1958: Could you survive 50s CHARM SCHOOL? | Tonight | Classic BBC clips | BBC Archive

แชร์
ฝัง
  • เผยแพร่เมื่อ 23 ก.พ. 2022
  • Alan Whicker visits a London charm school for women, to find out the various dos and don'ts (mostly don'ts) one should adhere to in polite society. He speaks to Mrs Astelle - the tutor at the school - who faces the unenviable task of teaching a group of frightfully uncouth 1950s ruffians some proper deportment and etiquette.
    Whicker also meets a few charm school graduates, who are now officially charming. They clearly feel it was worthwhile.
    This clip is from Tonight, originally broadcast 4 March, 1958.
    You have now entered the BBC Archive, a time machine that will transport you back to the golden age of tv to educate, entertain and enlighten you through our classic tv clips from the BBC vaults.
    Make sure you subscribe so that you never miss a single stop on our amazing journey through the BBC Archive - th-cam.com/users/BBCArchive?...
  • บันเทิง

ความคิดเห็น • 84

  • @laraffinee
    @laraffinee หลายเดือนก่อน +4

    I went to Charm School in the 1960's for 12 weeks. I am so grateful that my Mother insisted that my sister and I complete Charm School. I was 13 at the time and it was wonderful. I learned how to care for my skin, basic makeup and hair grooming techniques, proper posture and gait. proper social interactions and etiquette, and how to entertain. This training was invaluable! As a fun side note, I was chosen as the "Most Charming" at the Graduation ceremony and still have the Charm bracelet commemorating it. This training gave me the confidence and presence of being that affected my whole future. I have been a Doctor for over 35 years and my husband is a professor at a very prestigious University, so we have had many social interactions with World leaders and other prominent people. Although there have been many other influences and mentors in my life, Charm School was certainly a valuable foundation for me. I do not understand why such schools do not exist any more.

  • @betsyrocks
    @betsyrocks 2 ปีที่แล้ว +36

    Mrs Astelle's a right laugh. I bet she's fun at a party.

    • @Rust_in_Time
      @Rust_in_Time ปีที่แล้ว +7

      She just likes to show them that they're 'doing it all WRONG'!

  • @TravelingBibliophile
    @TravelingBibliophile ปีที่แล้ว +24

    With inflation they each paid £431.62 (in 2021 cash) for charm school.

  • @MelDaltonMusic
    @MelDaltonMusic ปีที่แล้ว +19

    That interviewer is a kick in the pants. "What were you doing *wrong* before you took the course?" 🤣 "Can you *learn* a naturalness at a 25 Guinea course?" 😂

  • @justchristine8479
    @justchristine8479 ปีที่แล้ว +30

    I think I must have let myself go 🤔….. as am sat watching this in my trackpants and dressing gown at midday.

    • @Rybo4
      @Rybo4 ปีที่แล้ว +1

      We all do it

    • @maryrosed8475
      @maryrosed8475 ปีที่แล้ว +5

      @@Rybo4 My late Mum always said never let yourself go! She was always immaculately groomed. Unfortunately I did not take after her!
      But the 50's/60's were very elegant times.

  • @josefserf1926
    @josefserf1926 5 หลายเดือนก่อน +9

    Charm and good manners are things worth teaching.

  • @letsbereal9455
    @letsbereal9455 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    Bring back the charm schools! Here in the USA, charm schools were common for young women in the 1950s too.

  • @MadamoftheCatHouse
    @MadamoftheCatHouse ปีที่แล้ว +21

    Who else got the feeling the interviewer is trolling everyone?

    • @bradford_shaun_murray
      @bradford_shaun_murray ปีที่แล้ว +4

      exactly ..we know it, he definitely knows it, but in 1958 they most probably didn't know it lol :
      0:38
      2:13
      5:38
      6:57

    • @davidlong1459
      @davidlong1459 ปีที่แล้ว +3

      Alan Whicker was brilliant at these sorts of things. Only properly saw the latter end of his career growing up in the 70s but his dry wry approach was genius and he charmed insights from any interviewee, literally from the least to the most powerful and influential people in the world.

  • @HughTVDX
    @HughTVDX ปีที่แล้ว +14

    Basil Fawlty said his wife's charm school was bombed in the war.

    • @pauloliver6813
      @pauloliver6813 ปีที่แล้ว

      Perfect ! Sadly there are still more than a few Mrs Astelle's around in the world aren't there?

    • @bradford_shaun_murray
      @bradford_shaun_murray ปีที่แล้ว

      lol
      3:13

  • @Dudu-ox2rd
    @Dudu-ox2rd 2 ปีที่แล้ว +22

    Alan Wicker, very popular, top documentary maker active up to the 80s I believe. Had a programme called "Wicker's World "

    • @fluffyfour
      @fluffyfour ปีที่แล้ว +1

      Even Whicker (with an H)

    • @orionxtc1119
      @orionxtc1119 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Yes... he did a couple of compilations of his past interviews in 2009 when he was very old...here is one...
      th-cam.com/video/dwd_Ky3Frhc/w-d-xo.html

    • @orionxtc1119
      @orionxtc1119 8 หลายเดือนก่อน

      And another....:
      th-cam.com/video/DVxBPtGyHMc/w-d-xo.html

  • @otiliaflorea2830
    @otiliaflorea2830 21 วันที่ผ่านมา +1

    Charm can’t be bought and it can’t be taught. True charm is the gift of God and I think that this video shows the truth of what I say.

  • @frepi
    @frepi ปีที่แล้ว +19

    What was called "charm" then I would be called manners today

  • @havingalook2
    @havingalook2 ปีที่แล้ว +3

    Charming.

  • @welshlad6427
    @welshlad6427 2 ปีที่แล้ว +24

    Bring back the charm please.

