. This was a fun and clever way of catching viewer attention, and it was successful. United’s passenger loads increased. Airlines ads in those days were as prevalent as the drug ads of today! (Well, maybe not so much as the bombardment of drug ads.) Those ads continued strong and were working until the interference of deregulation in 1978 under the Carter Administration. Upstart airlines became 30% of the airline market. (Note 2) These low fare airlines appeared rapidly and then disappeared just as quickly. The big carriers competed with them and lowered their fares as well. These low cost carriers were just too small to compete. Ironically, as fares went down, well-dressed passengers disappeared as well.

By 1981, our uniforms began a more conservative look – once again. That year we left behind our “rust-colored” uniforms for navy blue. That uniform change coincided with the start of our frequent flyer program – “Mileage Plus.” It seems great looking uniforms were no longer needed because of the new incentives. This look has now been around for over 30 years, with accessories changing occasionally.

Now with uniforms fitted and proper foundations bought, we are almost there -- graduation day. Our biggest obstacle was the dreaded last week of training – EMERGENCIES. For several days, we got up early – like at 3:00 a.m. – and took the gray bus to O’Hare International Airport. This training was the most important part of becoming a UAL “stew.” If we didn’t pass, we were gone! I mean, “Hi mom, did you miss me?” This happened to a few members of my class.

Learning emergency procedures required several days of classroom activity taught by United professionals. United had a separate building at O’Hare which housed different tenants. The Medical Division and Personnel were two such tenants. The building was separate from the terminal, and the employees’ parking lot was adjacent to the building.

As we learned new material in the classroom, we took that knowledge and reviewed it in the evening back at the training center. Our new manuals became instrumental in helping with our studies. All the airplanes had their exit operations printed in that manual. Also included in the manual were first aid procedures, how to operate our oxygen bottles, and what commands to use if we had to evacuate an airplane. Each airplane had its own chapter in the manual. We were being taught how to read and use our manuals. Later, while flying our trips, it was our responsibility to look up the plane we were boarding and review “Need to Know” material from the manual.

The fun part of this training was taking a flight on a DC-6. As our class was strapped in, we watched our instructors open a window in flight, so we could feel what a pressure loss felt like. We also watched our instructors lift up in weightlessness as our pilots executed a rapid descent. This training flight is deeply embedded in my memory.

Prior to this DC-6 flight, we also put on jump suits and jumped down slides on a parked 720 outside one of our hangars. Ironically, in the United video given to retiring flight attendants in 2003, it was my class that was shown executing emergency drills by jumping into inflated slides.

As this exhausting week ended, we knew we were just days away from starting an incredible adventure. From a very structured environment for over five weeks, we 35 were going to leave this nest to be free to fly solo on our own individual path. We knew also that for the first six months we would be on probation, so we did our best to behave. If we didn’t, we did our best not to get caught.

So on Wednesday September 2nd, my instructor Sharon Ann pinned on my silver wings which read, Miss Osborn. After the lunch and ceremony we returned to our rooms, packed up our things, said our goodbyes, and left Elk Grove Village, just two miles from O’Hare Airport. For me, I stayed in Chicago, lived by the airport with one of my classmates, and was the first out five days later on a double Minneapolis turn-around. Being the youngest in the class also meant that I was the most junior in seniority. As a result, I was the first one called on Reserve to be assigned a trip. Others left Chicago and went to their assigned “hubs.” My consultant classmate chose Newark and lived in Greenwich Village. Years later we flew together out of Denver and had an incredible month. We both retired June 30, 2003, along with 2500 others, when United was restructuring from bankruptcy.

As for the girdles with garters, that was a serious matter for the office bound “flyers.” Undercover supervisors were sent out on different flights on “girdle check patrol.” These trips were built into the schedules of these undergarment enforcers who were actually paid to put their hands on our butts. Some were more gentle and kinder than others. Some just slid their hands across our buttocks, while other had a full squeeze and leave approach. If their fingers felt soft but firm, it was time for a write-up. These write-ups were returned to our individual supervisors and placed in our files. When I retired, my file was full of notes saying, “Watch Barbara Osborn – she wears earrings.”

Miss Osborn

My adventure was wonderful. I transferred 10 times and met so many interesting people along the way. I don’t wear a girdle with garters anymore – I found that Spandex works just fine and hardly anyone wears nylons. And if they did, we now have pantyhose.

We have come a long way from the days of appearance checks, but they have been replaced with a more serious and more restrictive environment, both on the airplane and in the terminals. Looking back, the harassment we experienced then seems rather innocent compared to our flying world now.

