Going Steady? (1951)

[@hdwarrior8830]

I started going steady in 9th grade with my now husband of 31 years. We're still going steady. lol Sometimes it turns out ok. My mother wanted me to date other guys. I was NOT interested in other guys. I saved myself for one man, and I wore his class ring until he bought an engagement ring. Everyone knew we were meant to be together, even my mother after she watched us for a while. Before she left this world she told me she had been wrong to make me date anyone else. I went out on exactly two dates with other guys, and my hubby to be was cool with it. Especially when I made both of them drop me off at HIS place after my obligatory dinner and movie and fending off octopus arms. I had a LOT of boyfriends in middle school, I was never without one. Thought I was in love a couple of times. When I met my fella, I knew immediately we were going to be friends, then I realized we were really meant to be together in a different way. He was more of a man at 14 than most older men would ever be. He has never let me down, and I have never gotten bored. I love him to bits. I am thankful to God he made one thing in my life amazing. Not easy, but amazing.

[@poetcomic1]

From class ring to engagement ring - that is sweet.

[@sarahdragons861]

The fact that you made the other guys drop you off at HIS house is EVERYTHING 😂😂😂

[@jackcallahan1848]

Wow. Crazy

[@taylorsmith4994]

met mine at 15, a few bumps in the road until we finally got to have each other. now we’re looking at apartments 💕

[@deboraholsen2504]

Wow, you are so very blessed!!! I’ve had so many problems in my life from never finding the right one and getting mixed up with wrong, wrong, wrong ones!! Two even had addictions!! 😢 I would trade places with you any day!!!

[@whosserene]

I've been binge watching old films the whole day without even realizing 😂

[@The_Food_Police]

Same lol

[@scottlawson1191]

Yep me too. Wtf...

[@PutDownTheBunny]

Sounds like hitting rock bottom to me..

[@ashdallis6701]

for some months now its been my friday tradition to binge watch 1950s videos it's what I look forward to it each week!

[@poetcomic1]

Somehow I have the feeling you are old enough to go steady and have been for some time.

[@kristopherryanwatson]

When even your mom says you've been playing the field for a while, you know you're a true player !

[@seanleith5312]

It used to be encouraged to "play the field" though.

[@DontMessWithLuigi]

Time to head over to alices house to make "fudge"

[@brianmcdonald9502]

He likes packing her fudge.

[@marcclement7396]

oh yeah. that little fella was ready to go. little did Alice know what she was in for.

[@ericastier1646]

you're degenerated by the degenerate media.

[@dougkarpf8974]

Or pack it

[@melaniemills4505]

Marie's brother was rubbing it in that he had more game than her...😎👍

[@hmar6103]

Jeff's dad's pants are out of control.

[@mikehudson8884]

Ha ha, yeh that's exactly what I thought when I saw them...WAY too high!!!

[@mikepeterson764]

The pants that ate Jeff's dad.

[@liams706]

@@mikepeterson764 that's a lot to eat

[@susanelmer1550]

I had to fast forward to check them out. 😂😂😂😂 You are so right. They are WAY out of control.

[@alexandros3362]

jeff's dad's pants and him have been going steady for quite a while now you see

[@RioMadeira]

"She wants me to come over and make some fudge with her." Is that what they called it in 1951?

[@LJ-qq3lb]

Shit got me dead

[@sarahwithrow7250]

He's too young to be making fudge with anyone. This is how kids become delinquents.

[@corkscrewfoley]

It's code for he's going over to pack fudge with Alice's brother. Hahaha.

[@thekaerichtexas]

😂😂😂😂

[@brendamcdonall5798]

I grew up in the fifties and when we had to watch films like this we thought they were hysterically funny! Anyone who thinks that we were that different from more contemporary teens is crazy. We just didn't talk about it as much. 😁

[@deboraholsen2504]

I’m glad you wrote this because I was wondering what the teens of the 50s thought of this!

[@superlibbyanne]

That bums me out.

[@lestersabados1306]

70 years old. And I got an excited. I love making fudge.

[@marklowery8193]

I wish I could go back to the girl I first fell in love with back in 8th grade and had the life experience to and understanding to stay with her. Never fail to try cause you might be worthy of the love you seek to have

[@peterjeffery8495]

Going to her place to make fudge is better than staying home pulling taffy...

[@MrMarckeedee]

Barney is over at Alice’s making fudge and big sis is still grappling with what going steady is.

