Employee Portraits of the 1960s: How Fast-Food Chains Used Training Guides to Standardize Conduct and Appearance

In the 1960s, fast-food chains began standardizing their operations, including employee appearance and behavior, with instructional photos and manuals often detailing how to “dress for success” in the industry.

The Chattanooga History Center’s collection includes training materials from Krystal restaurants, a fast-food franchise founded in 1932, which emphasized quick and courteous service centered around their bite-sized Krystal burger. These materials, including a brochure and orientation film, provided guidelines such as maintaining a clean, friendly appearance, avoiding overly familiar interactions with customers, and adhering to strict food handling practices.

The brochure and orientational training film contained instructions such as:

“Keep your teeth clean and white. Anybody can have a pretty smile. Naturally, you don’t want to get too familiar with the customers, just be really pleasant and friendly. Let your personality show through.”
“The customers aren’t interested in your private jokes. That kind of horseplay just won’t go.”
“Keep your fingers off the food and don’t put the butter on top of the waffle.”

The photos served as visual examples for employees on proper conduct behind the counter.

h/t: vintag.es