Today, Bex Scott takes us back in time to the days of the 1950s housewife. An article from the New Zealand Herald in 2018 shared a vintage 1950s article on how to attract men and Bex dives into it with us to see how many, if any, of the old tips are valid. Take a trip in Bex’s time machine and learn how to find a husband, how to keep him happy once married, and how to keep looking pretty for this coveted man. How cringe-worthy is this article by today’s standards? Join Bex to find out.
Today, Bex Scott takes us back in time to the days of the 1950s housewife. An article from the New Zealand Herald in 2018 shared a vintage 1950s article on how to attract men and Bex dives into it with us to see how many, if any, of the old tips are valid. Take a trip in Bex’s time machine and learn, from different articles, how to find a husband, how to keep him happy once married, and how to keep looking pretty for this coveted man. How cringe-worthy is this article by today’s standards? Join Bex to find out.
Modern dating often involves online dating so in fifty years we may look back on this era and find it extremely cringe-worthy as well. For now, 1950s sensibilities are on glorious display in this vintage article. The article was originally published under the title 129 Ways to Get a Husband in McCall’s magazine and was aimed at women who weren’t married by the ripe old age of seventeen. The suggestions range from simple - “walk a dog” - to baffling - “read the obituaries to find eligible widowers”. Of course, snagging a husband is only half the battle. Once married, he has to be kept happy. Those suggestions, from a 1950s Home Ec book, range from the expected - “have dinner ready when he comes home” - to the old school - “arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes”. Deep dive into the mind-blowing world of 50s husband hunting with Bex.
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Transcript
Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I wanted to go into a topic that interests me and I'm sure interests quite a few of you as well. It's the 1950s housewife. So we just got through the holiday season. We're in January now. By the time you listen to this episode, it's probably going to be way past that. But over the holidays, I always like going through cookbooks, reading old magazines, and learning a little bit more about the 1950s and 1960s and doing some research. And this past holiday season, I came across a bunch of really good recipes, articles and books. But one in particular that I wanted to talk about today was based off of an article from a while back. It was actually published on November 7th in 2018, in the New Zealand Herald. And the title was Husband Hunting, Cringeworthy 1950s Article Advises Women on How to Attract Men. And this headline caught me right after I read it.
Bex Scott: [00:01:50] I had to go through online dating before I met my husband. Dated a whole bunch of really interesting guys, not so great guys. Just ask anybody in my family. I was very lucky to find my husband and now not have to worry about how to attract a man, as this article title says. But I always find it very interesting to learn about what women had to do, or what was kind of expected of them in that time period with beauty, with how they were supposed to act, etiquette in general, and kind of what the world expected of women in the 1950s. And I think this article sums it up perfectly. So I'm going to go through it with you. And they have the actual article from, so they wrote about it in the New Zealand Herald, but they also have the 1950s article in full here that I will read for you. And I think you guys are going to get a kick out of some of it and probably cringe at most of it, but I'd love to know what you think after this episode.
Bex Scott: [00:03:02] Okay, so they start off by saying a magazine from the 1950s features a cringe worthy advice column for single women on how to attract men. The article, headlined 129 Ways to Get a Husband from the American magazine McCall's, includes hilarious and bizarre tips where most would never be used in this era, I'm sure. Photos of the advice column were posted on Facebook, with the post quickly becoming viral. So this is in 2018. The post had been shared over 13,000 times and had caused widespread controversy, quickly racking up more than 4600 likes and thousands of comments from shocked and amused users. The feature, aimed at women who weren't married by 17, was created with the help of 16 people who used a brainstorming technique to see if they could come up with fresh ideas on how to find a husband. The first 30 pointers reveal where to find him, giving single women creative tips on how to run into their potential new husband. This section includes advice as simple as get a dog and walk it to very cynical ideas like read obituaries to find eligible widowers.