Notes:

1. www.uahf.org/ua_flight_attendant_fashions
2. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Airline_deregulation

Comments

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on April 27, 2020:
Right! I remember there was a problem with passengers getting our full name so then it went to Ms. last name! Thanks for reading the article! Our memories are important! Our time in history we as a group will not forget! Remember the supervisors check riding us?

Eva Quackenbush on April 26, 2020:
I was in class over the Christmas Holidays in 1964.
I would add that upon boarding the airplane to work a trip,
we were required to slide our name plate in a slot located on the bulkhead for all to see. ( not sure when this practice was ended , but I do recall getting a call at my apartment in New York from one of my passengers , and no I didn’t give him my number ! )

Diane Duester Meyer on April 11, 2018:
Wonderful memories. Thank you for the reminder. We were lucky to have flown during that time.

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on July 04, 2017:
All that time on that article is soooo worth it when it can connect to our profession! thank you for you comments!

Kristine Ashton Dong on July 04, 2017:
OMG my memories........exactly what it was like.......graduated 11/25/69

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on September 03, 2016:
Thanks Diane. Even though our picture was in black and white the world seemed a little roseier then, maybe because we were young and not yet exposed to the life challenges we all would encounter.
Thanks again, barbara/ggbaba

DianneMuir on September 02, 2016:
Loved your writing on your experiences when you graduated and started flying.We are a special group and share many wonderful experiences and traveled the world with many things to learn about other cultures and cities. thank you for writing about your first days in training and being based in Chicago. Things are different today but we share wonderful times.class of 67

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on June 02, 2016:
Yes we are connected. There is that special something within we all share.

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on May 02, 2016:
Dear United Stew, thank you for your comments. It's a great feeling to be able to connect with each other through our memories! What a special group we stewardess/flight attendants.

Peg Cole from Northeast of Dallas, Texas on January 25, 2016:
Wonderful to read your shared memories of flight attendant school and your training and experiences. As a former flight attendant, it was interesting to see the differences in rules, regulations, attire and policies that you've mentioned here. Thanks again for a pleasant read. Pinning this on my Flight Attendant memories board.

unitedstew on October 03, 2015:
Reading this brought back so many memories. I graduated May 1968. We could wear eyeliner and false eyelashes; in fact, we were encouraged to wear them. My “house mother” was Sandy Camp and she had her work cut out for her with me. Wish that I knew what happened to her. The emergency training week was a big one for me, too. We wrestled airplane doors and windows open; screaming at the top of our lungs at the same time. What fun; the good ole days!

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on September 10, 2015:
I love your comments and sorry for the delay I haven' t been good about checking them.

Trish on August 02, 2015:
I remember every moment that you wrote about. Days I cherish. I was in the first class at the new facilities in Chicago. Our make-up consultant was Georgia. Don't know if she was still there when you were there. My best friend and I left a small town in Mississippi to see the world. We both flew out of Newark. A couple of years later my friend married and I was off to Chicago to start Stewardess Supervisor training. Had much fun. Met my husband there . Thanks goodness I was experienced in moving as we were transferred many time. Hopefully I have moved for the last time. We have owned and sold 17 homes. By the way my best friend ended up in California and is a friend of Diane. Thanks for bringing back such great memories. Can't wait for my daughter to read it.

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on November 19, 2013:
I think it would be Weaver because I heard about that school but hadn't heard about Grace Downs until I was doing research on the first negro stewardess of the 60's and Patricia Banks the first negro (that's the term used then) filed a lawsuit against Capital Airlines back in 1956.
Hope that helps
Barbara aka ggbaba