[@helenaville5939]

Hmm.... they'll be fine so long as she never rifles through Jeff's wallet and finds all those photos of women he's not going steady with.

[@tundrawomansays5067]

Helenaville Never mind all the rubbers in his wallet-and the used ones behind the front seat.

[@leahpatts6007]

I feel like teens didnt actually take these seriously

[@tundrawomansays5067]

Leah Patts Let me confirm your “feel.”

[@SDS-ee9js]

Probably lol

[@ronniebishop2496]

Leah Patts They didn't but it was just like that anyway. Parents were respected and girls were too.

[@sharpaycutie2]

Probably not. Too bad they didn't.

[@therobin980]

@@ronniebishop2496 It wasn't all great backt then. Racism and sexism were normal back then.

[@evelynwilson1566]

'Will you go steady with me for 3months, beginning next Wednesday, for dates lasting no more than four hours per week, after which we will evaluate the relationship' strengths and weaknesses, take learning opportunities, then break up civilly, with the full intention of 'going steady' with each others' best friends?'

[@ingrid_inthesky]

If I fuckin hear "going steady" in my life ever again, I'm gonna go play in traffic. Holy shit.

[@StrawberrySweet206]

He wonders if they are going "steady" yet he pulls out a picture of her from his wallet? Really? Really buddy, you are surprised to even think you might be going steady? hahaha makes me laugh :D

[@mikezylstra7514]

They were holding hands and kissing on the lips. I'd say they were going steady.

[@MizzKittyBichon]

This film ought to be renamed "How to Be a Player." They pretty much already used the checkers game as a sort of metaphor.

[@thekaerichtexas]

Way better than watch the current events, news, and political debates. A nice break from reality

[@3boxop633]

Okay, I see many of the same similar questions on here so I will answer them as my parents grew up in this era. Going steady merely meant a boy or girl began to see each other exclusively. In those days boys and girls dated many different people simultaneously. There was not much of the idea of a "boyfriend" or "girlfriend" at that time. My parents always thought it was strange that in high school we had exclusive boyfriends and girlfriends. They always used that phrase "going steady" and wondered why we didn't "date around"? I always thought that concept was strange. But, times and customs change for each generation.

[@andreaweber8059]

Thank you - that is how I understood it but as English is not my native language..........Also, interesting: I used to think women at that time, especially women who are the age of Jeff's mother, were expected to marry the first guy they went steady with or, if that did not happen at the very least they did not let their next partner know..........

[@Lameashellcosplay]

My mom was a teen in the 80s and she told me her mom ((who grew up in the 40s and 50s)) always wanted her to date around and found it weird that she would settle on just one guy

[@MoralGovernment]

Also the vast majority of people weren’t having sex until marriage. And if a girl got pregnant there would be a shot gun wedding. It was considered very bad behavior for the boy to even try to have sex with a girl. And she could tell her parents and they could tell his parents and he would get in trouble. A boy could find himself unable to get a date if he got the reputation of trying to take liberties.

[@JennyBunny240]

@@MoralGovernment yeh and here in England the girls ended up in places run by nuns! They lived with their babies and frowned upon for been an unwed mother, thank heavens those times have changed

[@MsAngelique]

@topherh33 Most people aren't fond of sluts nowadays.

[@thecomrade302]

Jeff is everything

[@qqq1701]

After a thorough review I have come to the conclusion that I am not going steady.

[@edwardgaines6561]

qqq1701 You must have more game than a referee!

[@mikezylstra7514]

Try just going steady-ish.

[@retailwifelife4795]

That's Clara from the Andy Griffiths show

[@pgh45rpms]

Actress Hope Summers (1902-1979)

[@Gypsy839]

I wasn’t born yet when this was made! Makes me feel young LOL!

[@heinkle1]

"Why go steady at all? Why not 'circulate' a little?"

[@thesilentdiva]

That's actually sound advice that Jeff's parents gave

[@Igaluit]

The sound quality of those old phones beat the crap out of those tinny sounds coming from modern phones or cellphones.

[@Nigelsmom2136]

Well that's 10 minutes and 37 seconds of my life I'll never get back.

[@redwingfan9393]

Who's thinking about marriage? A LOT OF PEOPLE DO! The father was very quick to respond. Lol

[@JPBAMA]

lol ikr ? he was bout to bite Jeff's head off

[@macgirl1234]

Lol he got so heated all of a sudden!