Bex Scott: [00:04:16] Okay, so there's 13 different numbers here that they've listed on where to find your husband. Number one, get a dog and walk it. Number two, have your car break down at strategic places. That sounds very sketchy to me. I would not advise this in 2025 at all. Number three, attend night school, take courses men like. Okay. Number four, join a hiking club. I know many people, I have many friends who've actually done this and met some very nice men. So a hiking club is not a bad number here. Number five, look in the census reports for places with the most single men. Nevada has 125 males for every 100 females. Number six, read the obituaries to find eligible widowers. That is crazy. We're not going to do that. Number seven, take up golf and go to different golf courses. Okay, that could be a solid go-to. Number eight, take several short vacations at different places rather than one long one at one place. Number nine, sit on a park bench and feed the pigeons. Number ten, take a bicycle trip through Europe. Mm. That sounds very romantic and not realistic to find a man on a bicycle trip. You never know. I've known people who've met their significant other on a nice European trip. Number 11, get a job in a medical, dental or law school. Number 12, become a nurse or an airline stewardess. They have very high marriage rates. Number 13, ask your friends husbands who the eligible men are in their offices.
Bex Scott: [00:06:10] Okay, so the next piece of advice is how to let him know you're there. Giving women cunning ideas to get a man's attention. Okay, so here are all 41 of the ways to let him know you're there. So feel free to try any of these if you'd like. Okay. Be nice to everybody, they may have an eligible brother or son. Get a government job overseas. Forget discretion every once in a while and call them up. Carry a hat box. I wonder what that would do now? Probably not too much. If you carried a hat box, people would be wondering what was in the box. Make a lot of money. Okay. Learn several funny stories and learn to tell them well, but make sure you don't tell them to him more than once. Walk up to him and tell him you need some advice. Dropping the handkerchief still works. You could do that with a Kleenex, but I highly doubt that a man is going to pick up your Kleenex. Have your father buy some theater tickets that have to be got rid of. Don't let him fish for your name the next time you meet. None of this guess who stuff.
Bex Scott: [00:07:35] Next, single women are given advice on how to look good to him. Suggesting what cosmetics and items to wear. Get better looking glasses. Men still make passes at girls who wear glasses. Or you could try contact lenses, number 49 advises. Wear high heels most of the time, they're sexier. Unless he happens to be shorter than you, another pointer said. Okay, so here we go, continuing on. If you're at a resort, have the bellboy page you. Buy a convertible. Men like to ride in them. Learn how to bake tasty apple pies. Bring one into the office and let the eligible bachelor taste it. Laugh at his jokes. If there's a wallflower among the men you know, why not cultivate him. Oh cultivate the flower? For all you know, he may be a diamond in the rough. Accidentally have your purse fly open, scattering its contents all over the street. I don't think I'd want any, no, no, I don't want anybody knowing what's in my purse. Not that there's anything bad in there, but probably a lot of Pyrex. No, I'm kidding. I didn't have Pyrex back in the day in my purse.
Bex Scott: [00:07:35] Okay. How to look good to him. So this is the next section. Men like to think they're authorities on perfume. Ask his advice on what kind you should wear. Practice your drinking with your women friends first. If you dye your hair, pick a shade and stick to it. Tell him he's handsome. Take good care of your health, men don't like girls who are ill. That's an obvious one. If you look good in sweaters, wear one on every third date. Dress differently from the other girls in the office. Get a sunburn. What? Watch your vocabulary. Blah blah blah. Oh, my gosh, that's a great word to stumble on. Watch your vocabulary. There we go. Go on a diet if you need to. What? When you're with him, order your steak rare. Don't tell him about your allergies. Oh, great, so he can try and kill you. That's a good one. European women use their eyes to good advantage. Practice in front of a mirror. Buy a full length mirror, and take a good look before you go to greet him. What does that mean? That's rude. Change the shade of your stockings and be sure to keep the seams straight. Get the fresh scrubbed look by scrubbing. If he has bought you any trinket or accessory, wear it. Use the ashtray. Don't crush out cigarettes in coffee cups. Polish up on making introductions. Learn to do them gracefully. Don't be too fussy. Stick to your moral standards. Don't whine. Girls who whine, stay on the vine.
