30 replies to this topic

[monty9]

Description here:

Someone please tell me I didn't witness that fuckery all alone. Summary: Four married women in LA and their group of friends live a 50s lifestyle complete with period appropriate dress, furnishings, and gender roles. It eventually dissolves into, as the linked article mentions, "Real Housewives/She's jealous of me/I don't like her" territory.

One woman somehow believes that people never took drugs in the 50s, no one was ever uncouth, women were always polished and put together and that eeeveryone was happy then.[Sarcasm] Strange that there are no black members in their group. Huh.

Both of my grandmothers in the 50s worked on their farms, both had lost at least one child during birth, and they worked on average 16-18 hour days. They weren't polishing their damn nails or making party towers.

Admittedly some people on the street are kind of jerks to them. Freaking out that they are wearing gloves etc. I mean I would think it was great if it was just a "for fun" thing. I mean dress how you want, if you'd rather devote yourself to caring for your family than a career and you can make a financial go of it. Hey, excellent. But let's view the 50s with an accurate eye maybe by reading The Man in the Gray Flannel Suit orIn Cold Blood or Invisible Man (Ralph Ellison's one)or hey Betty Friedan, she WAS a 50s housewife

Edited by monty9, Dec 27, 2012 @ 11:51 PM.

[TrulyOutrageous]

These chicks were nothing but wannabe hipsters. I enjoy vintage culture so when I caught the beginning of this show I was interested and optimistic but, not surprisingly, it dissolved into the same old "housewives" type trash. No thanks, TLC.

[JPHarper]

Yikes, these ladies have serious issues. And what is this show trying to be about? Whatever it is, its a good cure for insomnia, methinks. (I dare say, not one of these women know who Buddy Holly was-a 50s icon)

[BuddhaBelly]

+I thought it was amusing in a vapid sort of way. They were chasing the glossy side of the 50's, not its realities and that's fine with me. I thought people's reactions to them were silly. Why are you wearing gloves? Who cares? I would have simply stared at them blankly for such a stupid question.

[GeoBQn]

They said so many things that infuriated me, like how living a vintage lifestyle made their lives "simpler" and they didn't have to "keep up with the Joneses." No, dearie, you are just keeping up with a different set of Joneses. "When you look at photographs from the 1950's, everybody looks so happy." No fucking shit. Not a lot of families take pictures when they are sad. I had to laugh at the group of them judging the one woman for bringing store-bought items to the party and saying how important it is for food to be homemade. The 1950's were a time when people REALLY stretched the definition of "homemade food." I just found a 1954 cookbook that belonged to my great-aunt. There are recipes that are entirely made of canned food.

I've always loved vintage music, TV, and clothes, but I'm not blinded into thinking that things were actually better back then. The "good old days" were not all that good.

[viktor rolf]

These women are mentally ill. Almost all of them said they were into the retro lifestyle because it garners them attention. The archaic bull.... spewing from their mouths about gender roles and a Pleasantville type lifestyle was embarrassing. I also noticed the lack of diversity in their group/scene. I guess they really are taking it back to the good old 50s.

[HandsFullMama]

I loved how the "50s mom" had a thoroughly modern daughter who walked all over her flummoxed mother.

[greekmama]

Where to start with this mess.
These wannabes either need drugs or are on drugs and need to get off of them.

I really do understand about wanting to dress vintage. But taking it to the "next level" is just absurd. Wanting to live the lifestyle? Seriously?!?

For someone who wants to live, breath, etc the 50's, Shelby should get rid of her tattoo. Women did not have those back in the 50's.

I love how Amber kept saying to Dollie, i wrote to them, meaning they invited someone to the party. Please do not tell me these women, don't own a computer and/or smart phone. In L.A.? Please.

I too loved the little girl who was modern and would misbehave for her mom and mom wanted to push the daughter to dress more 50s. That one was good. I was really waiting for her to slap the little girl on tv. Surprised she kept her cool. And the I love lucy wannabe who replied how she doesn't like kids? Well dearie, wasn't that a job for a 50's woman? To stay home, have babies and take care of the husband?? She is not doing her duty.

I agree with an above poster.. this is just trash. No thanks TLC.

