Come Fly With Us!: A Global History of the Airline Hostess - Softcover

Omelia, Johanna; Waldock, Michael

Softcover

ISBN 10: 1933112069 ISBN 13: 9781933112060

Publisher: Collectors Pr, 2006

Synopsis

When the first commercial flights took off in the 1930s, stewardesses were registered nurses whose duties included swatting flies and helping passengers read railroad timetables in the event of forced landings. In the 1950s, stewardesses were viewed as wives-in-training, as adept at preparing a baby's bottle as mixing a martini. By the swinging ’60s and ’70s, female flight attendants were considered successful marketing tools, sporting microminis, hot pants, and buttons that read "Pure, Sober, and Available" to lure male business passengers on board. Come Fly with Us! explores the unique history of this industry pioneered by women, tracing changes in the flight attendant's role — from flying nurse to airborne sex kitten to today's custodian of safety and service. Stunning visuals from airline archives and early flight maps, promotional brochures, and print advertisements re-create a sense of the early days and underscore the dramatic changes that have occurred in this dynamic industry.

About this title

From the Inside Flap:

In 1930, a young woman named Ellen Church from Cresco,Iowa, talked an airline executive into hiring her as the world's first airline hostess. In doing so, she created a new profession, and a revolutionary shift in the public's perception of women at work began.

About the Author:

Johanna Omelia has served as editor-in-chief of various new York-based magazines. She is the author and photographer of Summer in Santa Fe, a regional culture/cuisine book, and is based in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

Michael Waldock has managed companies in the United States and Europe. Over the years he has traveled millions of miles on the world's airlines, which led to his interest in the development of commercial aviation. He lives in Santa Fe, New Mexico.

About this edition

• Publisher: Collectors Pr
• Publication date: 2006
• ISBN 10: 1933112069
• ISBN 13: 9781933112060
• Binding: Paperback
• Edition number: 1
• Number of pages: 160