Bex Scott: [00:10:29] Okay. So in the final part of the feature, the magazine provided women guidance on how to land him. Tips ranged from ask him for her recipes to find out about girls he hasn't married. Don't repeat the same mistakes they made. Okay, here we go. How to land him? Listen up everyone. Show him you can have fun on a cheap date but don't overdo it. Don't let your parents treat him like a potential husband. Ask your parents to disappear when you're entertaining. Double date with a gay, happily married couple. Let him see what it's like. Tell his friends nice things about him. Send his mother a birthday card. Ask his mother for her recipes. Talk to his father about business and agree that taxes are too high. Well that would, yeah, that would work with my dad. He enjoys talking about taxes and politics. Buy his sister's children an occasional present. On the first date tell him you aren't thinking of getting married. What? How is that helpful? Don't talk about how many children you want. If he's a fisherman, learn to scale and clean fish. Don't tell him everything about yourself at the start, hold something in reserve. When you're out strolling with him, don't insist on stopping at every shop window. Don't tell him how much your clothes cost. Learn how to sew and wear something you've made yourself. Don't gossip about him. Never let him know he's the only one even if you have to stay home 1 or 2 nights a week. Wow. Don't be a pushover when he's trying to make a date. Very early in your dating, why not get a favorite song that you both regard as your own? Find out about the girls he hasn't married. Don't repeat the mistakes they made. Don't discuss your former boyfriends. That's a good one. If you are widowed or divorced, don't constantly discuss your former husband. Be flexible. If he decides to skip the dance and go on the lake, you go, even if you're wearing your best evening gown. Hide your Phi Beta Kappa key if you own one. Later on, junior can play with it. Oh. That's cute. Turn wolves into husband material by assuming they have honor. Resist the urge to make him over, before marriage that is. Learn where to draw the line, but do it gracefully. Remain innocent, but not ignorant.
Bex Scott: [00:13:04] If all else fails, the magazine offered a section Wild Ideas, Anything Goes, which included tips such as get a hunting license and advertise for male co-owner of a boat. Okay, so we are still in the section of how to land him. Okay, a few more here. Make your home comfortable when he calls. Large ashtrays, comfortable chairs. Learn to play poker. If he's rich, tell him you like his money. The honesty will intrigue him. Wow. No, don't do that now. No. Never let him believe your career is more important to you than marriage. But on your first date, you're supposed to tell him that you're not interested in getting married. This makes no sense. Buy him an amusing or particularly appropriate present every once in a while, but don't make it too expensive. Clip and mail him a funny cartoon that means something to both of you. Oh my gosh, I thought they were going to say clip a piece of your hair. Oh, okay, we're still safe. Don't tell dirty stories. Stop being a momma's girl. Don't let him think he'll have in-law trouble even if you know he will. Point out to him that the death rate of single men is twice that of married men. Wow. That's subtle. Okay, here are the Wild Ideas, Anything Goes. Go to Yale. Get a hunting license. If your mother is fat, tell him you take after your father. If he's fat too, tell him you're adopted. Oh my gosh! Wow. Stow away on a battleship. Rent a billboard and post your picture and telephone number on it. Paint your name and number on the roof and say give me a buzz, pilots. Start a whispering campaign on how sought after you are. Sink at a fashionable beach at high noon. Ride the airport bus back and forth from the airport. Bribe ferris wheel operator to get you stuck on the top of a ferris wheel. Stand on a busy street corner with a lasso. Carry a camera and ask strange, handsome men if they would mind snapping your picture. Ask your mother to take in male boarders. What? Wow. Make and sell toupees. Bald men are easy catches. That's terrible. Advertise for male co-owner of a boat. If you see a man with a flat, offer to fix it. Is that before or after you're breaking down in different places around the city like they mentioned before? If you see a man with a flat, offer to fix it. Okay, said that one. Carry a tow chain in the trunk of your automobile. Let it be known in your office that you have a button box and will sew on bachelor's loose buttons. Don't marry him if he has too many loose buttons. The end.
Bex Scott: [00:15:56] Okay, so that was the article, and I actually only read the first few lines of it and waited to read it on the podcast, so I'm pretty shocked about a lot of those. Oh my gosh. Okay, so after digging deep into that topic, I thought it would be fun to talk about how once you've found your husband, how to look after your husband. So this is from a 1950s Home Ec book, and it's an article clipping, kind of in the same vein as the other article. But you've already landed your husband, you're married, and now this is what you have to do to keep him happy. Okay, so number one, have dinner ready. Plan ahead even the night before to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home, and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed. Number two is prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc.. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.
