'How a wife should and should not undress'

A lesson in everyday burlesque.

Amanda Uren

1937

"Attractive undressing technique is here being demonstrated by June St. Clair (right), of the Allen Gilbert School of Undressing." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

The "School of Undressing" was founded in Manhattan in 1937 by Allen Gilbert. Operating burlesque shows at Manhattan's Apollo and Philadelphia's Shubert Theatres, Gilbert declared the noble intention of "dedicating my school to the sanctity of the American home." The aim of the course was "to make going to bed appear a thing of charm and pleasure rather than a routine chore."Gilbert claimed to LIFE magazine, which published this photo spread, that 48 women had signed up for the school's $30 course.In it, two burlesque stars demonstrated the techniques of undressing to students. The dark-haired "Professor" Connie Fonzlau demonstrated the improper and clumsy way, and blonde "Professor" June St. Clair showed the correct techniques. Reader reactions to the LIFE article were mixed. In a later issue, comments ranged from shocked to disappointed. Some men were bemused, as they had never thought of watching their wives undress. One correspondent wondered how he was going to get out of his shirt and shorts and into his pajamas in "one magic motion."Alongside his school, it's no coincidence Gilbert was promoting a forthcoming revue, called "Sex Rears Its Ugly Head."These pictures were published in a world still dominated by the Great Depression. The traditional family unit was evolving; new social norms and sexual politics were being explored. From 1930 to 1935, the number of single women in America had increased by a third — couples were putting off getting married, and birth rates fell dramatically, as the cost of raising a family became an increasingly heavy burden to bear. In 1940, an American survey revealed that almost 1.5 million men had abandoned their wives across the decade — even divorce was too prohibitively expensive. 

"No creases remain after Miss St. Clair (right) picks up her dress up, smoothes it out, places it on a chair which remains otherwise unoccupied. Such good bedroom manners, according to Allen Gilbert, are essential to married happiness once the honeymoon is over." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"Nightgown technique is the high point in the Gilbert course. Here Miss St. Clair adroitly gets into her nightgown and drops her lingerie all in one magic motion." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"A prime principle of artful undressing is to keep the hands graceful at all times. Here Miss Fonzlau clearly demonstrates what a knot some women make of their clothes." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"She begins the day's classroom exercise by neatly sliding her dress down over her hips and gracefully stepping out of it." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"The business of taking off stockings, as here demonstrated by Miss June St. Clair is virtually an art in itself. Wives should use both hands to roll them down from the top slowly and neatly, thus avoiding all suspicion of slovenly unaesthetic wrinkles." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"Two excellent purposes are served by rolling down stockings instead of merely pulling them off by the toes. Economically, a husband is pleased by the absence of runs, romantically, he is gratified by his wife's graceful method of displaying her legs." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"Too many American wives reveal bad bedroom manners by letting their hair down too soon, by allowing their stockings to wrinkle off and by sitting on discarded clothes." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"Here June St. Clair, of the Gilbert Undressing School, shows a preview audience how to remove lingerie. Note the use of the side view, with right knee slightly crooked." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"In this demonstration the lecturer is committing an unpardonable sin known as 'working both sides at once'." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images

"At the Allen Gilbert School for Undressing, Professor Connie Fonzlau begins her lecture on "Bedroom Don'ts" by demonstrating the worst possible method of disrobing." Credit: Peter Stackpole/The LIFE Images Collection/Getty Images