As yet another child of the sixties, I just wanted to mention an important anomaly in your 8/31/08 show - "Maidenform." In the introductory segment, you show Peggy putting on pantyhose. As every boomer woman knows, panty house did not become available to the masses until well after 1965. Although Glen Raven Mills introduced a type of panty with hose, panty hose as we know it was not commercially available for several years after that. "In 1965, Glen Raven Mills developed a seamless pantyhose version that coincided with the introduction of the miniskirt" - from About.com. I graduated high school in 1966 and did not even see a pair of panty house in the department stores until mid-way through college (in Philadelphia). Please - next time just ask someone who was actually there at the time what actually happened.

being a child of the 60's i have recently become fascinated with Mad Men. It gives me a window into how the world really was when i was still in high school. i have been enjoying it tremendously, that is until last night. i was devastated and made to feel sick to my stomach when the segment was shown where chauncey (supposedly so loved and adored by his master) was unleashed and let out into the street. for an animal lover like myself this was so shocking i actually screamed out to the tv. do you realize how many other people like me are out there? what were you thinking? please have a positive follow-up on this segment next episode, and never do anything that cruel again. it was so very very wrong. my admiration for your show was shattered and i am actually afraid to watch it again for fear of what happened to the animal.

I agree with a previous blogger that pantihose were not available until the middle sixties with the advent of the miniskirt. I noted in the proposed ad for Playtex that Jackie and Marilyn were featured wearing stockings and garters. I was a secretary in the early sixties and love the show.

I was very disappointed to see all the military service individuals at the country club wearing their uniform hats indoors while seated at dining tables!
Any military service member knows that protocol
dictates that you remove your hat before entering an indoor establishment.

I agree with dorothy. I have watched every episode with great anticipation and have even hooked others on the show. After Duck put his dog on the street last night, I'm not sure if I'll be watching any more episodes.

I am writing to agree wholeheartedly with the comments of Dorothy and FinchX3 about that horrifying scene with the beautiful dog in last night's episode. I have never commented on a blog before, but I had to see if others felt the same way. Although I never missed an episode of Mad Men, I am so upset about the cruelty expressed in this last episode that I too am afraid to watch the show again.

I understand how you feel about Duck put his dog on the street but it is just a show. I'm sure no harm was done to the dog

I agree with the three previous writers who were horrified by the heartbreaking treatment of the dog on the most recent episode. Of course this is just a television show...but there are some things that cross the line between dramatic tension and gratuitous cruelty. I appreciate the fact that often the public interest advertisement by the Humane Society against cruelty to animals is shown during this show...and thank whoever is responsible for that. Still, one wants to feel that there will be a limit to the pain of harsh reality to which a viewer is subjected in the course of watching even a dark series such as this. I'm having a hard time getting the image of those trusting eyes out of my mind.

We know that Duck is a jerk and has issues. Putting Chauncy outside was completely unnecessary. I grew up afraid my father would harm my pets...as a woman over 50, I certainly didn't need to see this. I agree with all comments except ilovemadmen...of course, no harm was done to the dog. But just as gratuitous sex is unnecessary, so too is gratuitous harm to animals. And I too have never commented on a blog prior to this.

Please people the dog has five handlers waiting for him with steak. Can someone help me with the last scene? Was it guilt?

I just started watching the show and spent all day watching season 2 on comcast and am completely hooked!! (can't wait to see re-runs of season 1) .... anyways, I've been on this website for a couple of hours getting more familiar with the actors and characters. There seems to be a lot of disdain about the dog being let loose. Everyone that is threatening to stop watching the show are cracking me up. The whole show centers on VERY BAD choices that were made back then....smoking, drinking, infedelity, child abuse, etc ... does no one here see the irony in that? What we know is not acceptable these days are different from then. And most importantly, it was critical to the breakdown of Duck. We needed to see a dark side from him in order to move on with his particular storyline. I feel better now for getting all of that off my chest!
LOVE THE SHOW!!

I agree with some of the other people who made comments about Peggy putting on pantyhose. It struck me right away that this was the first time I had actually seen a big technical error on this program. She would have worn a panty girdle with nylons, not pantyhose.

I am of two minds regarding this show. It is great fun looking at the sets and costumes, and I have become interested in the various characters, too. However, I usually find myself irritated and disgruntled by each episode's end. I finally realized it is because the show is dredging up old memories and feelings I thought long forgotten. You see, I started work as a secretary right out of high school in that exact time period. I experienced that exact male behavior first hand - the sexist remarks, the little cruelties, the passes - this show is depicting that time period in my life perfectly. After 40+ years it is all coming back to me, and I am amazed at what we women had to put up with back then. I will keep watching this show, if only to see what happens to Peggy and Don and Joan, but the woman I am now would dearly love to go back in time and tell that sweet young thing I once was just exactly how to handle those men in suits. Also, there were NO pantyhose in 1962, at least not for the office "girls," and, I am sorry, but the scene with the dog upset me enormously

Glen Raven Mills in North Carolina developed and marketed pantyhose in 1959. They introduced a seamless version in 1965 to go with the miniskirt. Lighten up folks! It's the writer's way of visually suggesting that Peggy is young and modern. Maybe she's the one who Don sent the book of poetry to!

Okay, I must post again. Seems like there are more people here who agree with me regarding the treatment of the dog. I could not get the image out of my mind of that sweet trusting dog. I know it's a show but I hope they write the dog back in with a postive result. However, knowing this show that probably will not happen. Doubt if I ever watch the show again because of how they handled the dog. I would rather see him on the street.

