Stewardesses

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PSA hired some of the most beautiful women in the industry to be stewardesses. They were one of the most powerful promotional items the company had, and as a result, a number of photos were taken of the girls (and some male flight attendants).

PSA's first stewardess was Ramona Tower, hired when the airline started service. She received no formal training, but was very attractive to the predominantly Military crowd traveling PSA. Her first uniform was bought off the rack of a local store, which served for several weeks until a passenger showed up wearing the same outfit.

Her next outfit was the custom green suit, which was worn by the small Stewardess corps between 1949 and 1955.

For the DC-4, stewardesses received a new uniform (which I do not have any pictures of, unfortunately.) For the 1958 Fiesta Del Pacifico in San Diego, PSA stewardesses received special uniforms for the occasion. .

The first major change in uniform was 1962, when the "Banana Skin" was introduced. This brown, form-fitting uniform (shown below on the left) revealed more of the girls' beautiful bodies, and caused eyebrows to raise among the mostly male passengers.

Uniform chronology:

  • 1949: Green suit
  • 1955: Light brown suit (summer), dark brown (winter) with embroidered PSA logo
  • 1958: Fiesta Del Pacifico uniform during the Fiesta Del Pacifico
  • 1960: Brown suit, more form fitting
  • 1962: "Banana-Skin" uniform
  • 1965: First miniskirt
  • 1966: Celery green with pink trim miniskirt
  • 1968: Pink miniskirt with green trim
  • 1970: Pink and orange mini with Go-Go boots
  • 1974: Red miniskirt with Go-Go boots
  • 1976: Mauve and rainbow fabric skirt/suit
  • 1980: Burgundy suit coats and pink blouses, or grey pants
  • 1984: Purple skirts

The first stewards were introduced in 1968 on Boeing 727-200 flights, and were responsible for cocktails. (Marilyn Tritt, in her book "Long Legs and Short Nights", dryly noted that "they were not allowed to do PA announcements, because nobody could understand them. Therefore, let's face it, they were along for the ride.")
Original Stewardess uniform, 1949. (PSA Photo)
Banana Skin uniform and stewardesses, 1960s (PSA Photo)
Judy Bailey Garrett on tour in Vietnam. A squadron in Vietnam asked for a photo of Judy, but Andrews did one better and sent her. (PSA Photo)
Parade Magazine did an article on PSA Stewardesses in 1968.
Parade Magazine did an article on PSA Stewardesses in 1968.
The inside photo in the article.
PSA's first stewards, hand-picked by Andrews. From left - Allan Honda, Peter Ngan, Donald Hom, Howard Jaw, and Clement Levng.
Right: Donald Hom receives an introduction from Jan Macy, Paula Maddox, Betty Brayer, and Karen Krull.
Stewardesses and Mercy Hospital, 1970s (PSA Photo)
Modeling for the camera. (PSA)
The last of the Minis, modeled on a 737 wing by four of PSA's finest. (PSA)
Modeling for the camera. (PSA)
For the L-1011 delivery, seven stews flew up to Palmdale for the delivery. (PSA Photo)
Gail Liebel, Julee Grossman, Debbie Patterson, Debbie McCarthy, Carol Hill, Ann Besone, Nancy Brooks and Candy Dodd. (PSA Photo)
J. Floyd Andrews and four of the stewardesses on the PSA around the world tour. (PSA Photo)
Stewardesses in the L-1011 engine, 1974. (PSA)
1976 uniform introduction show (PSA Photo)
Photo submitted by Paula Kirkpatrick.
Photo submitted by Paula Kirkpatrick.
Photo submitted by Paula Kirkpatrick.
Photo submitted by Paula Kirkpatrick.
Photo submitted by Paula Kirkpatrick.
Introduction of the 1980 Flight Attendant uniforms, from PSA Magazine.
During the last week of service, Flight Attendants were permitted to wear past uniforms. (San Diego Union)
Photo submitted by Paula Kirkpatrick.
Photo submitted by Paula Kirkpatrick.
Photo submitted by Paula Kirkpatrick. With Hulk Hogan.