Question about the front seats of cars

[blume357]

I watch a lot of old movies and older re-runs... just noticed something I see a lot of in older movies while watching an Andy in Mayberry episode.... The driver would often get in to the car from the passenger side and just slide over. I'm trying to remember the last time I saw a car where you could easily do this? What happened to the full bench seat in the front of cars?

 

[Gator89]

Cars in general are much smaller these days.

 

[bogus bill]

The cars I had up to 1972 all had the bench seat. Those with four doors. The coupes didn't. I NEVER slid over from the passenger side to drive though like they do in those old movies. Might come from towns with narrow streets years ago. I have noticed that too in a lot of old movies. Once I was riding with a guy in a 55 chev. He got out without checking, opened his door and a kid ran into the open door really sailing on a bicycle. The kid was skun up and hurting. My driver was cussing HIM out!

 

[Jeepnik]

Can't say I ever saw anyone do that. I'm guessing it's has more to do with camera angles and filming in general. Maybe the character was supposed to come out of a building that wasn't really there and shooting from the left would have shown that.

I do know that large bench seats likely led to many an encounter in a large bench rear seat and thus (hey I'm one) many a child.

 

[427mach1]

My first car was a 72 Galaxie 2-door with bench seats. My girlfriend would get in on the driver's side and slide to the middle, does that count?

 

[caryc]

My first car was a 72 Galaxie 2-door with bench seats. My girlfriend would get in on the driver's side and slide to the middle, does that count?

Would you have walked around and opened the passenger door for her if she preferred to use it?

 

[Scout943]

You can do it in my 79 Scout ll being careful of the shifters .

 

[kodiakken]

My first car was a 72 Galaxie 2-door with bench seats. My girlfriend would get in on the driver's side and slide to the middle, does that count?

My Missus use to do the same. Must have been a good thing I got stuck with her going on 40 years now!!!

 

[GunnyGene]

My first car was a 72 Galaxie 2-door with bench seats. My girlfriend would get in on the driver's side and slide to the middle, does that count?

Absolutely. :wink:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KGaBIFRZmQQ

 

[hittman]

What happened to the full bench seat in the front of cars?

Cup holders.

 

[CGDustDevil]

I also watch a lot of old movies, and yes, the camera placement and immobility certainly had MUCH to do with it. It was quite an ordeal to change camera positions, lighting, etc. to accommodate people stepping off sidewalks, walking around the vehicle and getting in the driver side.

Vincente Minnelli is said to have invented a studio crab dolly in the 1940s in order to easily move the camera around under very ideal conditions. But neither the devices nor the cameras were advanced enough for a good number of years to be use in a truly mobile fashion in uncontrolled environments as they are today.

And you may find it interesting that during driver's education, I was taught by my driving instructor (Mr. Perry) that on busy streets, I should use the passenger side to avoid opening doors that might impede oncoming traffic. (Providing of course I was not accompanied by a woman for whom I would be opening the passenger door for as a courtesy) So there was perhaps those influences as well. Although I cannot recall ever seeing my parents or any other adults doing such a thing.

But I suspect the phenomenon of the 'passenger side entry' in old pictures had much more to do with the camera placement, focus, lighting, hitting of marks, and controlling precisely what the camera was to 'see'. The business that occurs within the frame of the cameras in motion pictures of those days was VERY tightly managed by directors! They knew exactly what they wanted seen by the audience as points of focus, and what was to be seen peripherally to fill out the visual experience. The use of computer generated graphics and truly mobile (and sophisticated) cameras have certainly changed those techniques in modern picture making!

Regards, Pete

 

[427mach1]

My first car was a 72 Galaxie 2-door with bench seats. My girlfriend would get in on the driver's side and slide to the middle, does that count?

Would you have walked around and opened the passenger door for her if she preferred to use it?

Of course!

 

[Wyandot Jim]

And you may find it interesting that during driver's education, I was taught by my driving instructor (Mr. Perry) that on busy streets, I should use the passenger side to avoid opening doors that might impede oncoming traffic.

Yep If you were parallel parked ( you do remember that don't you?) on a busy street was just as easy to get in on the passengers side.

 

[SamV]

My parents garage was a tight fit, so we parked a little closer to the wall on the driver's side. We used the passenger side of the car to enter and exit. I actually miss these bench seats. I generally hate the center console. Maybe I just do too much "manspreading". A lot of consoles rub against my leg uncomfortably. As far as opening the passenger side door for the girl, my girlfriends tended to get in the driver's door and slide over to the middle of the bench. My high school car had a large fold down center arm rest. When it was up, it was perfect for putting your right arm around your girlfriend. Ah, youth!!

 

[Fox Mike]

Yep, first car had bench seats. . .front and back.

Wyandot Jim mentioned parallel parking. Maryland no longer requires that during a drivers test for your license. If you are in a small town, that has narrow streets, and you want some entertainment, just park somewhere and watch people attempt to parallel park.

 

[toysoldier]

In the movies, it's what the director wanted---just like TV doctors scrubbing for surgery without a mask, then having the masks tied on when they enter the OR.

One reason bench seats went away was comfort. Bucket seats greatly reduce driver fatigue on long trips. Consoles grew up as cars and seats got lower. Now that so many cars are front-wheel-drive, they are used for cup holders, GPS, Sirius radio, and other computer gadgets.

Another thought---with mandated safety requirements, how do you provide a shoulder belt for the middle passenger in a front seat?

 

[Bob Wright]

My first car was a 72 Galaxie 2-door with bench seats. My girlfriend would get in on the driver's side and slide to the middle, does that count?

Would you have walked around and opened the passenger door for her if she preferred to use it?

Cary, I still do that for my wife.

Bob Wright

 

[Bob Wright]

We were taught to enter from the passenger side when the car was parked on the street side. It is a violation, or was at least, to open the driver's door into possibly oncoming traffic.

I've done that, slid across the bench seat, to get into the driver's seat, but only if I was not escorting a lady. And, when weather conditions are just right ~ ZAP! that little jolt form static electricity!

And, when you're young, having your girl cuddle up next to you as you drove, affecting that manly driver's posture.

Bob Wright

 

[caryc]

My first car was a 72 Galaxie 2-door with bench seats. My girlfriend would get in on the driver's side and slide to the middle, does that count?

Would you have walked around and opened the passenger door for her if she preferred to use it?

Of course!

Good for you, I was hoping you would say that. Then I guess your girlfriend just like being close to you at all times. :wink:

 

[Paul B]

"Another thought---with mandated safety requirements, how do you provide a shoulder belt for the middle passenger in a front seat?"

My 2015 F150 has a fold down console. Fold it up that there is a lap and shoulder harness for the middle of the seat passenger. No reason why a car with a bench seat couldn't have a set up like that as well.
Paul B.