Throughout the decades, a surprising assortment of sex‑education reels were produced to help both teenagers and grown‑ups make sense of puberty, conception, and what society at the time deemed a “proper” way to express sexuality. From the 1930s through the early 1960s the prevailing mantra was to think with your head, curb natural urges, and view sex primarily as a vehicle for producing children. It wasn’t until the late‑1960s and early‑1970s that media began to champion sexual liberation. Here is a roundup of ten vintage educational films that illustrate how early sex education was packaged for the public.
10 Vintage Educational Films Overview
10 How To Undress In Front Of Your Husband
Produced in 1937, this short comedy masquerades as a public‑service announcement. The opening title card declares that women must master the art of undressing in a seductive fashion to keep their husbands intrigued and stave off marital boredom. The film then stages two real‑life personalities—actress Elaine Barrie Barrymore and opera singer‑comedian Trixie Friganza—returning home from a soirée. Elaine glides off her dress with poise, while Trixie dramatically kicks off her shoes and scrapes herself all over, prompting the narrator to laud Elaine as a consummate undresser and to stammer in awe of her sexual magnetism.
The production was the brainchild of husband‑and‑wife duo Hildegarde and Dwaine Esper, and it quickly earned the distinction of being among the earliest sexual‑exploitation pictures. Though its content would appear tame by today’s R‑rated standards, the film faced censorship in numerous U.S. jurisdictions, reflecting the era’s uneasy relationship with overt displays of sensuality.
Beyond its comedic veneer, the reel offers a window into the 1930s mindset: a blend of humor, moral instruction, and a thinly veiled attempt to market erotic knowledge under the guise of marital advice.
9 How Much Affection?
Mary and Jeff, a teenage pair who have been friends for years, find themselves parked in a car on the brink of making love. When Mary pulls the brakes, Jeff drives her home and apologizes, prompting Mary to confront the reality that sexual urges are perfectly normal. Seeking guidance, she turns to her mother, who insists that Mary must learn to reign in her emotions or risk lifelong regret.
The narrative then introduces Eileen, an old classmate who dropped out after an unexpected pregnancy. Eileen married her boyfriend Fred, who sacrificed his dream of becoming a lawyer to support their child. Through Mary and Jeff’s eyes, the film underscores the potential fallout of teen pregnancy, illustrating how early parenthood can derail educational and professional ambitions. Later, at a party, Jeff presents Mary with his class ring—a 1950s token of affection—while the film conspicuously omits any mention of birth control or condoms, urging young people to simply wait until marriage and find non‑physical ways to express love.
Historian Kristin Luker, author of When Sex Goes to School, notes that in the 1950s there was a widespread belief that if sex education failed to demonize sexual activity, teen pregnancies would proliferate and threaten traditional marriage. The sexual revolution of the 1960s eventually shifted this narrative, normalizing premarital sex and reshaping societal attitudes.
8 Molly Grows Up
Released in 1953, this short was a staple of middle‑school health classes for girls. It follows 13‑year‑old Molly as she becomes fascinated by her older sister’s makeup and clothing, prompting the town to notice her newfound maturity. Soon after, Molly experiences her first menstrual period, which she refers to on the phone as “the curse.”
The school nurse then addresses Molly’s class, delivering a thorough briefing on female puberty and pregnancy. She explains that a woman becomes pregnant when male DNA—sperm—joins with an egg, but deliberately avoids describing the mechanics of how sperm reaches the woman. A classroom poster lists activities girls should avoid during menstruation—horseback riding, skating, basketball, volleyball, and square dancing—while oddly permitting swimming after the third day.
According to a study by Trinity College, Molly Grows Up was crafted to reinforce traditional gender roles within Christian family structures. The film reflects a period when women’s rights remained largely untouched until the late 1960s, a struggle that, according to the researchers, persists in various forms today.
7 Are You Ready For Marriage?
In 1950, premarital sex was a taboo subject, and a teen pregnancy could bring shame upon an entire family. Consequently, many young lovers entered matrimony at ages far younger than today’s norms. The short follows Sue (18) and Larry (19), a couple who become engaged after only three months of dating. Larry urges Sue to elope, but the pair ultimately decides to seek counsel from a church marriage counselor.
Without directly mentioning sex, the minister employs a rubber band and figurines of a man and a woman to illustrate lust and sexual tension. He warns that intense early love can propel youngsters into hasty marriages, recommending that partners be at least 21 and have been engaged for one to three years to truly get to know one another.
Research from The Marriage and Family Experience describes the 1950s as a seemingly idyllic era: divorce rates fell, families grew larger, and the nuclear family model reigned supreme. Some scholars attribute these trends to the solid relationship and family‑values instruction found in films like this. Modern data, however, suggests that divorce rates today may not differ dramatically from those of the 1950s, though the cultural acceptance of divorce has certainly increased.