Bex Scott: [00:17:41] Number three. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small. Comb their hair and if necessary, change their clothes. They're little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. There's definitely been a large number of times where my husband comes home from going out somewhere, and our two year old is just running around in a diaper. So I would have already failed this number here. Next, minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him. Some don'ts. Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair. Suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind. Listen to him. You may have a million things to tell him, but his arrival at home is not the time. Let him talk first. Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other forms of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to come home and relax. The goal? Try to make your home a place of peace in order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit. Wow. Okay. Thank goodness times have changed because I think I failed a good number of those points.
Bex Scott: [00:19:35] Next up is the beauty schedule for busy young wives. So this was an interesting one because I know that well, it kind of depends on what type of beauty you're interested in, self-care, if you're interested in a lot of makeup, if you like to get your hair done frequently. It depends on your beauty rituals and routines on how you'll see this one but I don't do a lot in terms of hair and makeup. I'm pretty easy that way. So this was, I read through this schedule of the week and it was definitely interesting for me. Okay, so it says can you look your most attractive at a moment's notice? The secret is to have a weekly beauty plan like the one we outline here. 30 minutes or less a day is all the time it takes to keep you at your prettiest and ready for holiday partying anytime your husband says the word. Okay, here we go. Monday. A facial helps you start the week with a bright outlook. First, cleanse your face well with cream. Then apply a mask to your throat and face, being careful to keep it away from your eyes. This stimulates surface circulation and tightens pores. Remove the mask following directions on package about time and method. You'll feel and look fresher. Tuesday. Because you're on your feet so much, treat yourself to a pedicure and foot exercises. Only way pedicure differs from a manicure as you file toenails straight across. Easier on stockings and discourages ingrown nails. While your polish dries, spread and clench your toes by picking up marbles or roll a small bottle back and forth with the ball of each foot.
Bex Scott: [00:21:25] Wednesday. Use a razor, depilatory wax or abrasive to de-fuzz your legs and underarms. Remember, this is a feminine must all year round. Not in the winter. Just kidding. Not really. And don't forget your eyebrows. Use tweezers to eliminate stray hairs and give a clean look. Follow the natural outline of your eyebrows for most flattering results. To complete the job apply a mild, soothing antiseptic. Thursday. Shampoo your hair or, if it doesn't need washing every week - every week, wow - give your scalp a thorough, relaxing massage. Before washing, brush your hair well. Then apply shampoo. Work up a good lather and scrub your scalp with your fingertips or a brush. Rinse well. Towel dry, again massaging scalp. It's a good time to wash your comb and brush too. Definitely if you're not even washing your hair once a week. Friday. Fit your weekly manicure into the day schedule. This includes shaping your nails, pushing back the cuticle, and applying polish. First a base coat, then two coats of colored polish topped with a sealer coat. Before starting assemble all the items you will need. Use a flat working surface to speed up the job and achieve a neater and smoother results. And last we have Saturday and Sunday. Reap the rewards of time well spent during the other five days of the week, and brush up on any grooming details that you find require a little extra attention. Now you know that with only a few minutes warning, you can step out looking and feeling your best. Above all, your husband will be more encouraged to suggest last minute plans.
Bex Scott: [00:23:09] Well, that last article has made me realize how much I need to step it up during the week. I need to have my weekly beauty regimen. No, I don't think I'll go that far into things. But that is what I found for this episode on the 1950s housewife. How to find your man, how to keep him happy after you've married him, and how to keep yourself looking pretty for your man. So I would love to hear your feedback about what we just went through. Do you agree with parts of it? Do you think it's all crazy? You can find me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex. I would love to chat with you. Thanks, everybody.
