I found this adorable image in my collection of mid-century women’s magazines. It comes from 1964. Why the amusing smile? The tagline reads, “Sylvia, That man winked at me”.
Sylvia, that man winked at me
The two charming women are on a trip. Dressed in gloves and classic tweed, the grandmas are having an obvious good time. Look close to see that they are sitting in a row of an airplane. Shall we assume that they are flying to a special destination? Italy perhaps?
The ad is for Alitala airlines. It appeared in the February 1964 issue of Holiday magazine.
Alitala’s Super DC-8 Jets conveniently offering you more flights each week from New York, Boston, Chicago and Montreal to Milan than any other airline . . . plus an inordinate number of Jets direct to Rome!
This Italian airline ad gives us a feel for mid-century air travel. Then, it was a much different experience than it is today. There were high standards for both the airlines and travelers. Then, folks wanted to look and act their best. Going on an airplane was a special experience.
We hear of hard-working mid-century stewardesses who adhered to strict standards with dress and appearance. However, this ad references not a female stewardess but a male steward.
And, that steward probably didn’t wink at the young lady at all. But then again . . . maybe he did!
Mid-century international travel would have been a fun experience. 60 years ago, the ability to cross the ocean on a jet plane was still thought to be a bit of a miracle.
Here’s a closeup of Alitala’s logo.
A quick search reveals that Alitala was based in Rome in the 1960s. Apparently the Pope was a frequent flyer at the time. The once-profitable airline had financial problems and was reorganized as the ITA Airways.
More about Alitala Airlines
From the Wall Street Journal
Mid-Century Page 
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