Etiquette Humor from 1909

Ladies should precede in the theater, but follow the gentleman in church…?

Editor Bok of the Ladies’ Home Journal, who instructs his readers in etiquette, says that a lady entering a theatre should precede her escort down the aisle, but in entering a church she should follow him. 

Possibly Editor Bok can give another reason for this, but it looks as though he were afraid the escort would get away from church if the lady were not between him and the door. -The Press Democrat, 1909

🍽️Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber of  The RSVP Institute of Etiquette, is the Site Editor of the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia 

Early Hollywood Etiquette Humor

When he meets people, he always clicks his heels and bows from the waist and I’ve always thought he was one of the most cultured gentlemen I ever saw. 

Well, I’m gradually beginnin’ to absorb some of this Hollywood etiquette.There’s one parlor “lion” that I’ve kinda taken as a model. When it comes to parlor manners around the ladies, he is a dandy. When he meets people, he always clicks his heels and bows from the waist and I’ve always thought he was one of the most cultured gentlemen I ever saw. I’ve been on quite a few parties with him and every time a lady walks in the room where he’s sittin’ he jumps to his feet and stands until she sits down. The other day I was ridin’ on a bus and this gentleman comes in with a lady I never saw before. There wasn’t any vacant seat so I jumped up but the actor beat her to the seat. I turned to him and says “I beg your pardon, brother, I meant that seat for the lady!” He says “Oh, that’s all right, old fella, that’s my wife!” – By Bob Burns, 1937

🍽Etiquette Enthusiast, Maura J. Graber, is the Site Editor for the Etiquipedia© Etiquette Encyclopedia