Horst Urbaniak from Langley BC Canada on November 04, 2013:
Great Story.
I am writing one too that I need some more info for.
My dear wife of 43 years, who passed away in July 2013 after a 6 year battle with cancer, took a 3 month flight attendant course in Kansas City KS just after she graduated form high school in 1968.
I am writing an autobiography of our life story for our kids and grand kids. This is the only part of her life that I know little of. I do not know the name of the school she attended. All I know that she saw an advertisement in a magazine here in Canada and answered the ad. Her mom who is 95 now and can't remember the name, paid her tuition, airfare and room and board.
After she graduated and got her wings, she came back to Edmonton Alberta and applied to the 3 airlines in Canada, Air Canada, Ward Air and CP Air for a Job as flight attendant.
It was shortly after she got back to Edmonton that we met and started dating. 5 months into our relationship, we were out at the A&W for some burgers one night, when she told me that she had received a job offer letter from Wardair and they wanted her to come for an interview.
Well my heart lept into my throat and panic started to set in for me . The thought of losing this wonderful caring compassionate loving girl
was just to much for me to handle. So I asked her to marry me. She had a choice to make and I thank GOD every day that she chose to marry me.
I realize that most airlines had their own inflight training centers, but I have found a couple of private school advertisements. One is Weaver Airline Personnel and the other was Grace Downs Air Career school.
I am trying to find out any info on these private schools that may have been around in KS City in 1968/1969.
I know TWA had their own school there called Breech Training Center, but I do not know if they did any contract training.
The thought behind these schools is that if someone were to take this course it would give them a leg up on the person off the street.
This info is all I have left to find.
Any help or tips would be appreciated.
PS As a footnote I went to work for CP Air in 1968 and retired in 2004. Joyce still had the advantage of the airline lifestyle through my employment.
Sorry for rambling. This is the only thing that keeps me going
God bless everyone .
Thank You

Eileen joy on September 15, 2013:
Thanks for your story thoroughly enjoyed it ! I started in 1968- and surely walked in your footsteps, although I was in those " David Evans" shoes- would love to read a book of the experiences. Thnx again Eileen joy

Judy Meyer on September 14, 2013:
enjoyd your story- mine is similar although I was ahead of you at the training center, but the story is the same

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on February 24, 2013:
GLAD YOU ENJOYED IT tREVOR ESPECIALLY WITH YOUR MOM FLYING FOR PAN AM.

Trevor P. on January 15, 2013:
I love it! I really enjoyed the story...what a blast! I would love to read all your write ups in your file. They would be a good laugh. thanks for sharing such an interesting time that most people my age have no idea it even existed.

GG Baba (author) from Southern California on January 11, 2013:
Thank You Suzanne, Sorry about the delay in my comments and didn't see it until today. I actually wrote this for our children because they don't ask questions until we are gone. As of this moment neither one have read it. What I've been up to is the 911 articles which will eventually be a book about what our crews did that terrible day. I have started my 14th article with almost 2 years off and on of writing. If your interested go to ggbaba.hubpages.com. So glad you enjoyed it and your make-up proved my point how we were the bate then:)

suzanne on January 07, 2013:
great re count of years gone by. i graduated 2/3/70 so things were slightly different. we were all given make up sessions using "on stage" make-up" and I still have some of it!!! There was a shop in NYC that carried it so we could replentish. It was expensive. Did you write the article for a magazine or newspaper? Thanks for shining the light on what our experiences were like. sfosw retired

Siehe auch
http://www.corsetiere.net/Spirella/Stewardess.htm
sowie
https://abcnews.go.com/Travel/wear-girdles-qa-pan-stewardess/story?id=14720587
und
https://www.tvguide.com/news/pan-am-stewardess-costume-1038550/

Mi Feb 24, 2021 2:24 pm

Lieber Joggeli.

leider habe ich, und das gebe ich zu, nicht viel verstehen können. Ich habe erst ab dem 5. Schuljahr Einglisch in der Schule gehabt. Und das bei einem nicht ausgebildeten Englischlehrer.
Heute lernen die i-Dötzchen schon im ersten Schuljahr Englisch.

Anderes Thema:

In der Tat wäre ich aus Neugierde mal gerne mit der Concorde geflogen.
Ich kenne auds eigener Erfahrung nur den Airbus 320 und die Boeing 737.

Die Comet von den De Havelland Werken in GB kenne ich nur von der Geschichte her.
Sie sind nach nur 2 Jahren wegen einer großen Unglückssersie aus dem Verkehr gezogen worden.
Bis sie wieder flugtauglich waren, war dann auch schon die Boeing 707 auf dem Markt (1958).

Herzliche Grüße

Monika

Mi März 03, 2021 4:12 pm

Hi Moni

Nun weil es einfach nötig ist aber weil ich sie auch besonders gerne trage bin ich immer auf der suche nach support tights.
Gerade jetzt wo ich wegen dem

meine beine nicht mehr so hochlegen kann ist 70den angesagt.

Ich habe sie gestern gekauft und trage sie heute das erste mal und bin gespannt wie sie sich schlagen.
Die verarbeitung ist sorgfältig aber was vor allem zählt ist ja die stützwirkung.
Davon mehr heute abend wenn sie einen simulierten arbeitstag hinter sich haben.

Mi März 03, 2021 7:51 pm

Hi Polly,

danke für die Erklärung bezüglich des Himbeerchen.
Jetzt weiß ich einigermaßen Bescheid.

