Are You Popular?

Girls who park in cars with boys are not popular, according to this little piece of post-war propaganda. Ginny parks in cars with boys. Do the other kids really like Ginny? Well, maybe not the girls, but dollars to donuts the boys like her just fine and she never has trouble getting a date.

But, according to this film, Ginny is not welcome at the high school lunch table with the other kids. Who is welcome? How about that new girl, Caroline, who is so tight-assed that she squeaks when she walks? Perfect. Everyone loves a prude. Caroline and her mother have figured out a way to reward a boy for entertaining her on a date- "a bite to eat" at her house afterwards. My guess is, Ginny has a MUCH better way to reward a boy.

This is a high school hygiene film intended to instruct kids how to act "properly". Even in the 40's, I imagine no end of chuckles were had as the kids were forced to watch this. Still, it makes for pretty amusing viewing today, although modern kids will find no instructions on the best place for their first piercing, or what their tramp stamp slogan should be. Available on Youtube.

Ask any teenager this and you'll trigger a storm of emotions; either of supreme egotism, or levels of self-doubt that are crippling. I'm not implying that it isn't a valuable question -- although to an older person, the issue of popularity may decline with the self-assurance that success and maturity should bring -- but that it's a question that will cause a lot of angst.

And so it is a good title. Actually, there are some good tips here for managing a teenager's social life here, and they should work in the 21st century, with appropriate technological updating. For a Coronet short, this one is pretty good.

This is hilarious stuff! Poor old Ginny. She tries so hard to be popular by 'parking' with the boys in their cars - but where does it get her?

Do you think this piece is possibly about underage sex?!

The good girl is actually the most annoying of the two - far too smug. But the dating scenario is very insightful and realistic. O.k, I'm being sarcastic now! Considering I'm from England where we don't really do the dating thing, this is pure class. Wooden acting, authoritive male voice over, 2.4 family, typical 1950s suburban white middle classes, ice skating parties, high school canteen - it all adds up to a nice piece of kitsch Americana. Obviously intended to be taken seriously (much in the same way as 'Reefer madness')it is now, in the light of contemporary cultural context, very funny and entertaining.

Definitely worth a look!