  • @fluffyfour
    @fluffyfour ปีที่แล้ว +11

    That scary woman defining charm reminded me of some of my worst teachers. Terrifying!

    • @letsbereal9455
      @letsbereal9455 หลายเดือนก่อน

      I love how straightforward she is.

  • @AprilHarmony9
    @AprilHarmony9 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +3

    I've been to a business and social etiquette program before (but it wasn't a school). I passed actually but thats b/c my father raised w/ social graces already😁 I had a ball❤💯

  • @grhinson
    @grhinson ปีที่แล้ว +3

    At peace with one's self...

  • @pauloliver6813
    @pauloliver6813 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Mrs Estelle- the definition of charmlessness. Of course, truly charming Alan Whicker knows it.

  • @TheMcleodGirl
    @TheMcleodGirl 2 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    I have £25 ..where do I sign up

  • @skylongskylong1982
    @skylongskylong1982 6 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

    A lot of money in 1958, when secretary was paid just over £7.00 .
    So was U.K. in the fifties, and sixties, overall better than it is today ?

  • @6711BC
    @6711BC ปีที่แล้ว

    Hmmm, where did it go?

  • @dexterfitben
    @dexterfitben ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Deportment, carriage and gait...lol

  • @krisvind1715
    @krisvind1715 2 ปีที่แล้ว +13

    Everything about this video seems creepy, but they way the interviewer moves his weird little mouth is hillarious

    • @welshlad6427
      @welshlad6427 2 ปีที่แล้ว +12

      I’d say the world we live in now is far more weird than this clip would ever be. Bring back the charm schools please.

    • @Rybo4
      @Rybo4 ปีที่แล้ว

      @@welshlad6427 lmao jump as soon as you can bro

    • @bradford_shaun_murray
      @bradford_shaun_murray ปีที่แล้ว

      Hello...😁 0:05
      0:38 👀
      6:57 👀

    • @gezbo66
      @gezbo66 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Creepy, You must be joking. Heave a look at today’s youth and the word creepy takes on a new significance.

  • @gregordavis
    @gregordavis ปีที่แล้ว +2

    This interviewer doesn’t listen and just fires questions

  • @johnsinclair4111
    @johnsinclair4111 ปีที่แล้ว +11

    A time when there were standards in society, unlike the lowest common denominator so popular with the BBC today

  • @MicheleDoenges
    @MicheleDoenges 9 หลายเดือนก่อน

    LOL those who can't do, teach.

    • @KD400_
      @KD400_ 5 หลายเดือนก่อน

      Modern women need to be taught this

  • @TheMcleodGirl
    @TheMcleodGirl 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    Obviously the interviewer is devoid of charm as he keeps interrupting Mrs Astelles... I'm sure it's her good manners that keeps her from clipping him around the ear.. I hope he has £25 in his pocket and registers for one of her (beginner) classes..

  • @sarahlouise7163
    @sarahlouise7163 2 หลายเดือนก่อน

    i think Ms Charm School could do with some lessons herself. really quite charmLESS.

  • @lazydgsf7429
    @lazydgsf7429 ปีที่แล้ว +2

    Irony.

  • @qasaaye23
    @qasaaye23 ปีที่แล้ว +6

    Very annoying the way reporter was asking questions.

    • @MelDaltonMusic
      @MelDaltonMusic ปีที่แล้ว +4

      I actually thought he was brilliant.

    • @janeflip1
      @janeflip1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      What do you expect an interviewer to do!?!

  • @I_Will_Disappoint_You
    @I_Will_Disappoint_You ปีที่แล้ว +3

    The instructress isn't very charming.

    • @pauloliver6813
      @pauloliver6813 ปีที่แล้ว

      Absolutely! Charmless, really. But then again, who can say what social skills will be like in 65 years from now? On the evidence of this 2 minute, 65 year old clip I don't like Mrs Astelle, but I have to say , at least she seems convinced by her own convictions.

    • @bradford_shaun_murray
      @bradford_shaun_murray ปีที่แล้ว +1

      she's blessed 1:27

  • @J88HNT
    @J88HNT 2 ปีที่แล้ว +32

    This is what the modern woman is lacking. Charm.

    • @meelodeshmeeelo2034
      @meelodeshmeeelo2034 ปีที่แล้ว +29

      Perhaps it’s the company you keep

    • @s.g2344
      @s.g2344 ปีที่แล้ว +28

      And modern men as well

    • @iamuniqueism
      @iamuniqueism ปีที่แล้ว +3

      @@s.g2344 men don't need charm!!!

    • @Akniy
      @Akniy ปีที่แล้ว +13

      Considering you make this kind of comment it's definitely because of you.

    • @toniyah5381
      @toniyah5381 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +2

      @@iamuniqueismbut men should be gentleman like just as women should be ladies

  • @SA-de4lc
    @SA-de4lc ปีที่แล้ว +6

    "Modesty is the guardian of chastity." With the feminism, the modesty is gone !

  • @mindblast3901
    @mindblast3901 ปีที่แล้ว +7

    Yes Better Days not woke BBC Trash

  • @EM2theBee
    @EM2theBee 10 หลายเดือนก่อน

    I don't see any women of color.

    • @toniyah5381
      @toniyah5381 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      It was a different time period and in Europe. Women of color in the upper class had access to their own finishing schools.

    • @EM2theBee
      @EM2theBee 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      That just made my point.

    • @toniyah5381
      @toniyah5381 7 หลายเดือนก่อน +1

      @@EM2theBee what point?

    • @EM2theBee
      @EM2theBee 7 หลายเดือนก่อน

      @@toniyah5381 sorry, I edited for clarity.

    • @janeflip1
      @janeflip1 4 หลายเดือนก่อน

      So?