[chamuska]

I wanted to see more of the vintage kitchen items and furnishings. It was boring after a while. The dungarees one of them wore to the workout session were hideous.

[NurseRatched]

I saw this coming on and wasn't real clear about what "wives with beehives" could possibly be about so I didn't watch. They are so wrong about how "happy" the 50's-60's were. When I first started watching Mad Men, I literally almost had anxiety attacks because it brought that time back so vividly. That time of subjugation of women, persecution of minorities, the drinking, "mother's little helpers", blah, blah, blah. IMO no one was any happier, it was just unhappiness over different things like *having* to make meals from scratch, hanging clothes out to dry, cloth diapers, etc. There may not have been as much violence against people, but people died from BS like no seat belts, asbestos, lead paint, pregnant women drinking and smoking, and a slew of other issues that we have been educated on now.

I will catch this next time it comes on though, lol.

[JanetMacklin]

I tuned in because I love vintage as well. If the ladies wanted to dress with 50s style in mind, there's nothing wrong with that. But if I had seen the whole group of them at once on the street, I'd assume it was some kind of obnoxious gimmick. Also, dressing in that style and outfitting your home that way is not cheap so I found myself wondering how these folks could afford it. And why they would spend that money just to spare themselves the comfort of the modernity that so greatly offended their ill-informed sensibilities. I was over it when they blinked at the cashier regarding email.

They were so outwardly competitive with one another, too. It was odd. The further you exemplify this misguided view of the era, the more delusional you look. I would not be competing for that honor.

[NurseRatched]

I just watched the teasers to this show and I don't understand why they have to have 50's "props" to have values of the 50's. Are they saying that a 50's outfitted house and clothing is partially what made people so "happy"? I've had a couple of girlfriends who have 50's "values" but regular, everyday housing, furniture and clothing. Of course both of my GF's eventually divorced so maybe and apron and a 50's stove would have been the glue that they were lacking. <sarcasm>

[Dormouse]

Lol, I "witnessed that fuckery" too!

Ok, I don't care what these ladies' hobby is... dress how you want, worship your Heywood Wakefield couch, subjugate yourself to your husband... whatever man, enjoy.

But all the talk about how the 50's were a time when "everyone was happy" and "people knew how to act" and "took pride in their homes" and whatnot. AYFKM? I mean isn't any period in US history a pretty decent, happy time for healthy, middle-class white people? I can't help but feel offended that the 50's are held up as this paragon of society... 1957: ladies in gloves and cat-eye glasses spitting on black children trying to go to school. Nice.

Ugh. Again, do what you want, it's not hurting anyone, but don't act like you can't take pride in your appearance and your home while wearing the regular clothes we have in stores today. Also? linoleum wears out. Quit affecting these silly lamentations that someone tore out 70 year old linoleum and replaced it with what's in style today. Fifties housewives liked the latest thing too - that just happened to be linoleum and formica. And ham and vegetables suspended in Jell-O.

Just ugh all around.

But having said all that? I'd watch this if it came on again... I must really love to mutter things at the TV.

[TedHinD]

They proved the lie about the fabulous, happy fifties didn't they? The Real Housewives of John Cheever.

I'm intrigued by those who live a vintage lifestyle and there seem to be groups for every era. But I think this was a commercial for--surprise!--LA residents who want to be famous.

[nameofstate]

I was wondering if this would show up here!

Pretty much everyone else said what I was thinking. I love the style and fashions of that time, but let's be realistic-tghe perception of "everything was soo much better back in [name the decade] is mostly said by people who didn't live back then or have some rosy colored glasses on. Not to mention pure blissful ignorance of history.

Also, women did exercise and diet back then. No, not boot camp, but plenty of swimming, walking, strange exercise contraptions and let's not forget starvation diets, amphetamine diet pills, foundation garments or just plan limiting what you eat.


That being said, they looked great. Wish I had the patience and finger dexterity to do those hairdos. All mine end up looking like a fallen souffle.

Honestly I tuned in because from the title I couldn't tell if it was about vintage housewives or married beekeepers who bring in the money with their honey.

[Gingi1976]

This show reminded me of the Woody Allen movie "Midnight in Paris." The orvearching theme of the movie is that what seems boring, uninspired or even vulgar to one generation becomes idealized and romantic with the passing of time.

