How to be a perfect fifties family (1950)

Even though most people consider this a more modern problem, as early as 1950 the family dinner and family time was going by the wayside. With the relatively new distraction of television, families would sometimes pick up dinner and adjourn directly to the couch to watch their favorite program, long before the days of VCRs and time-shifting TV allowed us to watch whenever we wanted. Apparently some folks thought there was a need to combat this alarming trend.

Long before this short film was skewered mercilessly (and hilariously) by Mystery Science Theater 3000, “A Date With Your Family” was aimed right at those folks who zoned out in front of the boob tube while forking down some chow. – AJW