Die Stützstrumpfhose ist mit 14,90 sfr ein stolzer Preis.
Da wird man einiges erwarten können.
Bin mal auf deinen Testbericht gespannt.

Syl
Moni

Mi März 03, 2021 11:35 pm

Hi Moni

Nun nach dem nachgespielten arbeistag das heisst acht stunden sitzen mit ein paar mal aufstehen hat sie den test bestanden.
Keine schwellungen am bein und die knöchel sind noch deutlich zu erkennen.
Für mich ist es eine mischrechnung.
Da ich ja für meine andern tights sehr wenig geld ausgebe weil ich es nicht für nötig halte gebe ich für support tights gerne etwas mehr aus.
Denn sie halten meine beine gesund und ohne sie hätte ich wohl schon längst offene beine oder noch grössere probleme.
Die möglichen gesundheitlichen risikenn und schäden einer venenschwäche sind immens bis hin zu todesfällen.

Im alltag komme ich mit günstigeren 40 den support tights gut zurecht.

Da darfs dann zu hause oder in der freizeit auch was schöneres sein und da ist der preis zweitrangig.
Der preis liegt für unsere verhältnisse absolut im schnitt und wie ich die festigkeit so sehe kann man sie sicher in die stützklasse 2 wie die

einreihen die aber rund 5 franken teurer ist.
Die support 70 ist aber noch eine spur dezenter.
Da gäbs natürlich noch die

Aber wer kommt auf die hirnverbrannte idee support tighs mit einem shaping panty auszustatten.
Da machen nur leute die sie selber nicht tragen.

Syl deine

Do März 04, 2021 12:33 am

Ich klage nie, das ich älter werde, denn

Joffeli

Do März 04, 2021 7:46 am

Hi Polly, und Joffeli

man lernt jeden Tag neue Knochen kennen Smile

Genauso ist es.

Das ist vschon ein relativ gewaltigewr Preisunterschied.
Die Leg Control ist zwar nicht so stützend, aber dafür ist sie beim Tragen wunderschön.

Syl Monika

So März 07, 2021 1:04 pm

Wenn man noch sehr viel mehr sparen will kann man wenn man begabt ist für wenig geld was teures zaubern.

Und in der frechen länge oder besser kürze ist es durchaus tragbar.

So März 07, 2021 2:49 pm

Hi Polly,

wohl dem der künstlerisch so begabt ist, eigene Kreationen herzustellen.
Alle Achtung.

Syl
Moni

Di März 09, 2021 9:46 pm

Hi Moni

Nach langer enthaltsamkeit und ich war wirklich brav habe ich mir einen neuen mini gegönnt.

So klassisch im seventies style vorne schön durchgeknöpft das auch optisch schlank macht ein uralter trick.
Natürlich trage ich hautfarben tights dazu und canvas sneakers der sommer kann kommen.

Di März 09, 2021 10:17 pm

Hi Polly,

damit bist du schon einmal gut vorbereitet.
Und auch der Preis ist angemessen, wenn nicht sogar günstig.
Mit Sneackers sieht es garantiert noch schicker aus.
Dazu kann man sicherlich ein Shirt als auch eine schicke Bluse tragen.
Somit ist man für wenig Geld perfekt für das Frühjahr gerüstet.

Syl
Moni

Do März 11, 2021 5:09 am

Hi Moni

Dem ist so da hast du sicher recht.
Aber das wichtigste sind immer noch die undies und da muss ich wieder mal was neues haben.

Ich nehme an canda kann ich vertrauen das sie ware auch seriös hergestellt wird.

Do März 11, 2021 10:28 am

Hi Polly,

dass denke ich auch. Die Ware die ich bei Canda bisher gekauft habe waren gute Qualität.
Ich nehme an, dass auch diese Produkte nicht gerade in Bangladesch hergestellt werden, wo sie unter menschenunwürdigen Bedingungen fabriziert werden.
So zumindest meine Vermutung.
Lidl und Aldi distanzieren sich z. B. auch davon.

Syl
Moni

Do März 11, 2021 9:54 pm

Hi Moni

Hier habe ich ein video zum thema .

