Who says air hostesses have to look like this… TWA says they can look like … Girls! 1969
The first female ‘flight attendant’ was a 25-year-old registered nurse named Ellen Church. Hired by United Airlines in 1930. Other airlines followed suit, hiring nurses to serve as flight attendants, then called “stewardesses” or “air hostesses”, on most of their flights. The British airline Imperial Airways were the first to have “cabin boys” or “stewards” and in the US Stout Airways was the first to employ stewards in 1926 with Western Airlines (1928) and Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) (1929) the first US carriers to employ stewards to serve food.
According to wikipedia, in the United States the job of ‘flight attendant’ was one of only a few in the 1930s to permit women, which, coupled with the Great Depression, led to large numbers of applicants for the few positions available. Two thousand women applied for just 43 positions offered by Transcontinental and Western Airlines in December 1935. Female flight attendants rapidly replaced male ones, and by 1936, they had all but taken over the role and were selected not only for their knowledge but also for their characteristics. A 1936 New York Times article described the requirements:
The girls who qualify for hostesses must be petite; weight 100 to 118 pounds; height 5 feet to 5 feet 4 inches; age 20 to 26 years. Add to that the rigid physical examination each must undergo four times every year, and you are assured of the bloom that goes with perfect health.
Three decades later, a 1966 New York Times classified ad for stewardesses at Eastern Airlines listed these requirements:
A high school graduate, single (widows and divorcees with no children considered), 20 years of age (girls 19 1/2 may apply for future consideration). 5’2″ but no more than 5’9″, weight 105 to 135 in proportion to height and have at least 20/40 vision without glasses.
23 years old… and what popularity, Capital Airlines, November 1950
KLM suggests you choose a ‘steady’, August 1969
American Airlines, September 1940, Let me show the way to go home
Luxury in the President Special, Pan American Airlines, 1949
Singapore Airlines, As you were asleep we decided not to stop, April 1986
A Journey should be enjoyed not endured Japanese Airlines, March 1989
Welcome to the two worlds of JAL, January 1963 Japanese Airlines
The way people feel about American Airliines depends on the way they feel about me Victoria Getz, April 1976
What airline tempts your taste the most, United Airlines, c1955
SAS Happiness on the menu with SAS worldwide, date unknown
Continental Can, Serving America, January 1954
Why people like to fly United, July 1950
People keep stealing our stewardesses, American Airlines, June 1965
On first name terms with her customers, North Central Airplines, December 1964
She speaks your language, Happy talk, Japanese Air Lines, January 1969
PIA now fly to Paris, etc, January 1967
KLM airline, you’re in for a king size surprise, January 1967
This One Ticket covers Everything, United Airlines, April 1949
The Story behind your flight, United Air Lines, June 1940
It’s wise to smoke extra mild FATIMA, September 1954
Don’t be fooled by a pretty face. We’re Not. Alitalia May 1965
Casanova, KLM offers you a choice of stewardesses uniforms, June 1969
CIAO, Alitalia , June 1965
This KLM Stewardess walks 8 miles, June 1963
She’s an artful conjuror, Japan Air Lines, 1970
A typical insincere American, TWA January 1964
The Crave for Candy, an airhostess speaks 1947
“Salon above the clouds!” Boeing 1950 for major airlines
Happiness is on the Menu with SAS worldwide, c.1974
Timesaving Transportation and Flagship Hospitality, American Airlines March 1945
She even took the trouble to remember my name, American Airlines, Al Parker, April 1958
Dale Robertson smokes Chesterfields, 1952
Eastern Airlines ad 70s
Braniff Airlines
“Introducing the Strip” – Branniff International, 1965
1969 BUA British United Airways Advert VC10 Stewardess
United Airlines stewardess 1968
1956 BOAC ad
Just a working girl working. 1969 ad for Delta Airlines
Old Maid – 1967
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