Malt Shops, and Drive-Ins, and Bowling Alleys! Oh, My! Typical Settings for Romance!
We all know that romance can happen anywhere -- but in the romance comics, love generally blossomed at a few select places. The following panels illustrate perhaps the most popular settings for 1960s and '70s romance stories. As you go through this post you may ask yourself, why no romance scenes in the bedroom? Bedroom scenes in the romance comics were few and far between and typically, reserved for married characters. Another thing to remember -- prior to the in-home entertainment revolution (e.g., devices such as VHS and DVD players) most amusements happened outside of the home, thus accounting for the public nature of the romantic venues shown here.
The great outdoors is always a perfect spot for love when the weather is nice!
Park Benches
Beaches
Under Trees
A little vigorous exercise never hurt the heart, so say the characters of romance comics!
Tennis Courts
Bowling Alley
Ski Slopes
Nothing like being afloat at sea with the one you love as the many boaters in the romance comics demonstrate!
Sailboats
Canoes
Miscellaneous entertainment is always available for those characters fortunate enough to live in the city!
The Zoo
Malt Shops
Nightclubs
Amusement Parks
Museums and Art Galleries
It is no surprise that the popularity of cars in mid-century popular culture infiltrated the pages of romance comics as intimate spaces for young lovers.
The Drive-in
Lookout Points
Many romance stories took place where characters spent a majority of their time -- the workplace.
Hospitals
The Office
School
This list is by no means conclusive, but is a nice sampling of some of the most common settings for romance in the comics! Maybe you now even have an idea or two of where to take your next date!