That said, these broads were nuts.

[Dixiecup3]

What I did like were the old cars. I was born in the '50's, my mom was in her early 30's. My sister was 13, (yes, I wasn't planned by mom and dad. LOL) She told me several times that people actually made comments about her having a baby "at your age." A lot of not-so-nice things went on then, that go on now. It just wasn't on the news like it is these days. We're better informed about things. Loved the cars, loved some of the clothes (I do wish hats would come back in style!)didn't like some of the women. Miss "I want to be the only blonde" really grated on my nerves.

[MacabreParlor]

I wish TLC would have just admitted these were women living the "rockabilly" lifestyle in LA. It is a really cool culture of tight knit people. Admittedly the lifestyle doesn't attract a diverse group but I've never run into a racist or bigot in the scene. Beautiful vintage cars and great music. Dollie DeVille is actually a popular blogger and seems like a nice girl not really the villian they made her out to be. Oh well I shouldn't have expected anything different from TLC - fake drama snooze fest.


ETA: I was just coming in to post that link to answer your question chainey! She as a couple of posts about the show and her blog shows way more of the lifestyle than the show even attempted. If any of you are interested.

Edited by MacabreParlor, Dec 28, 2012 @ 7:32 PM.

[chainey]

I kept wondering how all these ladies actually found one another and became friends. Is there some sort of ladies auxiliary at the Church of the Holy Fifties where they met? Or did the production find one or two and then built a cast around them. My vote is most of it is phony but for a couple of the collections.

MacabreParlor
eta: I think you answered my question.

missdolliedeville.blogspot

ETA: I was just coming in to post that link to answer your question chainey! She as a couple of posts about the show and her blog shows way more of the lifestyle than the show even attempted. If any of you are interested.

This post has been edited by MacabreParlor: Today, 04:32 PM

Her blog write-up is exactly the kind of crap I thought TLC has been up to lately. She sounds cool and not a villain at all. In this case it seems it could really be blamed on the editing.

Edited by chainey, Dec 28, 2012 @ 8:21 PM.

[hatchetgirl]

I wish TLC would have just admitted these were women living the "rockabilly" lifestyle in LA. It is a really cool culture of tight knit people. Admittedly the lifestyle doesn't attract a diverse group but I've never run into a racist or bigot in the scene.

Yep, definitely the rockabilly scene in LA, but I've, unfortunately met a few racist rockabillies in my time. I don't know these ladies, so I'm not going to say "they must be racist because they don't appear to have any black friends on a tv show!" LOL.

I'm waiting for the Mod TLC show. Now that I could get into, but then, there's the drugs and women's lib and stuff. And the scooters (of which I own a few). ;)

[RacheltheGreat]

I still don't get the disdain over the modern appliances. My grandmother (a.k.a an actual 50's housewife) has openly admitted that she would have sold her firstborn for a dishwasher or a modern day washer/dryer. They weren't washing dishes by hand because they loved the work, it was because there wasn't another way to do it. Given a choice I'm guessing most of them would have snapped one up in a hot damn minute.

From Chainey's link:

Before I could even get through the door I had all these friends and family coming up to me saying that they won't let them into the house/pool area and told them they cant leave to get a cold drink, but must sit out in the hot cars and wait until I get here to set up the party. That really set me off. You can't ask people to come to your shoot and treat them like that. It was a very hot day and I was not keen on hearing that my Mom and sisters drove from 6 hours away to be forced to sit in a hot car all day.

I'm sorry, were they being held hostage? If you're in a hot car and you want a drink then drive away and get one, for pete's sake. If you don't want to sit in hot car all day then leave! Don't stay there and let them mistreat you and then complain about how hard done by you are. This isn't jail, you can walk away. I'm sure there was plenty of editing at play here but I can't stand the reality tv participant who waits until the episode airs and then proceeds to explain why every single negative moment was editing. Dollie was working the bitchface the entire episode, own up to it.

Edited by RacheltheGreat, Dec 29, 2012 @ 12:26 AM.

