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

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.
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[@laraffinee]

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]

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

[@Rust_in_Time]

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

[@MelDaltonMusic]

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?" 😂

[@TravelingBibliophile]

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

[@justchristine8479]

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

[@Rybo4]

We all do it

[@maryrosed8475]

@@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]

Charm and good manners are things worth teaching.

[@MadamoftheCatHouse]

Who else got the feeling the interviewer is trolling everyone?

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

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]

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.

[@letsbereal9455]

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

[@otiliaflorea2830]

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.

[@Dudu-ox2rd]

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

[@fluffyfour]

Even Whicker (with an H)

[@orionxtc1119]

Yes... he did a couple of compilations of his past interviews in 2009 when he was very old...here is one... kzbin.info/www/bejne/mqjHkH6vaKulnsU

[@orionxtc1119]

And another....: kzbin.info/www/bejne/eofbc4OqfN57g8U

[@HughTVDX]

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

[@pauloliver6813]

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

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

lol 3:13

[@fluffyfour]

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

[@letsbereal9455]

I love how straightforward she is.

[@frepi]

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

[@havingalook2]

Charming.

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

0:05 Hello...

[@AprilHarmony9]

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]

At peace with one's self...

[@welshlad6427]

Bring back the charm please.

[@skylongskylong1982]

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 ?

[@TheMcleodGirl]

I have £25 ..where do I sign up

[@pauloliver6813]

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

[@6711BC]

Hmmm, where did it go?

[@dexterfitben]

Deportment, carriage and gait...lol

[@MicheleDoenges]

LOL those who can't do, teach.

[@KD400_]

Modern women need to be taught this

[@TheMcleodGirl]

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..

[@krisvind1715]

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

[@welshlad6427]

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]

@@welshlad6427 lmao jump as soon as you can bro

[@bradford_shaun_murray]

Hello...😁 0:05 0:38 👀 6:57 👀

[@gezbo66]

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

[@gregordavis]

This interviewer doesn’t listen and just fires questions

[@johnsinclair4111]

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

[@sarahlouise7163]

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

[@lazydgsf7429]

Irony.

[@I_Will_Disappoint_You]

The instructress isn't very charming.

[@pauloliver6813]

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]

she's blessed 1:27

[@qasaaye23]

Very annoying the way reporter was asking questions.

[@MelDaltonMusic]

I actually thought he was brilliant.

[@janeflip1]

What do you expect an interviewer to do!?!

[@J88HNT]

This is what the modern woman is lacking. Charm.

[@meelodeshmeeelo2034]

Perhaps it’s the company you keep

[@s.g2344]

And modern men as well

[@iamuniqueism]

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

[@Akniy]

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

[@toniyah5381]

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

[@SA-de4lc]

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

[@EM2theBee]

I don't see any women of color.

[@toniyah5381]

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

[@EM2theBee]

That just made my point.

[@toniyah5381]

@@EM2theBee what point?

[@EM2theBee]

@@toniyah5381 sorry, I edited for clarity.

[@janeflip1]

So?

[@mindblast3901]

Yes Better Days not woke BBC Trash