Slow Burn – One Year: 1955 – The Weather Girls

Intro

In this episode of Slow Burn titled “One Year: 1955 – The Weather Girls,” the podcast explores the rise and fall of women weathercasters in the 1950s. It delves into the cultural phenomenon of “The Weather Girl” and the challenges faced by these pioneering women in a male-dominated field.

Main Takeaways

The Rise of Women Weathercasters

• In 1955, women weathercasters became stars and were idolized and lusted over.
• Television made it easier to communicate weather forecasts to the public.
• Carol Reed was the first woman hired to present the weather, and her catchphrase “have a happy” intrigued people.
• Lola Hall was the first female weather presenter in Oklahoma City and one of only three in the entire country in the 1950s.
• Despite not being a trained meteorologist, Lola studied the weather and gained viewers’ trust.

The Weather Girl Phenomenon

• Women weathercasters were expected to announce the next day’s forecast and sell products to housewives.
• The Weather Girl template got established quickly, and by 1955, they were probably the majority of weathercasters on TV.
• The Weather Girl was a full-fledged American phenomenon, and a pretty girl could make almost anything look more interesting.
• Teddy Thurman and Simon McQueen were popular weather girls who used their personas to gain fame.
• The rise of TV weather led to the creation of parody skits and radio shows.

The American Meteorological Society’s Response

• The AMS appointed a task force to establish a seal of approval for trained weathercasters.
• Women were excluded from the AMS seal of approval, actively quashing the weather girl trend.
• The AMS changed the conversation about what a weathercast should look like, leading to a shift towards sticking to the facts.
• Women weathercasters started losing their jobs after the more overtly sexy weathercasters left.
• Today, only 29% of American weathercasters are women.

Summary

The Rise and Fall of Women Weathercasters

In the 1950s, women weathercasters gained popularity and became icons in the entertainment industry. Television made it easier to communicate weather forecasts, and women like Carol Reed and Lola Hall broke barriers by presenting the weather on air. The Weather Girl phenomenon took off, with women weathercasters expected to be both informative and entertaining. However, the American Meteorological Society saw the presence of women as an insult and actively excluded them from their seal of approval. This led to the decline of women weathercasters, and today, their representation in the field remains low.

The Impact of The Weather Girl Phenomenon

The rise of The Weather Girl archetype brought attention to the field of meteorology and made weather forecasts more engaging for viewers. Women like Teddy Thurman and Simon McQueen used their charismatic personalities to captivate audiences. However, the focus on sex appeal and entertainment overshadowed the credibility of women weathercasters. The American Meteorological Society’s response further marginalized women in the field, leading to their eventual exclusion from weathercasting positions.

The Legacy of Lola Hall

Lola Hall, a pioneer in television as a reporter and a weather girl, left a lasting impact in Oklahoma City. Despite facing challenges such as cursing on air and being pregnant on television, Lola persevered and gained the trust of viewers. She became a legend in her community and continued her career in education and entertainment reporting. Lola’s story serves as a reminder of the resilience and determination of women weathercasters during a time when their presence was met with resistance.

Conclusion

The rise and fall of women weathercasters in the 1950s highlight the challenges faced by women in male-dominated fields. The Weather Girl phenomenon brought attention to the field of meteorology but also perpetuated stereotypes and undermined the credibility of women weathercasters. While progress has been made, there is still work to be done to achieve gender equality in the field of weathercasting.