[lu1wml]

Argh, the anachronisms!
First off, the beehive was mainly a 60s hairstyle. And I agree with the tat comment. She wouldn't have been considered respectable.
I was raised in the 50s, and my mother worked. While she did some scratch baking, cake mixes were a fairly new thing, and much used.
There were dishwashers, because my aunt had an early one. Women welcomed new technology that made life easier.
I've read that Mamie Eisenhower had the White House kitchen buy some and try them.
As for the tacky or cheap paper decorations comment, in the 50s there were tacky, cheap and flammable crepe paper decorations.
The one who was going to have plastic surgery--I doubt that that was near as common, or as skilled as now. I wonder if she's going to have someone use just the technology that was available in the 50s.

[mrsproducer]

It's been a long while since I've posted this year (not since I was pregnant with my daughter--now 10 months old! WOW!) but I watched this last night and HAD to re-emerge into the forum to express my total and absolute disgust with Dollie's behavior. So here are these women yakking about the values and ideals of the 50s, manners, class, etc., and Dollie turned into a rude, hateful, jealous mean girl during the party. Perfect example of those classy manners, right? It was so obviously an insecure girl hating on a new girl out of pure spiteful jealousy and that just IRKS me.

I can't remember their names but the one who hosted the party was a little scary when she was doing her talking-head bits, she almost reminded me of Bryce Dallas Howard's character in The Help. Nothing wrong with vintage loving rockabilly culture but having had experience in this scene myself after dating a tattoo artist several years back, I can say first hand it's a catty little scene. There is tons of "keeping up with the Joneses" going on and if you're not wearing the "right" clothes, the "right" labels (which are not cheap), doing your hair the "right way", you're not one of the cool kids. All the women want to be pin up models, it seems, even when modeling is really the last thing they should be doing. It's just another bitchy hipster scene and these women really made fools of themselves last night. No thanks, TLC. TLC must think we've all become brain dead with the stuff they've been showing lately.

Edited because I'm just reading Dollie's blog on TLC producers screwing around with them and I've said this before but I'll say it again. You cannot be painted as a "villain" on reality TV if you do not give them things to work with. Sure, they amplify it and spin it but I'm not buying her act. Sure, she pissed off producers and they got revenge but why pick her to be the bad guy in the first place? I dunno. She acted bitchy and had her moments, they caught her doing it and spun it to make her look REALLY bad. Nevertheless, she still said the things she said to that new girl, not just at the party but throughout the show. That being said, it's unfortunate how the producers weren't honest about the lifestyle of these women (ie. renting them 50s cars) so that it looks like they're way more obsessive than they are. It's BEYOND awful that people are telling this girl to "kill herself". WTF... she doesn't deserve that!

Edited by mrsproducer, Dec 28, 2012 @ 11:07 PM.

[monty9]

Yep, definitely the rockabilly scene in LA, but I've, unfortunately met a few racist rockabillies in my time. I don't know these ladies, so I'm not going to say "they must be racist because they don't appear to have any black friends on a tv show!" LOL.

I wasn't implying that the rockabilly scene is racist, my original comment about that it's weird that there were no black people in their group was referencing the crazypants delusion of one the women that "everybody was happier in the 50s". I was pointing out she was blatantly ignoring a large swath of the population who were not likely to feel as nostalgic about the time.

But I agree with mrsproducerDollie, that may not have been the sum of you but unless they handed you a script, that was you in that moment.


One thing I did enjoy: The purses. The dresses seemed a little stiff to wear, give me a knit wrap-dress any day, but the purses were spectacular.

TedHinD

The Real Housewives of John Cheever

I salute you.

nameofstate

Honestly I tuned in because from the title I couldn't tell if it was about vintage housewives or married beekeepers who bring in the money with their honey.

*snorts*

Dormouse

I must really love to mutter things at the TV.

You and me both

[spankydoll]

More retro lifestyle and less drama. I could watch those gals style their hair, put on their makeup and get dolled up for days. And the furnishing are a ball.

Such a shame that TLC had to stink things up with their staging. I kind of get that for shows luke Sisterwives. Those Mrs. Kody's would just sit around eating complining about eachother if the producers didn't send them on the occasional road trip. But these Bee gals are models and performers. That would be a blast to watch. Such a shame...

[WhineandCheez]

Someone please tell me I didn't witness that fuckery all alone

I'm here for your monty9, I'm here. Lordy that material was stretched more thinly than a knit halter over Coco's breasts. I always plan elaborate birthday parties and buy expensive lingerie for SOMEONE I MET EARLIER IN THE DAY.