Die qualität ist ok auch der bio baumwoll anbau scheint den bauern wirklch was zu bringen nur mit den löhnen haperts noch.
Eigentlich unverständlich wenn einer näherin mit 30 oder 40 euro mehr lohn pro monat schon sehr geholfen wäre.
Nun könnte man sagen ich kaufe nichts mehr von canda aber das problem ist die andern anbieter sind auch nicht besser oder sogar schlechter.
Vieleicht würde es helfen wirklich mal ein wirklich gut kontroliiertes label einzuführen wo ich als kundin die gewisstheit hätte das geld kommt wirklich den näherinnen zu gute und dann hätte ich persönlich auch mehr freude dran.
Aber da müssen die kunden druck machen anders geht das nicht.
Interessant ist das so gut wie auf jeder strumpfhosenverpackung steht woher die strumpfhose stammt aber bei weitaus teureren sachen die mit viel arbeit verbunden sind nicht!
Strumpfhosen werden heute so gut wie vollautomatisch hergestellt, nur noch wenige arbeitsschritte wie zum beispiel das färben macht noch ein mensch.
Also kann man kinderarbeit schon mal aussschliessen und das ist für mich das wichtigste.
Warum gibt es nicht eine saubere dekleration bei kleidern generell, warum schläft da der gesetgeber, bei lebensmitteln ist sie wenigstens hier in der schweiz obligatorisch.
Die hemdchen habe ich gieich gewaschen und sie scheinen sich nicht verzogen zu haben aber morgen früh weiss ich dann mehr.
Ich muss schon sagen bei lidl oder aldi bin ich sehr kritisch und bei handm stimmt für mich die qualität nicht!
Mei lieblingshop ist aber zalando das muss ich ganz ehrlich zugeben.

Mi März 17, 2021 6:35 pm

Monika56 schrieb:Hi Polly,

so sind Männer halt.
Ich kenne sie zwangsläufig.
Aber du wirst das schon schaffen.

Syl
Moni

Hi Moni

Diese junge Dame wüsste sicher rat aber es nützt halt wenig wenn Mann auf dem falsche forum ist.

Mi März 17, 2021 7:55 pm

Hi Polly,

viel verstanden habe ich leider nicht, aber ich denke mir schon was sie uns sagen möchte.

Syl
Moni

Do März 18, 2021 1:00 am

Hi Moni

Sie sagte in etwa das tigts or pantyhose natürlich für girls gedacht seien und das man darauf achten soll das sie lang genug und nicht zu eng sind.
Denn ansonsten seien selbst tights unbequem.
Aber dafür muss ein boy sicher nicht zu speziellen tights für boys greifen.

Am bestem fragt man mal ein girl in seiner grösse was es so trägt oder orientiert sich an der grösse der partnerin.
Dann hat man auch gleich das outing und sie weiss bescheid.
Wenn es ganz schwierig ist würde ich mal bei snag tights vorbeischauen denn die haben nicht nur tights für zierliche mädels

sondern auch für kräftige jungs.

Do März 18, 2021 9:24 am

Hi Polly,

zum Glück habe ich keine Größenprobleme.
Ich habe als Jugendlicher aber im Fachgeschäft nachgefragt, welche Größe meine Mutter nun haben muss, da ich den Einkaufszettel verloren habe.
Auf die Frage, wie groß meine Mutter sei, habe ich geantwortet.

So groß wie ich.

Syl
Moni

So März 21, 2021 12:39 pm

Das kann ja durchaus sein, mit der grösse.
Ich bin nun nicht gerade ein small doch eher ein tall girl komme aber mit XL immer zurecht und da bin ich froh.
Neben der fehlenden auswahl ist es irgendwann auch eine kostenfrage.

Der preis für eine ganz simple strumpfhose aus 100% polyamid finde ich schon ein wenig gesalzen.
Was mich ein bisschen nervt das etwas grössere strumpfhosen immer gleich einen komfortzwickel haben.
Das sollte eigentlich bei modernen tights nicht mehr notwendig sein.

Und nicht alle grosssen mädels sind auch automatisch breit.

So März 21, 2021 3:53 pm

Hi Polly,

auch ich nehme meistens XL, und das Problem mit dem Komfortzwickel ist immer da.
Ohne Komfortzwickel gehen sie bis zu der Größe 44 - 46.

In der Tat ist der Preis schon sehr happig. Der wäre mir persönlich zu hoch.
Dafür bekomme ich ja schon eine Kunert Leg Control.

Syl
Moni

So März 21, 2021 6:59 pm

Hi Moni

Ja das spezielle Crêpe feeling hat seinen preis.

Die hat immerhin noch vertärkte fersen und sohlen.
Nur in den letzten 50 jahren sind die stellen bei mir noch nie kaputt gegangen.
Das liegt wohl an der guten fusspflege.