6 As Boys Grow
This educational reel features a high‑school track coach fielding freshman boys’ questions about puberty. The opening mirrors the typical health‑class format, covering topics such as shaving, weight gain, and height spurts. The tone then shifts abruptly to two boys perched beside a lawnmower, candidly discussing wet dreams. One boy describes sperm as “white sticky stuff that starts babies.”
Unlike Molly Grows Up, which skirts the specifics of conception for girls, As Boys Grow offers a blunt explanation of sexual intercourse, encouraging boys to start dating whenever they feel ready. The film frames male puberty as a celebratory rite of passage, contrasting sharply with the “curse” narrative imposed on girls in the earlier reel.
While its advice may feel antiquated now, the movie underscores a pivotal shift in the 1950s: the gradual acceptance that talking about sexual organs—once taboo—was becoming a necessary component of education, provided it was tied to love, family, and child‑bearing.
5 Girls Beware
This cautionary film was designed to warn young girls about the myriad dangers posed by predatory men. Various dramatized scenarios depict girls unwittingly stepping into kidnapping or rape situations, with the overarching message that they should remain polite yet firmly decline advances from unfamiliar men.
One particularly stark vignette contrasts past police protocols with modern practices. A girl accepts a babysitting job from a stranger; the man provides a fake phone number for her mother. When the girl disappears, authorities of the era adopt a “wait‑and‑see” approach, assuming she might have run away. Tragically, she is found a week later, having been raped and murdered. The film places the onus of child safety squarely on parents, rather than urging immediate law‑enforcement intervention.
In 1996, the U.S. government introduced the Amber Alert system in memory of nine‑year‑old Amber Hagerman. Over the past two decades, Amber Alerts have been credited with saving the lives of roughly 800 children, illustrating how societal responses to child abduction have evolved dramatically since the film’s release.
4 How Do You Know It’s Love?
The short follows a college couple who have been dating for two months. When the boy confesses his love, the girl hesitates and retreats home to seek her mother’s counsel. The mother explains that as people reach college age, physical attraction can be mistaken for genuine love, and even adults sometimes base relationships solely on looks.
Later, the couple joins a double date with friends who have been together for over a year. Observing the friends’ deep connection, the girl realizes that her boyfriend’s attraction is more lust than love. Though they remain fond of each other’s company, they amicably part ways, agreeing to stay friends.
The film highlights a shift from the 1950s courting model—where relationships were often a prelude to marriage—to today’s more relaxed dating culture, where couples may cohabit or stay together for years without discussing marriage.
3 Boys Beware
This 1960s instructional film warns young boys about the perils of encountering older men who might lure them into homosexual encounters. The narrative shows boys being tempted by offers of rides home after sports practice or promises of money and gifts from strangers.
The narrator labels homosexuals as “sick,” conflating sexual orientation with predatory behavior. While the film’s intent—to teach children never to accept rides from strangers—was sound, its presentation inevitably seeded homophobia, suggesting that gay men are inherently criminal.
Modern sex‑education programs, such as those endorsed by the Seattle King County initiative, differentiate between appropriate and inappropriate adult touch, emphasizing safety without stigmatizing sexual orientation.
2 Perversion For Profit
Reporter George Putnam narrates this half‑hour anti‑pornography documentary, claiming that once someone is “perverted” by porn, they will never view sex the same way again. The film makes outlandish assertions, such as the idea that watching gay or lesbian porn will turn viewers homosexual, and that the moral decay caused by any porn will render Americans vulnerable to Communism.
During the 1960s, the movie was screened at YMCAs, Catholic groups, American Legion posts, and Elk Lodges, aiming to galvanize public opposition to pornography. While the First Amendment protects pornographic speech, the film’s goal was to spark enough outrage to push for legislative change.
Despite its many hyperbolic claims, Putnam was correct in condemning child pornography. At the time of the film’s production, the First Amendment still shielded the distribution of nude or near‑nude images of minors—a protection that was not revoked until the 1980s.
1 The ABC Of Sex Education For Trainables
Created in 1975, this 20‑minute instructional video gave rise to the infamous “It felt good, didn’t it, Ricky?” meme that later exploded online. The film blends acted scenes with authentic footage of psychologists teaching sex concepts to individuals with mental disabilities—referred to, albeit crudely, as “trainables.”
The notorious Ricky scene showcases a mother’s suggested line for parents who discover their disabled child masturbating. Although the actor portraying Ricky is not actually mentally handicapped, the clip, when taken out of context, appears absurd and has been widely parodied.
The primary aim of The ABC Of Sex Education For Trainables was to equip parents and caregivers with strategies to help mentally disabled individuals avoid public masturbation, unintended pregnancy, and sexually transmitted infections. While much of the guidance remains relevant, contemporary organizations like Advocates for Youth now provide updated guidelines for discussing sexuality with disabled youth in a respectful and inclusive manner.
Shannon Quinn, a writer and entrepreneur from the Philadelphia area, contributed to the film’s production and documentation.