[@Ukulilly]

This is honestly great advice, I wish more teens knew this, because nowadays they just have a boyfriend or girlfriend and get attached too quickly, but if you go on dates with multiple people you can guard your heart more easily and not fall in love too quickly with the wrong person- and this way you can figure out what you like in different people!

[@barbaraedgley2634]

Many parents didnt lije their teen going steady & getting too serious emotionally & possible making love, out of wedlock child, shotgun wedding. Seemedsafer to have less intense, more casual dates with several oeople. Find out what type of person you fit with best

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

2:20 "I hope Jeff doesn't feel that he has the right to...take liberties." "You calling me a slut, Mom?"

[@MrMarckeedee]

Meanwhile her youngest son is off “making fudge” with Alice....

[@judyholiday1794]

I can remember sneaking and barely unplugging the phone from the jack in the wall in order to keep my cousin from receiving her phone calls..She would stay on the phone for hours, and I would end up missing mine. So I took care of that problem, and to this day she has no clue why her then boyfriend wasn't calling her like he had been when they first starting going steady..

[@deboraholsen2504]

That’s mean. It’s selfish!

[@judyholiday1794]

@@deboraholsen2504 No More selfish than her hogging the phone for hours and keeping me from receiving phone calls . ☺️

[@mikezylstra7514]

Petting. My (steady-ish X 6 years) girlfriend & I thought that meant patting each other on the head. And that was about as physical as we ever got.

[@debrarufini6906]

I'm going to watch this again, counting how many words are used apart from 'going steady.'

[@dailyflash]

This has been extremely helpful. Thank you!

[@kimberleyblair3392]

mom is Clara Edward's from Andy Griffith show

[@84glewis]

Mother is Clara Edwards from Mayberry!

[@mekelreen9869]

“I hope he doesn’t feel that he can... take liberties.” 🙄🙄🙄🙄

[@MsAngelique]

@j drayton ... Taking liberties is still commonly used.

[@glennhendrickson7993]

No no not liberties

[@kamsavart]

I guess we'll never know whether or not they really went steady.

[@pgh45rpms]

They had to get married and raised five kids

[@bookgirl2]

She was literally sitting by the phone. Egads!

[@freddyfurrah3789]

I started to go steady when I was almost 17...1971. Nice seeing actors who went on to bigger and better things, in these videos.

[@sarahmeek530]

I want to know when "going steady" left the public lexicon.

[@Briarxoxo]

I went on one date with a guy and even before that one date, he was agitated that I was even talking to other guys...And I’m like if people dated multiple people at once in the 50s with no hard feelings or scandal, I can certainly do it in 2020 😂 needless to say, we didn’t go on a second date.

[@josephkelley8641]

Jeff - SO smooth on the PHONE at 2:53.

[@JakobMoscow]

"Why not circulate a little?" My entire philosophy lol

[@edwardgaines6561]

Voice Of The Revolution Spread you seed, huh? Remeber Title 4d of SS Act!

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

You mean like spinning?

[@scottphillips7524]

The first "mom" is Clara from The Andy Griffith show

[@cindytrayer4279]

The mother is Aunt Bee’s friend Clara from The Andy Griffith Show

[@keithwilson6060]

Mothers in these educational films look like grandmothers.

[@satanofficial3902]

Jeff... sadly died in Korea few months after graduation.

[@everything9137]

To those wondering steady didn't mean sex back then It ment going slow with a relationship

[@thehapagirl92]

They still fucked

[@MoralGovernment]

All 4 of my grandparents were virgins when they got married. They didn’t have birth control back then.

[@CarissaConti]

Going steady means officially boyfriend and girlfriend. Being exclusive with each other, not dating others. Not on the market. No longer single and dating around. It has nothing to do with slow or fast.

[@mredwardgibbon]

Uhh, no actually. Contraceptives didn't exist then. The only rule as far as I can tell was the taking of liberties responsibly. Otherwise, Mr 🔧 stayed out of the toolbox 😏

[@mredwardgibbon]

@simone

[@AshtasticAcrobat]

Sounds like Jeff doesn’t know what he wants. Time to move on Marie.

[@heinkle1]

"Come on dad, let's play some more checkers"

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

"Oh, I guess I can skin you again." What a perv.

[@pakkmann]

Jeff clearly sucks at checkers. Marie is holding back his game!

[@mikepeterson764]

She kinda looks like Joanie from Happy Days.

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

Except constipated.

[@Disneyfan1955]

I thought so too! David from Sebring Florida

[@ontheshelf26]

Thought the same thing

[@shadowwolf7622]

I have a serious question to ask. How far dif they average girls go back then when "making out" in parked cars with boys?

