I love to get lost in an old movie. It doesn’t even have to be a good old movie, it just has to be old.
More than anything, I find those movies to be emotionally safe. There’s no disturbing level of intensity, murders were more about the mystery of solving them than the gore so in a twisted way murder was intelligent back then.
And people dressed better. Every man wore a jacket and tie which made them appear older than I suspect they really were, but more handsome too. And women wore dresses and heels. Not the three-inch high, pointy-toed variety good for walking only to the car, but one or two inch heavier versions that let you cover entire city blocks.
These well-mannered and well-coiffed individuals put themselves on planes with upholstery and little draperies and white doilies over the head rests. There was leg room and flexibility and stewardesses carrying cocktails and real food on dishes that could break.
And how about that boarding process? You bought a ticket, walked onto the tarmac with no greater fuss than a bus terminal and up the ten steps into the plane. Full body scans for children? Terrorists in black with cut-outs for eyes? It’s kind of sweet to watch an old movie and see some sweating passenger in a suit pull out a gun and produce a look of horror among women in hats and white gloves who clutched little boys in sport coats.
Ah, the good old days of air travel. Today it’s next to impossible to remain comfortable, civil and good looking when you’re packed like sardines in a can for several hours. Check that. The sardines are more comfortable. They get to lie down.
Check out this illustrated story making the rounds from the New York Times. If you’ve ever taken a long flight you’ll laugh out loud at some of the sketches.
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Hi,
That illustrated story is “spot on” as they say. All of it is actually true.
I used to love to fly. Now I’ve had to remove my shoes and belt once too often. I’ll take a bus or train if I can instead.
I remember my parents flying to Europe in the 60′s. Dad would wear a suit and tie and Mom wore what I remember as a cocktail dress. I think you got champagne even in Economy those days.
Now if we get peanuts and pretzels we’re lucky
Two things. First I too love the old movies and agree that people did look older than they actually were. Not only in the movies but in real life too. I remember when I first went to work at the mill 37 years ago most of the guys were my father’s age and looked like old men. Now I’m older than they were back then and I just know I don’t look that old. I was just reading a book on the final days of WWII and realized Hilter was my age when he died. Some reason I always thought of him as being much older.
Second. I flew across country a few weeks ago. First time flying in about ten years. I had always said that flying wasn’t much different than riding a bus. But after ten years, now I would say it equates to riding on a bus in a third world country.
Lastly a third thing. I heard on NPR this morning that it was the seventy fifth anniversary of the DC3. The plane that was the father of modern air travel.
Good Mornin Maureen, I flew 5000 hours in the military and 12 years of flying during my job of delivering new city buses throughout the whole USA and Canada. I remember the great flying days down to the lousiest days of having to take your cloths off to sit in a seat so small that center seats were out of the question for me ! I always sat in the back because I smoked in those days. Just like the old movies where everyone smoked including the doctor. Flying started me smoking and no smoking aboard, got me to quit smoking . Now I will take driving anywhere I have to go because when you’ re old nothing has to be done fast and is alot more enjoyable and that means everything !!
airport Security Run Amok.
This phot needs no description.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/globetrodden/4863009779/
I saw it somewhere on the internet first, but I recently saw Treasure of the Sierra Madre w/ Bogart and I have to concur–Bogie–supposedly a pauper stranded in Mexico, forced to beg for pesos, is exceedingly well dressed. people would drop big bucks today at trendy stores to look like he did.