Bex Scott: [00:00:02] Hey everybody, it's Bex Scott and welcome to the Pyrex with Bex podcast where, you guessed it, I talk about vintage Pyrex, but also all things vintage housewares. I'll take you on my latest thrifting adventures, talk about reselling, chat with other enthusiasts about their collections, and learn about a bunch of really awesome items from the past. Subscribe now on Apple, Spotify, or wherever you love listening to podcasts so you don't miss a beat. Hey everybody, this is Bex Scott and you are listening to the Pyrex with Bex podcast. On today's episode, I wanted to go into a topic that interests me and I'm sure interests quite a few of you as well. It's the 1950s housewife. So we just got through the holiday season. We're in January now. By the time you listen to this episode, it's probably going to be way past that. But over the holidays, I always like going through cookbooks, reading old magazines, and learning a little bit more about the 1950s and 1960s and doing some research. And this past holiday season, I came across a bunch of really good recipes, articles and books. But one in particular that I wanted to talk about today was based off of an article from a while back. It was actually published on November 7th in 2018, in the New Zealand Herald. And the title was Husband Hunting, Cringeworthy 1950s Article Advises Women on How to Attract Men. And this headline caught me right after I read it.
Bex Scott: [00:01:50] I had to go through online dating before I met my husband. Dated a whole bunch of really interesting guys, not so great guys. Just ask anybody in my family. I was very lucky to find my husband and now not have to worry about how to attract a man, as this article title says. But I always find it very interesting to learn about what women had to do, or what was kind of expected of them in that time period with beauty, with how they were supposed to act, etiquette in general, and kind of what the world expected of women in the 1950s. And I think this article sums it up perfectly. So I'm going to go through it with you. And they have the actual article from, so they wrote about it in the New Zealand Herald, but they also have the 1950s article in full here that I will read for you. And I think you guys are going to get a kick out of some of it and probably cringe at most of it, but I'd love to know what you think after this episode.
Bex Scott: [00:03:02] Okay, so they start off by saying a magazine from the 1950s features a cringe worthy advice column for single women on how to attract men. The article, headlined 129 Ways to Get a Husband from the American magazine McCall's, includes hilarious and bizarre tips where most would never be used in this era, I'm sure. Photos of the advice column were posted on Facebook, with the post quickly becoming viral. So this is in 2018. The post had been shared over 13,000 times and had caused widespread controversy, quickly racking up more than 4600 likes and thousands of comments from shocked and amused users. The feature, aimed at women who weren't married by 17, was created with the help of 16 people who used a brainstorming technique to see if they could come up with fresh ideas on how to find a husband. The first 30 pointers reveal where to find him, giving single women creative tips on how to run into their potential new husband. This section includes advice as simple as get a dog and walk it to very cynical ideas like read obituaries to find eligible widowers.
Bex Scott: [00:04:16] Okay, so there's 13 different numbers here that they've listed on where to find your husband. Number one, get a dog and walk it. Number two, have your car break down at strategic places. That sounds very sketchy to me. I would not advise this in 2025 at all. Number three, attend night school, take courses men like. Okay. Number four, join a hiking club. I know many people, I have many friends who've actually done this and met some very nice men. So a hiking club is not a bad number here. Number five, look in the census reports for places with the most single men. Nevada has 125 males for every 100 females. Number six, read the obituaries to find eligible widowers. That is crazy. We're not going to do that. Number seven, take up golf and go to different golf courses. Okay, that could be a solid go-to. Number eight, take several short vacations at different places rather than one long one at one place. Number nine, sit on a park bench and feed the pigeons. Number ten, take a bicycle trip through Europe. Mm. That sounds very romantic and not realistic to find a man on a bicycle trip. You never know. I've known people who've met their significant other on a nice European trip. Number 11, get a job in a medical, dental or law school. Number 12, become a nurse or an airline stewardess. They have very high marriage rates. Number 13, ask your friends husbands who the eligible men are in their offices.