[@tundrawomansays5067]

Jimmie Harris “🎶Those Cath-o-lic girls start much too late, sooner or later it comes down to fate, ya might as well have some fun, only the good die young..🎶”

[@CroixdeLorraine]

@@tundrawomansays5067 "They say.that going steady's not the proper thing I only know I love you.... Oh, wear my ring around your neck To show the world you're mine by heck Let ' em know I love you so Oh let'em know by that ring around your neck!!"😁😁😉😉✝️⚜️

[@linw1486]

Kissing, fondling but no sex.

[@CarissaConti]

@@linw1486 Think again. Plenty of girls wound up pregnant. They either gave the babies up for adoption or got sent away to some home. And it wasn't talked about. But it happened all the time. People are people, nothing's changed.

[@poetcomic1]

I was THERE back then and me and my friends dated 'nice' girls (i.e. virgins) but it wasn't too frustrating - they did EVERYTHING else (and I mean everything).

[@blockcl]

Jeff looks closer to his dad's age than Marie's age.

[@jeremywillis2433]

Is that Clara from the Andy Griffith show?

[@hearttoheart4me]

Jeff has perfect hair, perfect eyebrows, cleft chin and well other parts unseen.

[@thesilentdiva]

U betta circulate 😂

[@gillies9]

I cannot hear the name "Barney" without thinking of Rubble or Fife. Nip it. Nip it in the bud.

[@charlesyoung9980]

Circulate a little = Play the field.

[@thelasttrumpet2915]

1950: ”Should I go steady?” ”Will he take advantage of me?” ”Am I old enough to think about marriage?” 2021: ”What gender am I - and which pronouns should I make people call me?” ”Should I have a brazilian wax before my date?” ”Should I bring a condom?” Times have certainly changed…

[@edwardgaines6561]

Keep in mind this was BEFORE the birth control pill. Going steady didn't mean "steady sex."😁

[@MsAngelique]

They did have condoms, though.

[@midevilgurl8765]

It might. After all, "liberties." And for many parents that was the real worry.

[@edwardgaines6561]

@@midevilgurl8765 Ah yes, but they called it necking, canoodling, girls who park, or some other old-timey phrase.

[@mikezylstra7514]

Chicks knew what oral was.

[@maggiem9343]

I wish things were like this now, I wanna date multiple people and get to know them before I choose to go steady with someone

[@pudding6899]

Yesterday my date partner asked me to go steady with him, and I just don't know, we've gone on 15 dates on phone call so far, I don't really know much about going steady, does that mean we date until engagement? Oh I'd love to date until engagement, what do they call it, ah an promise ring right? If I go steady does he get me a promise ring? Oh brother I am so new to this . Someone help me on out, it'd be wonderful.

[@Spudst3r]

4:36 "Eh"... definitely a Canadian production :)

[@SimirJohnson]

I pet my dog, but were not going steady. Is that an issue?

[@Whiskerybeast]

I think both of them realised that they liked each other, but that's about it. It's nice to have a guy who will mostly go out with you and have a pleasant evening. But on the other hand, they have progressed to kissing and he has a picture of her in his wallet.

[@kamjo79]

Crap. I think I'm going steady. :(

[@edwardgaines6561]

Kam Jo In the age of Tinder?😕

[@littlephlox8255]

Same :)

[@MrMarckeedee]

Wait until get to make fudge. That’s when the fun really starts!

[@tncowgirl34]

Hey, the mom is the same lady who played Clara on The Andy Griffith show!

[@annieyasko7703]

My...have times changed

[@thelasttrumpet2915]

1950: ”Should I go steady?” ”Will he take advantage of me?” ”Am I old enough to think about marriage?” 2021: ”What gender am I - and which pronouns should I make people call me?” ”Should I have a brazilian wax before my date?” ”Should I bring a condom?” Times have certainly changed…

[@Mary-el3pi]

His dad really has a lot of jobs…he’s been a doctor and a principal in several of these films!

[@terricrouch548]

Jeff's dad is the film's narrator.

[@eveDjakku]

don't do it bro, don't do it!

[@MxAxMar]

Marie looks 12 and Jeff looks 34

[@MarkHolzhauer_Holzy]

Everything turnedd out fine.