The red head needs to stop wearing that hair and makeup. I am sure she is more attractive than that. WHICH REMINDS ME--I actually had a cathartic moment while watching this show. When I was in junior high, we had a 50's day where everyone dressed that way for school. My Mom did my hair in one of those forehead rolls, since she was older and had real time experince doing it. I wore glasses then too (THICK ONES) I was all happy and went to school and some bitchy older girls told me I looked ugly. I went to the bathroom and took my hair out and told my friends that it hurt my head that way.

Ok, everyone weep on command...

Edited by WhineandCheez, Dec 31, 2012 @ 2:35 PM.

[pasdetrois]

I wasn't aware that there is a current rockabilly subculture; I only know of rockabilly in its original incarnation. (Wanda Jackson, anyone?) Very interesting to learn there's an entire scene out there, and that is who the producers found to feature in the series.

I was raised in the 50s. The people who long for the 50s these days are disgruntled men, and conservatives who admire its superficial values (marriage, homemakers in heels and stockings, perfectly behaved children, and so on). By superficial I don't mean the values are bad, I mean that beneath the surface there were societal ills and dysfunction just like there is today.

And yes, the homemakers who could afford it begged their husbands to buy them washing machines, vacuums and other conveniences. They loved the convenience of frozen and canned foods because it liberated them from slaving in the kitchen. A lot of those women wanted to work but their husbands wouldn't let them because the man was supposed to provide for his family.

ETA: I read once that the women who did not work at all in the 1950s were in the minority. Everybody else needed the wives' income.

I do love the fashion from this period. I agree that it would be fantastic if the show would focus on that. Cake mascara, pin curls, and oh yes the hats and pocketbooks.

Edited by pasdetrois, Jan 1, 2013 @ 2:02 PM.

[jlyons5]

I was raised in the 50s. The people who long for the 50s these days are disgruntled men, and conservatives who admire its superficial values (marriage, homemakers in heels and stockings, perfectly behaved children, and so on). By superficial I don't mean the values are bad, I mean that beneath the surface there were societal ills and dysfunction just like there is today.

And yes, the homemakers who could afford it begged their husbands to buy them washing machines, vacuums and other conveniences. They loved the convenience of frozen and canned foods because it liberated them from slaving in the kitchen. A lot of those women wanted to work but their husbands wouldn't let them because the man was supposed to provide for his family.

I'll admit that this intrigues me, the nostalgia for "simpler" times. My mom was a 60s housewife (not the 50s but closer than me!) and Leave it to Beaver really gave my generation the wrong idea about the time period. It'd be like my kids watching "Friends" and thinking that's how my single life was.

I got out of a "perfect" middle class marriage some 50 years after the 50s. My ex husband was very much in tge mind set that wives have a place and all I can say is if my marriage is representative of the 50s, always seeking perfection, always slaving over kids with the father expected to never lift a finger towards his offspring, then there were a lot of unhappy women, a lot of suicidal women, and a lot of battered women. Nothing at all there to miss or wish for.

And that's what intrigues me, that really, nothing ever changes. We may upgrade electronics and change fashions but oppression travels across time and space.

[MacabreParlor]

I really don't think this lifestyle goes as deep as contemplating oppressed unhappy women and racist misery. I think its a fun hobby for the women and compliments their musical tastes. Its like people who enjoy the SCA they enjoy the middle ages for the afternoon but also enjoy living in a world with penicillin and flushing toilets. No one is a serf, no one gets turned into a newt. Like most reenactments its about picking and choosing what was awesome about the time and ignoring what wasn't. There was a lot awesome about the mid century and I think that's what these ladies enjoy about it. That is the show I want to see. That and more rockabilly please. The music the tats the cars and the theme parties.

I really hope this show continues and drops the pretense that its all 50s all the time and the fake drama. Also the manipulation. When producers start splicing sentences together to get the script they want thats just wrong wrong wrong.

[SnarkMouse]

My favorite "faux 1950s housewife and all the bullshittery involved in trying to pretend it's possible to do such a thing" blog (when I first saw the show title, I actually thought it might be based on this or involve this blogger somehow):

http://www.jenbutnev...experiment.html