I've heard this phrase a few times and while I always understood what it meant when spoken in context, I always assumed it was just a phrase. Of the many old movies I've seen, I never saw the "dance card". I was so shocked when I realized that dance cards were an actual thing. It was cool:)
Also, I would just like to say that right about now, I would be more than happy to come into 10,000 a yr. I can't imagine giving it up way back in the day.
I smile at your post and realize what a great "a-ha" moment that must have been. I've had those myself and love it when they happen. :)
share"Meet Me in St. Louis" has a wonderful bit with dance cards and spiteful girls! It's very funny!
Also, there's a short film titled "Bernice Bobs Her Hair" that also (as I recall) deals with dance cards as a sign of popularity.
I'm not certain, but I think there's talk of them at the college dance in "Daddy Long Legs" with Leslie Caron as the co-ed and Fred Astaire as her benefactor.
They do crop up quite a bit though there's not always focus on them. They'll show the girls with these tiny booklets dangling from their wrists~testaments to how popular they are, with wallflowers having empty ones.
Actually, I can't recall other instances in which a man is shown with one. I find that unusual in "The Heiress", but I might not have seen other films in which men have them.
(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC
In Ginger Rogers' The Major and the Minor I think the boys had dance cards too. It does seem to make since that they would have them to keep up with who they dance with next. When watching these movies it amazes me how formal everyone use to be. How society didn't allow for conversations with strangers! It's amazing that anyone met anyone else.
shareI'd forgotten about the use of them in that film, which I haven't seen for a very long time. But, in movies, generally they show the girl writing, not the boy, making "The Heiress" notable when it comes to that topic.
How did people meet back then? They used to get together for "socials" quite often. They had taffy pulls, corn-husking, dances of all types, birthday celebrations, the holidays, church activities, boxed-lunch auctions, block parties (in the city), and other events.
Nowadays, many people might not even know their neighbors. Then, they go to bars, nightclubs and other places where they're generally meeting people who are strangers. Or, they know these people only in such environments.
The old-fashioned way gave them ample opportunity to learn about each other. Manners were essential, and people were civil even to those they might not like. "Proper etiquette" isn't absolutely necessary (knowing which fork to use~that type of detail), but life was much more pleasant when people were conscious of behavior. Those who were ignorant knew they lacked "polish", and they generally tried to improve themselves.
In today's society, crude and rude seem to rule~an in-your-face attitude. I swear, if there was an old-style dance with cards, boys/men would think it hilarious to ask for dances, have a girl fill her card, then avoid her, laughing at her distress. We saw one "gentleman" leave Catherine, not returning with the promised drink; but, I'll bet that at least her father would have confronted him if he'd known about it. In our present day, the ungentlemanly behavior would be prominent and acceptable. A true gentleman would be ridiculed.
I think that's why girls and women became so infatuated with the Jane Austen novels. Maybe if they filmed more old-style romances, especially period ones, they would do well. Instead, we get "new girl" ones with R ratings and nasty language.
Or, maybe I'm an old fuddy duddy. Back then, they'd have called me a spinster. In today's lingo, I'm a crazy old cat lady=}
(W)hat are we without our dreams?
Making sure our fantasies
Do not overpower our realities. ~ RC
Yes, people today have *no idea* how much IN-PERSON socializing there used to be before radio and television!! There were get-togethers, clubs, and associations of all kinds, and plenty of live entertainment.
shareI read about it long before I saw it in a movie. It still seems like a nice idea. Everything gets settled before the dance in question even starts. And it's a nice memento of the evening.
share