Bex Scott: [00:06:10] Okay, so the next piece of advice is how to let him know you're there. Giving women cunning ideas to get a man's attention. Okay, so here are all 41 of the ways to let him know you're there. So feel free to try any of these if you'd like. Okay. Be nice to everybody, they may have an eligible brother or son. Get a government job overseas. Forget discretion every once in a while and call them up. Carry a hat box. I wonder what that would do now? Probably not too much. If you carried a hat box, people would be wondering what was in the box. Make a lot of money. Okay. Learn several funny stories and learn to tell them well, but make sure you don't tell them to him more than once. Walk up to him and tell him you need some advice. Dropping the handkerchief still works. You could do that with a Kleenex, but I highly doubt that a man is going to pick up your Kleenex. Have your father buy some theater tickets that have to be got rid of. Don't let him fish for your name the next time you meet. None of this guess who stuff.
Bex Scott: [00:07:35] Next, single women are given advice on how to look good to him. Suggesting what cosmetics and items to wear. Get better looking glasses. Men still make passes at girls who wear glasses. Or you could try contact lenses, number 49 advises. Wear high heels most of the time, they're sexier. Unless he happens to be shorter than you, another pointer said. Okay, so here we go, continuing on. If you're at a resort, have the bellboy page you. Buy a convertible. Men like to ride in them. Learn how to bake tasty apple pies. Bring one into the office and let the eligible bachelor taste it. Laugh at his jokes. If there's a wallflower among the men you know, why not cultivate him. Oh cultivate the flower? For all you know, he may be a diamond in the rough. Accidentally have your purse fly open, scattering its contents all over the street. I don't think I'd want any, no, no, I don't want anybody knowing what's in my purse. Not that there's anything bad in there, but probably a lot of Pyrex. No, I'm kidding. I didn't have Pyrex back in the day in my purse.
Bex Scott: [00:07:35] Okay. How to look good to him. So this is the next section. Men like to think they're authorities on perfume. Ask his advice on what kind you should wear. Practice your drinking with your women friends first. If you dye your hair, pick a shade and stick to it. Tell him he's handsome. Take good care of your health, men don't like girls who are ill. That's an obvious one. If you look good in sweaters, wear one on every third date. Dress differently from the other girls in the office. Get a sunburn. What? Watch your vocabulary. Blah blah blah. Oh, my gosh, that's a great word to stumble on. Watch your vocabulary. There we go. Go on a diet if you need to. What? When you're with him, order your steak rare. Don't tell him about your allergies. Oh, great, so he can try and kill you. That's a good one. European women use their eyes to good advantage. Practice in front of a mirror. Buy a full length mirror, and take a good look before you go to greet him. What does that mean? That's rude. Change the shade of your stockings and be sure to keep the seams straight. Get the fresh scrubbed look by scrubbing. If he has bought you any trinket or accessory, wear it. Use the ashtray. Don't crush out cigarettes in coffee cups. Polish up on making introductions. Learn to do them gracefully. Don't be too fussy. Stick to your moral standards. Don't whine. Girls who whine, stay on the vine.
Bex Scott: [00:10:29] Okay. So in the final part of the feature, the magazine provided women guidance on how to land him. Tips ranged from ask him for her recipes to find out about girls he hasn't married. Don't repeat the same mistakes they made. Okay, here we go. How to land him? Listen up everyone. Show him you can have fun on a cheap date but don't overdo it. Don't let your parents treat him like a potential husband. Ask your parents to disappear when you're entertaining. Double date with a gay, happily married couple. Let him see what it's like. Tell his friends nice things about him. Send his mother a birthday card. Ask his mother for her recipes. Talk to his father about business and agree that taxes are too high. Well that would, yeah, that would work with my dad. He enjoys talking about taxes and politics. Buy his sister's children an occasional present. On the first date tell him you aren't thinking of getting married. What? How is that helpful? Don't talk about how many children you want. If he's a fisherman, learn to scale and clean fish. Don't tell him everything about yourself at the start, hold something in reserve. When you're out strolling with him, don't insist on stopping at every shop window. Don't tell him how much your clothes cost. Learn how to sew and wear something you've made yourself. Don't gossip about him. Never let him know he's the only one even if you have to stay home 1 or 2 nights a week. Wow. Don't be a pushover when he's trying to make a date. Very early in your dating, why not get a favorite song that you both regard as your own? Find out about the girls he hasn't married. Don't repeat the mistakes they made. Don't discuss your former boyfriends. That's a good one. If you are widowed or divorced, don't constantly discuss your former husband. Be flexible. If he decides to skip the dance and go on the lake, you go, even if you're wearing your best evening gown. Hide your Phi Beta Kappa key if you own one. Later on, junior can play with it. Oh. That's cute. Turn wolves into husband material by assuming they have honor. Resist the urge to make him over, before marriage that is. Learn where to draw the line, but do it gracefully. Remain innocent, but not ignorant.
