This book covers everything from proper attire and beauty care to the proper gloves to wear.
Chapter 15 has the interesting title of Grooming the Thoroughbred.
One of the topics it discusses is choosing the proper brassiere and corset. (When is the last time you hears those words?)
Here's an excerpt:
" If your figure is overweight, you must wear your girdle or corset all day and every day. Without it, your figure will spread as you grow older."
Oh dear, so that's what happened to my figure.
My mom actually believed this, and wore her boned, one- piece corset every day for as long as I can remember.
I remember looking at this book when I was a teenager, and trying to do some of the exercises. They are funny today, but must have been the latest thing in the '40s.
Ladies, now grip the top of the door and stretch and pull and kick. :)... Now call the carpenter to repair the door...
Now it's bicycle time... huff, puff...
I noticed some of the pages had a little check mark at the top. They must have been some of Mom's favorite exercises.
...careful that you don't turn over in the chair...
... and from the straight chair to the rocking chair...
...now on the bench...
... now hit the shower. Love that beachy wallpaper?
Careful now, last one. Don't slip. (I think I'd try this one outside the tub.)
Mind you, I'M NOT RECOMMENDING ANY OF THESE EXERCISES OR CORSET WEARING!! :(
But, I got such a giggle reading parts of this book, I wanted to share them with you for Vintage Inspiration Fridays
I know this isn't the usual Vintage Inspiration, but I hope you enjoyed it. See you at Debra's Common Ground party.
Hugs,
Babs
20 comments:
Hey now...I used to do that "bicycle thing" and it seemed to keep my abs in some shape. Alas, Now I am so out of shape I couldn't even begin to do that. Wonder why I stopped...and surely wish I hadn't ;)
Janet
The upside-down one in the chair cracks me up. It's so nice that this belonged to your mom and has a special place in your home. Definitely vintage inspiration.
Babs, that is too funny. I want you to go hang from the door now. That
is the funniest thing I have ever seen. I used to do the bicycle exercise. Oh me I guess it is too late to wear a girdle all the time.
Babs,
How cute...love this post!
Hugs,
Tami
Babs, this is too funny. Thanks for sharing.
OMG Babs! I am laughing so hard I cannot stand it. I am seeing my mother as I type.... but I probably need to be doing this stuff...maybe it does work!?? OMG Babs! I may have dreams tonight.
Hello,
I visited your blog today...I saw you on Small Town USA. Your photos are so pretty. I loved the rooster pictures. Me and my daughters just started a new blog, and we would love it if you could visit us and follow. I would enjoy coming back to visit with you and seeing all your wonderful creative ideas. Hope to hear from you, and have a lovely weekend.
~Sheri at Red Rose Alley
I love that book! I remember doing the bicycle one. and the rocker one. The one over that big chair looks like torture.
I am so glad we got over the girdle. I do have one friend who still wears her girdle every day. She is 76 and looks good!
That book is precious, thanks for sharing.
How funny! I remember actually doing some of those exercises! (I also remember wearing a girgle)
:)
Donna
Babs,
My MoMa made me wear a panty girdle when I was only 88 lbs. and YES...I've done MANY of those excerises!!!Oh, my...am I telling my age or WHAT??? Thanks for the giggles! Guess I should have never quit doing them...haven't seen 88lbs. since. Ha!
Fondly,
Pat
Those are so funny. My 13 yo asked what I was laughing about, when I showed him, he wanted to know why I was laughing at the lady stuck to the door! So funny. I can remember my Mom doing some of those. Good riddence to the girdle.
Hi Babs, I had to laugh at hanging from the door and the chair exercise...looks like torture to me. I love old books and I just bought a stack from early 1900. One is a book on enjoying travel by steam boat.
xo,
Sherry
What fun it was reading this I am so glad you shared it with us. Do you know I can even remember doing a couple of those exercises in PE class at school!
I can remember doing that bicycle one!!! My back is so bad now, I couldn't do it to save my life!!!
OMG! This post is hilarious! I laughed out loud at the picture of the woman hanging from the door. The woman on the chair looks like something one might see in a porno movie. Thanks for the morning giggle (and the reminder that we've come a long way!).
ohmygosh, this is a scream! After I finished laughing I enjoyed all the lovely furniture. LOL!! The one on the door had me rolling in the floor!!! I wonder how many doors were destroyed by this one exercise book!!! Thanks so much for linking up, this is a real winner! xoxo Debra
I recognized some of those exercises. I can still see my own mom doing that bicycle one.
And the corset thing? I guess I know the reason for the spread now...
I remember the rocking chair and bicycle from PE classes in high school. Another memory is the awful dark blue gym suits with bloomer legs, we wore!
This was such a funny post to look back at what was once thought of as 'exercise' for women! That woman hanging from the door is a riot along with the look on the face of the woman doing the rocking chair!
Thanks for the smiles :)
That bicycle excercise really takes me back! Love it!
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