[@TheNinjapancake14]

Why does Jeff look 20 years older than Marie? 😭

[@Ed_Okin]

6:23 Older now? Jeff looks like he’s 30 and mother and father in their 60s. I have not been able to figure out why everyone in it 40s and 50s look so much older than they would now. it’s not meant to be a slight, or a criticism is just something that is a curiosity.

[@chynnadoll3277]

Lol, it’s true 😊😂

[@davinawonderling9361]

Maybe it's how they styled their hair. I have seen pictures in yearbooks from those days, and it's amazing how the girls looked older than they actually were because of how they did their hair. I find it fascinating.

[@madeleineoneill5563]

Okay, but how old is Jeff and how old is Marie....

[@CarissaConti]

30, and 14 apparently. ;D

[@ontheshelf26]

forget Alice and the brother, I wanna make ‘fudge’ with Jeff 💦

[@jeromekhies4948]

i Love watching oLd fiLm.. As Long it has good Lesson on each view.

[@bradleysmall2230]

if your hand is starting to clear up and is free of callous sores and rubbing abrasions and the redness and bruises are gone then your going steady with a girl..

[@bradleysmall2230]

dense hershey highway fudge

[@JakobMoscow]

"Oh yes Alice"??? Player!

[@alexandros3362]

Not a player , a circulater !

[@JennyBunny240]

Right kids, take out your exercise books and write down all the advantages and disadvantages of going steady! 😁

[@joegambitt7414]

What does it mean to get going steady?

[@maryanne2025]

Joaquin Salgado Lopez them being girlfriend and boyfriend

[@thomasb.2506]

Quite sad that even in these times the parents advised to not marry the first man/woman you go out with. Obviously this is not a MUST, but for me it is! I don't want a man who's heart belonged to 5 other girls before he gave it to me :-( "Don't make any commitments." - Does it not sound so wrong?

[@pineapplekelsey5951]

But with each relationship you experience and end, you learn a lot about yourself and what you need and want in a significant other. Not a must but sometimes it can be helpful. Even just after my first relationship ended and I got over him, I could clearly see we wouldn't have worked well together and now in my current relationship those problems I had from the first relationship aren't qualities my current boyfriend has. That's why people say it's good to date a few people. Again not saying your wrong, just attempting to give some perspective.

[@MsAngelique]

That's ... just not a healthy way to date. People need experience before they can truly do well.

[@mredwardgibbon]

Go to a pub. Pick up a dart and throw it at the dart board. If you have never played before in your life, there is a 99 percent chance you won't hit the bulls-eye. What makes you think the first man is going to be "the one"?

[@lesleymaner2851]

I see what you mean Thomas. You don’t want to marry the first person who winks at you, but you don’t want to date someone who’s played more fields than the NFL has

[@harlow743]

His father didn't take his own advice he did make a commitment

[@heatherhutchinson3625]

That is why I don't like dating. Too complicated. I would rather go straight to parenting.

[@johnthomas1224]

What does she mean when she says "take liberties"? 2:20

[@henzsol6771]

Being liberal with physical touching, it means having the right to put your hands on the other person, in a sexual or romantic way.

[@oghren6617]

It’s playing the field for me

[@vacaspen5038]

Go to good talk feared the move where his own habits he was respectful of her time and they both have a right to see how they get along with other people

[@davemonahan4508]

Poor fool doesn't know how "going steady" he is.

[@tundrawomansays5067]

Dave Monahan Just wait till she tells him she killed the rabbit.

[@poetcomic1]

Jeff is WAY out of her league.

[@faflamingo2193]

That's what I thought too.

[@rvalasini9938]

I would argue that She is out of Jeff's league.

[@thehapagirl92]

That actor is probably super pissed he didn’t get an Ava Gardner lookalike actress.

[@GenerallyGeneralLee]

@Simonne Instead of this loser with a pinched up face like a cat's ass.

[@sacrosby]

Jeff looks about 25 and she looks about 12

[@neetucyprus4771]

Really I love you watch old American English movies

[@sulaganabiswas]

Jeff likes Diane more than Marie???

[@zethraelofteldrassil3149]

Isn't it against the law for a father and daughter to go steady?

[@carolcraine5129]

Nine months after making fudge🍼

[@11ariadna11]

It looked like Jeff was taking an iphone from his pocket

[@MarkHolzhauer_Holzy]

Break up before getting married. If she flips out, don't get married.

[@andystevenson5067]

Why did they make these???

[@muffinsmcgee9248]

I needed a laugh!!! The 1950’s were so much easier than things are today.

[@gotes25]

It looks like Ms. Clara from the Andy Griffith show!