Here’s a look back at some do's and don’ts that show why spending a Saturday night with your sweetheart in the 1950s was the cat’s meow.
17 Ridiculous Dating Etiquette Rules from the 1950s
Don’t make the first move
Apparently, the guys were supposed to ask out the girls—only women considered “floozies” were forward enough to ask a guy out on a date first.
Respond quickly
The three-day rule (waiting three days to respond so as not to seem too eager)? The 1950s had never heard of it. When someone asked you out, you were supposed to give an immediate answer to be considered polite.
No excuses
Not interested in meeting up with someone? You’re going to have to come up with something better than needing to wash your hair. Dating in the 1950s meant never breaking a date without providing a valid reason—though to be fair, this is an etiquette rule we can get behind in any era.
Be on time
When your date arrived, women were expected to be ready to go. No making your beau wait on the couch to be grilled by your parents while you curl your hair.
Meet the parents
Getting introduced to your girlfriend’s parents can be a pretty big step in a relationship, but in the 1950s, it was customary for girls to introduce all dates to their parents before heading out the door.
Apply makeup at home
Before you left for a date is when you should be putting on makeup. Primping in public was a big no-no.
Don’t place your own order
If your date took you out to eat, it was ladylike to tell him what you wanted for dinner so he could order it for you.
Who pays?
Why, men, of course. If a woman tried to pay for a date in the 1950s, it would be humiliating to the guy. But dating can be expensive these days, so perhaps splitting the check is now the polite thing to do.
Don’t wait
Forget the days and weeks of texting back and forth before meeting for coffee. Procrastinating on asking a girl out was one of the worst things a guy could do when he was dating.
Ring the bell
Sending a text to say “I’m here” wasn’t an option in the ’50s. When a man picked up his date, he was supposed to go to the front door of her house to call for her. Honking the horn from the driveway was also considered poor form.
Wear a watch
After meeting the parents before a date, guys were supposed to ask the girl’s parents when they wanted her home. Having a working watch was the best way to make sure you didn’t bring her back too late, especially if you wanted a second date.
Help her with her coat
If you wanted to show your date how polite you were, you would help her put on her coat. It would be extra special if you offered her your coat if she didn’t have one.
Open the door
Real gentlemen opened any and all doors—cars, restaurants, you name it!—for ladies. One could argue that this is just good manners, no matter the decade, and might even be one of the etiquette rules we never should have abandoned.
Curb it
In order to protect the woman from splashed mud, road debris and—worst-case-scenario—a rogue car, men were supposed to walk between their date and the curb of the sidewalk.
Be loaded
With money, that is. OK, so maybe being rich wasn’t a dating rule in the 1950s, but a man was expected to bring enough money that his date didn’t have to pay for anything.
No kissing
Even if you really liked each other, kissing on the first date was considered moving too fast in the 1950s.
Show up with flowers
You may be able to buy yourself flowers, but in the 1950s, your date was expected to buy them for you. Most men didn’t show up empty-handed—especially if you were going to a dance, where corsages were mandatory.
Originally Published in Reminisce