Bex Scott: [00:13:04] If all else fails, the magazine offered a section Wild Ideas, Anything Goes, which included tips such as get a hunting license and advertise for male co-owner of a boat. Okay, so we are still in the section of how to land him. Okay, a few more here. Make your home comfortable when he calls. Large ashtrays, comfortable chairs. Learn to play poker. If he's rich, tell him you like his money. The honesty will intrigue him. Wow. No, don't do that now. No. Never let him believe your career is more important to you than marriage. But on your first date, you're supposed to tell him that you're not interested in getting married. This makes no sense. Buy him an amusing or particularly appropriate present every once in a while, but don't make it too expensive. Clip and mail him a funny cartoon that means something to both of you. Oh my gosh, I thought they were going to say clip a piece of your hair. Oh, okay, we're still safe. Don't tell dirty stories. Stop being a momma's girl. Don't let him think he'll have in-law trouble even if you know he will. Point out to him that the death rate of single men is twice that of married men. Wow. That's subtle. Okay, here are the Wild Ideas, Anything Goes. Go to Yale. Get a hunting license. If your mother is fat, tell him you take after your father. If he's fat too, tell him you're adopted. Oh my gosh! Wow. Stow away on a battleship. Rent a billboard and post your picture and telephone number on it. Paint your name and number on the roof and say give me a buzz, pilots. Start a whispering campaign on how sought after you are. Sink at a fashionable beach at high noon. Ride the airport bus back and forth from the airport. Bribe ferris wheel operator to get you stuck on the top of a ferris wheel. Stand on a busy street corner with a lasso. Carry a camera and ask strange, handsome men if they would mind snapping your picture. Ask your mother to take in male boarders. What? Wow. Make and sell toupees. Bald men are easy catches. That's terrible. Advertise for male co-owner of a boat. If you see a man with a flat, offer to fix it. Is that before or after you're breaking down in different places around the city like they mentioned before? If you see a man with a flat, offer to fix it. Okay, said that one. Carry a tow chain in the trunk of your automobile. Let it be known in your office that you have a button box and will sew on bachelor's loose buttons. Don't marry him if he has too many loose buttons. The end.
Bex Scott: [00:15:56] Okay, so that was the article, and I actually only read the first few lines of it and waited to read it on the podcast, so I'm pretty shocked about a lot of those. Oh my gosh. Okay, so after digging deep into that topic, I thought it would be fun to talk about how once you've found your husband, how to look after your husband. So this is from a 1950s Home Ec book, and it's an article clipping, kind of in the same vein as the other article. But you've already landed your husband, you're married, and now this is what you have to do to keep him happy. Okay, so number one, have dinner ready. Plan ahead even the night before to have a delicious meal on time. This is a way of letting him know that you have been thinking about him, and are concerned about his needs. Most men are hungry when they come home, and the prospects of a good meal are part of the warm welcome needed. Number two is prepare yourself. Take 15 minutes to rest so you'll be refreshed when he arrives. Touch up your makeup, put a ribbon in your hair and be fresh looking. He has just been with a lot of work weary people. Be a little gay and a little more interesting. His boring day may need a lift. Clear away the clutter. Make one last trip through the main part of the of the house just before your husband arrives, gathering up school books, toys, paper, etc.. Then run a dust cloth over the tables. Your husband will feel he has reached a haven of rest and order, and it will give you a lift too.
