It looks like the room they are in is the "POSTURE ROOM"! Anyone know? I know that there were "rest" rooms for operators to spend time in between shifts or on break.

[The sign on the door says Lecture Room. - Dave]

From the era when the "help wanted" ads were divided into Male and Female sections. Also there seemed to be no qualms about age discrimination ...

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Washington Post, Jul 6, 1928
The Chesapeake And Potomac Telephone Co.
Desirable positions are available for young women qualifying for telephone operating; good salary paid while learning, which increases at frequent intervals. Apply to Application Dept., Room 1, 722 12 st. nw.

Those sheer silk stockings made everybody's legs look great.

Bella Lugosi, front row right, staring holes through the photographer.

The crossdressers looked better.

I remember an elderly lady telling me when I was a young adolescent that if a girl looked in the mirror too long, she would see the face of Satan. It was considered self-centered to spend too much time on your looks, even though you were always expected to be presentable but it was probably about this time (the twenties) that women finally decided to flaunt their assets. You might remember the movie Thoroughly Modern Millie when girls finally started cutting and styling their hair, using rouge, lip lacquer, nail varnish and eyebrow pencil, shorter skirts and seductive shoes. Before that, girls with bosoms even had them wrapped in binders to be flat-chested (my mom told me) and self-esteem was not considered desirable; only modesty and humility were suitable for "nice girls." Thank heaven things changed.

It's not the women who have changed, it's todays layers of makeup, facial sculpting, beauty parlors and whatnot that nowadays makes the women more beautiful. People then had to work hard first and look good second.

Any idea how many of our so-called beauties today are complete fakes? These ladies may just need a complete makeover such as orthodentistry, hair styling, makeup, wardrobe, and smiling lessons. Feeling self-assured brings out the best in everyone as apposed to hyper-criticism such as that displayed in these comments. Please note that the '20's were not remembered for their beautiful hair or clothes styles. These poor ladies got caught up in that.

Well, maybe not quite that harsh, but it applies to nearly every picture I've seen from back then. Most of the men look somewhat lean, and the women look somewhat plain. Maybe it has something to do with looking at them with today's eye, and changing standards of looks. And that gal second from left? Well she just blows my theory to h#$l and gone. She is lovely, and that smile? Oh, man!

I'm sorry but on close examination that's a VERY scary looking bunch!

Maybe the women aren't gorgeous, but their SHOES are!

Keep in mind, these ladies knew they weren't beautiful. Mirrors did exist back then. They became telephone operators for a reason. Nobody had to see them. I'm sure they were nice people with good dispositions. Perfect operators.

How were so many women so ghastly and decrepit back then?

Front row second from the left...WOW what a beautiful smile.