Old Photos: When Flight Attendants Were Stewardesses

Trans World Airlines has a special place in American History. On October 21, 1992 a special anniversary flight from Moscow to New York (via Brussels) brought my family and me to this country, full of hopes, dreams and dressed up in full-blown winter attire on a nice 70F fall day.
TWA is now a fading memory but some photos from the Life Magazine Archives may remind you of the olden days when the word “stewardess” wasn’t frowned upon, smoking was cool and the sexism was a solid corporate policy.

© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
French And German Girls Going Through TWA Stewardess School In Kansas City
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
French And German Girls Going Through TWA Stewardess School In Kansas City
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
French And German Girls Going Through TWA Stewardess School In Kansas City
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.
© Time Inc.Michael Rougier.

According to this article TWA was training the stewardesses at the corporate headquarters until the opening of the Breech Academy in 1969. More on TWA here but the link at the top of this post will let you take a look at the original TWA website. The rest of the photos are here.

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5iZV4JW0Nbo

httpv://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TXPwn_HaZm0