Bex Scott: [00:17:41] Number three. Prepare the children. Take a few minutes to wash the children's hands and faces if they are small. Comb their hair and if necessary, change their clothes. They're little treasures and he would like to see them playing the part. There's definitely been a large number of times where my husband comes home from going out somewhere, and our two year old is just running around in a diaper. So I would have already failed this number here. Next, minimize all noise. At the time of his arrival, eliminate all noise of washer, dryer, dishwasher, or vacuum. Try to encourage the children to be quiet. Be happy to see him. Greet him with a warm smile and be glad to see him. Some don'ts. Don't greet him with problems or complaints. Don't complain if he's late for dinner. Count this as minor compared with what he might have gone through that day. Make him comfortable. Have him lean back in a comfortable chair. Suggest he lie down in the bedroom. Have a cool or warm drink ready for him. Arrange his pillow and offer to take off his shoes. Speak in a low, soft, soothing and pleasant voice. Allow him to relax and unwind. Listen to him. You may have a million things to tell him, but his arrival at home is not the time. Let him talk first. Make the evening his. Never complain if he does not take you out to dinner or to other forms of entertainment. Instead, try to understand his world of strain and pressure, his need to come home and relax. The goal? Try to make your home a place of peace in order where your husband can renew himself in body and spirit. Wow. Okay. Thank goodness times have changed because I think I failed a good number of those points.
Bex Scott: [00:19:35] Next up is the beauty schedule for busy young wives. So this was an interesting one because I know that well, it kind of depends on what type of beauty you're interested in, self-care, if you're interested in a lot of makeup, if you like to get your hair done frequently. It depends on your beauty rituals and routines on how you'll see this one but I don't do a lot in terms of hair and makeup. I'm pretty easy that way. So this was, I read through this schedule of the week and it was definitely interesting for me. Okay, so it says can you look your most attractive at a moment's notice? The secret is to have a weekly beauty plan like the one we outline here. 30 minutes or less a day is all the time it takes to keep you at your prettiest and ready for holiday partying anytime your husband says the word. Okay, here we go. Monday. A facial helps you start the week with a bright outlook. First, cleanse your face well with cream. Then apply a mask to your throat and face, being careful to keep it away from your eyes. This stimulates surface circulation and tightens pores. Remove the mask following directions on package about time and method. You'll feel and look fresher. Tuesday. Because you're on your feet so much, treat yourself to a pedicure and foot exercises. Only way pedicure differs from a manicure as you file toenails straight across. Easier on stockings and discourages ingrown nails. While your polish dries, spread and clench your toes by picking up marbles or roll a small bottle back and forth with the ball of each foot.
Bex Scott: [00:21:25] Wednesday. Use a razor, depilatory wax or abrasive to de-fuzz your legs and underarms. Remember, this is a feminine must all year round. Not in the winter. Just kidding. Not really. And don't forget your eyebrows. Use tweezers to eliminate stray hairs and give a clean look. Follow the natural outline of your eyebrows for most flattering results. To complete the job apply a mild, soothing antiseptic. Thursday. Shampoo your hair or, if it doesn't need washing every week - every week, wow - give your scalp a thorough, relaxing massage. Before washing, brush your hair well. Then apply shampoo. Work up a good lather and scrub your scalp with your fingertips or a brush. Rinse well. Towel dry, again massaging scalp. It's a good time to wash your comb and brush too. Definitely if you're not even washing your hair once a week. Friday. Fit your weekly manicure into the day schedule. This includes shaping your nails, pushing back the cuticle, and applying polish. First a base coat, then two coats of colored polish topped with a sealer coat. Before starting assemble all the items you will need. Use a flat working surface to speed up the job and achieve a neater and smoother results. And last we have Saturday and Sunday. Reap the rewards of time well spent during the other five days of the week, and brush up on any grooming details that you find require a little extra attention. Now you know that with only a few minutes warning, you can step out looking and feeling your best. Above all, your husband will be more encouraged to suggest last minute plans.
Bex Scott: [00:23:09] Well, that last article has made me realize how much I need to step it up during the week. I need to have my weekly beauty regimen. No, I don't think I'll go that far into things. But that is what I found for this episode on the 1950s housewife. How to find your man, how to keep him happy after you've married him, and how to keep yourself looking pretty for your man. So I would love to hear your feedback about what we just went through. Do you agree with parts of it? Do you think it's all crazy? You can find me on Instagram at Pyrex with Bex. I would love to chat with you. Thanks, everybody.