I have to comment on the "doglovers" outrage about last nights episode. I wonder how many of them have stopped watching any show on TV that depicts FICTIONAL child abuse, murder, rape,etc.???

Can we talk about the character development this season.. In my opinion, the only woman character of worth on the show was Rachel Menken (now Katz).. Betty is sometimes very immature and cruel to her children and I can see them adding even more character flaws to her personality by next year..Joan is a gold digger who is a control freak. The list goes on..

I love the show, but I think Duck is boring. Who cares about him or his family. Who cares that he drinks they all drink.

Yeah, suzako, ilovemadmen, italian girl,annette,mmen and all other posters who say the dog is fine---the trainer was probably 3 feet away and when Chauncey turned to go "into the street" he was no doubt lovingly grabbed over, hugged and petted enthusiastically told what a good doggie he was, then given his favorite toy and snacks and told to go get in his fanciest of dog beds to await the next take..we all should have it so good...LOL.

I love dogs but I think people are over-reacting. If Duck had jumped from the window, people would be less upset I bet. Remember, its a pretend doggie. In real life, the dog is fine. Mad men did not actually leave a dog on the street. Its ok.

Of course the dog is fine in real life but have you not ever been sad a movie? Anyway, enough about the dog, although I do hope they bring him back in some positive way. Also, I do think Betty is a horrible mom or at least makes bad choices. I grew up in the 60;s and my mother never served me breakfast wearing a swimming suit. She does not seem to love the kids much; at least Don shows them love.

Remember in Breakfast at Tiffany's when she puts the
cat out in the rain and that's all you could think about
as you watched the rest of the movie? Same thing
here-I was so sad and disturbed. I like to think there
is a special place in hell for people who mistreat
animals!
Really though, that's nothing compared to how women
on this show are treated yet, it's the dog so many of
us are fixated on. Don is just a rat bastard to his wife
and she continues to take it; the comments he made
to her about wearing that bikini in public where so
cruel and intended to undermine Betty's self-image.
His constant cheating, lying, and demeaning remarks
are more cruel than anything we saw happen to that
poor dog.

Can someone offer their thoughts about what happened to Don in the bathroom in the last scene?

Well, I am still upset about the dog. I know it's just a TV show and the dog is alive and well, but it was enormously upsetting nonetheless. I was no less upset after some of the scenes of Betty and her coldness to her children. The scene at the card table with their friends where she tells them that her little boy is a liar was one instance, and another was when she was so insistent that Don go upstairs and give the little boy a spanking. She is definitely coming across as a cold hearted woman towards her children. She is my least favorite character in this show, followed closely by her husband. He is one gorgeous man to look at, but his treatment of women, whether a secretary, his wife, or his current mistress, is just appalling. But, he is not alone - every man on the show thus far has shown himself to be a "chauvinist pig." I have to hand it to the writers and actors on this show - it is not a show you can watch and forget about - it keeps you thinking long after the episode is over.

You know I never ran into a real Don Draper, thank god, because I would be one of those silly women that fall head over heels for him- good looks, strong presence and well...I married a nice guy.
So it's a story about unreal men and women during my favorite era at the end of innocence. And I love it- I was awed by the writing, the clothes( I really hate casual fridays), the history, and the pent up sexual aggression of a society full of over stressed men and sexual repressed women. Do they drink? YES!!! Do they smoke? YES!!! Do I miss this in a NY minute- oh yes I do. They are all chauvinist pigs and handle their infidelity a little poorly, but at least it was kept out of the papers. It's a personal life that we can watch fall apart for the men, Don, and cheer for the women, Peggy.
And yes I'm still in love, lust with Don, his face, his voice and well, you know... So I'll be a married mistress, and love every minute of it. This is the first TV series I've watched in over 15 years. Thanks AMC- Your show is amazing!

If I may respond to Copycat....

It seems to me that Don's private world is increasingly bumping into his family life. The night before, he told his mistress to "stop talking" -- she didn't of course, and let him know that he has developed a reputation for his sexual prowess. She basically cut her own throat with those comments, because he was done with her. Cut to the next morning and his daughter comes into his bathroom and says to him "I'm not gonna talk so you don't cut yourself." I thought that end scene showed us the terrible irony he should be seeing about his life.

DreamMachine, I totally agree!! I think Sally's comment totally brought the scene with bitch/tramp Bobbie into Don's moral conscience and I think he really realizes he is out of control.
I think he is handsome, but, really to still want him sexually after all of the cheating, lying, etc. No thank you.. Would Betty still be with him if it was 2008 not 1962????? I don't think so.. Beauty is skin deep.. and to be thought of as a male ho really dug into him.. Remember, his real mother was a prostitute..

I think this week or soon Dons bad behavior will come back to haunt him. I agree that Sally's comment about not talking shook him up, but he did not care about Bobbie and often said so. There is something more. Maybe he realizes he truly cares for no one not even his children and that scares him.

Copycat5174 et al,

Matthew Weiner discusses the scene with Don and Sally in the bathroom during this week's Inside Mad Men:

http://blogs.amctv.com/mad-men/2008/08/inside-mad-men-9.php

He cannot look in the mirror...Thank you

China Wholesale Town - China's most viable wholesale supplier of promotional gifts, Wholesale Carabiner you can customize your own logo, no matter anywhere in the world! Lunch Box Suppliers

Top China Wholesaler-Buy Wholesale Promotional Gifts Promotional Items from China.