In the US, Stout Airways was the first to employ stewards in 1926, working on Ford Trimotor planes between Detroit and Grand Rapids, Michigan. Pan American World Airways (Pan Am)  in 1929) were the first US carriers to employ stewards to serve food. Ten-passenger Fokker aircraft (German made) used in the Caribbean had stewards in the era of gambling trips to Havana, Cuba from Key West, Florida. Lead stewards would in many instances also perform the role of purser, steward, or chief steward in modern aviation terminology. 

The first female steward was a 25-year-old registered nurse named Ellen Church. Hired by United Airlines in 1930, she was also the first to envision nurses on  commercial flights. She was actively engaged with United Airlines in Crafting the new postilion in the upcoming commercial aviation industry. The position was soon reserved exclusively to registered Nurses. Other airlines followed United Airlines lead, hiring nurses as well, renaming the new job tittle as "stewardesses" or "air hostesses", and they were employed on most flights. The up and coming flying public were stand offish of the concept of Air Travel, and the idea of the stewardess being staffed exclusively by registered Nurses was comforting and well received.

 In the 1930s Registered Nurse were exclusively made up of women. Female stewardess rapidly replaced male stewards,and by 1936, had taken over the Job. As planes became larger and routes became longer more  stewardesses were needed for passengers  and a gang on each long haul flight were known as the "Cabin crew" which by now outnumbered the "flight crew" (who operated the Aircraft).

In the United States, stewardesses were required to be unmarried and were fired if they decided to wed (in the early years of aviation  it was actually considered a high risk occupation not suitable for Mothers). The requirement to be a registered nurse on  American carriers was relaxed out of necessity and disappeared almost entirely during World War II as many nurses joined military nurse corps. 

In 1966 the hiring standards for stewardesses was as follows: "A high school graduate, single (widows and divorcees with no children considered), 20 years of age (girls 19? and a 1?2 may apply for future consideration). 5'2" but no more than 5'9", weight 105 to 135 in proportion to height and have at least 20/40 vision without glasses."

With entry of the Jet age and the Civil Right Act of 1964 Stewardess challenged some of the Airline rigged and arcane hiring standards. In 1968, the courts ruled age restrictions on  employment  Stewardesses were out of bounds. The restriction of hiring only women was lifted by all airlines in 1971 as the courts ruled that "sex was not a bona fide occupational requirement to be a flight attendant". The no-marriage rule was eliminated throughout the US airline industry by the 1980s. The last such broad categorical discrimination, weight restrictions, were relaxed in the 1990s through litigation and negotiations with the Unions.

 The first stewardesses uniforms were designed to be durable, practical, and inspire confidence in passengers. In the 1930s, the first female flight attendants dressed in uniforms resembling nurses' outfits. The first female flight attendants for United Airlines wore green berets, green capes and white nurse's shoes. Other airlines, such as Eastern Air Lines, actually dressed female flight attendants in nurses' uniforms. Given their background early uniforms had a strongly military appearance; hats, jackets, and skirts showed simple straight lines and military details like epaulets and brass buttons. Many uniforms had a summer and winter version, differentiated by colors and fabrics appropriate to the season: navy blue for winter, for example, khaki for summer.

By the the 1960s, as mentioned above few nurses were left in the field being that their skills were in high demand, and the flying public had become more comfortable with air travel, and the Airlines safety records bore that out. The Airlines now looked at the value of the stewardesses in terms of hard work, and above average service skills.  As the role of women in the air grew, and airline companies began to realize the publicity value of their stewardesses, more feminine lines and colors began to appear in the late 1940's. 

 Jet passenger service began in the United States in the late 1950s with the introduction of Boeing 707 and Douglas DC-8 airliners. Pan American introduced overseas flights on 707s in October 1958. The Jet Travel age was now in full swing. And the Airlines and flying public viewed the stewardesses as the face of the airlines. This was understandable since passengers interacted with cabin crew and rarely saw the Flight crew.

During the 1960s, the large Carriers maintained a conservative but glamorous image for Stewardess. Airlines began to commission designs from high-end department stores and still others called in noted designers or even milliners to create distinctive and attractive outfits. American and other well known carriers of the day went with a more fashionable outfit, that included fitted suit in navy blue a matching jacket with silver metal wings replacing the military style shoulder epaulets,and insignia American used a four button single breasted closure. The sheath skirt topped a sheer white nylon body blouse with collar and three-button front. Depending on the airline the collar were worn over the Jacket Lapels, or under the jacket. Hem lines fell just below the knee.

The Golden age of Air travel was unfortunate short lived and service slowly deteriorated starting around 1976, and still declines to this day. 

Some foreign Carriers such as Korean Air Lines, Singapore Air,and a handful of other foreign carriers still hold fast to the Golden age which is more or less a bygone era. However the American Stewardess role in Commercial aviation can not be understated, ignored,or taken lightly and she remains as inspirational heroin as the Nurses that first took the role, and other Iconic American women that moved the Untied States forward before and after World War II. She epitomized; glamour, class, intelligence, air safety, hard work, strength, courage and the ultimate in customer service. The American Stewardess set high standards for other nations to follow.

The first Vintage Barbie Dolls were released in 1959 by a reluctant Mattel toy Company. The Doll was the brain child of Ruth Handler who always believed the Doll would be a big seller. The story is very interesting several books have be written, an well as several collectors guides. In 1961 two years after the first release the company came up with the career line. Since 1961 the doll has held well over 200 different Jobs. The 1961 #5 is the first Barbie to have a hollow body. Many #5 Vintage Barbie Dolls have a "greasy" looking face due to the type of vinyl used. American Airlines worked closely with Mattel to ensure the dolls uniform fit the company's 1960 uniform and grooming standards handbook for stewardess. The American Airlines uniform was numbered #984 by Mattel and was available until 1964 when it was discontinued. There are very few brands of toys that can claim a run starting in 1959 and continuing until today. This make the Vintage Barbie highly collectible.