Social Etiquette & Courtesy Videos DVD (1946-1961)

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This historic social etiquette films collection bring the back to life the desire for social conformity of the 40s, 50s and 60s. A time when success was judged upon ones popularity and reputation. All you had to do was say please, thank you, delighted, never get mad, always act happy, and treat women like they are helpless. You will fully submerged in the social courtesy of the past after you watch these timeless films. How Do You Say Goodnight?

Included Films:

Cindy Goes To A Party

Produced: 1955

Length: 9 Minutes

In this 1950s instructional film, the social conformity of gender roles in society are explicitly laid down through one of the more imaginative Cinderella versions ever produced. In Lawrence, Kansas, young Cindy, a tom-girl who plays basketball and fishes all day, wonders why she is not invited to her friends party like all her other classmates. Since this sort of nonconformist behavior was frowned upon in the fifties, Cindy goes to sleep and has a most peculiar dream. Cinderellas fairy godmother appears to her, telling her that they are indeed going to a party! The kind woman spirits Cindy to a dream party, and teaches her how to politely play games she doesnt like (and pretend she does like them), how to let boys win (even though she could win herself), and how to leave on time. Cindy learns quickly, and begins to anticipate the fairy godmothers lessons. The fairy godmother realizes her job is done, since Cindy is now adapted to traditional gender roles, and decides she is no longer needed, thus disappearing. Cindy then wakes to find her mother bedside, telling her that she really did get an invitation to the party, but that her little sister Mary had just forgotten to give it to her. An astonishing example of the binding pressure of social conformity in the 50s, Cindy Goes to a Party is an important historical document in any analysis of the history of gender roles.

Everyday Courtesy

Produced: 1948

Length: 9 Minutes

Everyday Courtesy is a vintage instructional film depicts an antiquated version of simple American life. Young little Billy has made several drawing that are going to be displayed at his school. His mother trip to his school to view his drawings, which demonstrate different ways of being courteous, having good manners, and being thoughtful to others. Billy has drawn many pictures for the display, all showing scenes of everyday situations where courtesy and social etiquette is needed, such as when making out invitations, making telephone calls, entertaining guests, and making introductions. Being nice is important to Billy. When Billys teacher comes over to see them, Billy tries out his new skills by introducing his teacher and his mother, demonstrating remarkable good child behavior. In a classically old fashioned conclusion, Billy learns that being courteous and being nice to everyone will ensure that others will always like and want to be around him. What a beautiful and important life lesson!

How Do You Do

Produced: 1946

Length: 13 Minutes

How Do You Do is an uproariously dated, and an amateur production to boot, film about social etiquette and good manners. This is a film targeted at postwar children and teens who grew up in stressful homes because of the sacrifices of the war effort. It focuses on good manners and how clean living and good behavior pays huge dividends in self confidence. But the real fun comes from the dreadful acting by Peggy, the main character, who makes an embarrassing mistake while trying to make an introduction between two people. A voice-over narrator helpfully walks her through the proper way to introduce people, helping her in overcoming social anxiety. Mainly, however, the film focuses on the various social blunders that one could make in the 1940s and teaching teens good manners, sometimes through moral lessons. But the corny important life lessons make this old movie a giggly good time.

Johnny Learns His Manners

Produced: 1946

Length: 18 Minutes

In Johnny Learns his Manners a sloppy, untidy young boy is shown the error of his ways by his Good Self, an angel who warns him that if he doesnt shape up, hell be turned into a pig! Johnny, the animated star of the film, wont clean up his room, argues, and is completely uncooperative with his parents and others. Dramatized through an artists drawing board, Johnny deals with conflicting ideals of good and bad manners by being turned into a pig until he learns a lesson and decides to change his unmannerly ways. In changing, Johnny will learn how to keep your room clean, and overcome bad manners etiquette. Johnny Learns his Manners is a nifty relic familial culture in the 1940s, as well as an accessible example of valuable and timeless important life lessons. Teaching teens good manners has never been easy.

Mind Your Manners

Produced: 1953

Length: 11 Minutes

Mind Your Manners is a 1950s film which teaches teenagers that good etiquette should be cultivated in order to get along with peers and impress authority figures. Bad manners can result in poor social etiquette. Various situations are dramatized in the film, including telephone etiquette, table manners, and how to shake hands. Making the argument that good behavior should eventually become totally natural and integrated into normal behavior, the film maintains that a real desire to get along with others will lead to good manners. Teaching teens good manners has never been easy. Dining etiquette in particular is important for making good first impressions. Mind Your Manners travels viewers back to a time when proper manners and etiquette in America was a very fixed code of order, which makes for a fascinating study.

Office Etiquette

Produced: 1950

Length: 14 Minutes

Office Etiquette follows a young woman on the first day of her new job. The film takes a hilarious look at some of the right, as well as some of the wrong things to do in the office setting. Most importantly, this vintage etiquette film highlights how you can use courtesy & proper manners to advance in the workplace while building functioning relationships with your co-workers.

Playing Together

Produced: 1950

Length: 10 Minutes

Playing together is a 1950s movie that encourages good behavior for happy children. Using two fictional characters, Donny and Duncan, the film shows children how to get along during play time. Learning how to play kid games with each other, the film features the kids riding bikes and swimming. Marvelously modeling good behavior, Donny and Duncan play together and always play nice.

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The Prom: It’s A Pleasure

Produced: 1961

Length: 17 Minutes

The Prom Its a Pleasure is a well-produced color film that stars the 1961 Coca-Cola Junior Miss Pageant winner as the guide to a well-mannered prom night. From the phone call asking Junior Miss for the date, to the drop-off at the end of the night, this film details prom etiquette for the curious and uncouth teenager. It also explains that the boy should call his dates mother before the dance to find out the color of her dress so he can match the corsage to it. Wholesome sixties movies often dealt with American morals, and this prom night film is a classic example. At the high school dance itself, the film shows how to dance, how to ask someone to dance, ways to ask someone to dance, how to fill out a dance card, and how to navigate the refreshments, which consisted mostly of Coca-Cola, not surprisingly. In addition to all the prom dos and donts etiquette tips, this film features great footage of a typical sixties prom.