Editor’s note: Take a look back into The Dallas Morning News Archives.
Valentine’s Day is traditionally known as the holiday of love — though its meaning and methods of expression are open to interpretation. For some, it is the time to celebrate romance and matters of the heart, to bestow their affections on those they love. For others, it’s the holiday they love to hate — considered an overly commercialized event, a reminder of lost love and broken hearts, and an overpriced obligation that breaks the bank.
We searched through over 100 years of Valentine’s Day coverage from The Dallas Morning News archives to examine love through the local perspective. Though we did uncover many standard representations of the day, from Cupid’s campaign to pair couples to legends of love, and suggestions of gifts, cards and flowers — we also recognized the emergence of humor and different celebrations for the holiday. From the sardonic to the satirical, to the downright critical, the coverage captures many unconventional perspectives and customs.
Take a look back through the headlines and highlights of The News’ Valentine’s Day coverage.
Breakups are not to be toyed with
Longtime couple Barbie and Ken broke up just before Valentine’s Day, on Feb. 13, 2004. According to a news release from Mattel, “The pair split on the soft sands of Malibu, Calif., near Barbie’s Dream House. A paparazzi shot ... shows a yellow-bikinied Barbie with her back to a sulking Ken.” The couple had been together since 1961, and the breakup seemingly occurred due to pressure from the rising popularity of MGA Entertainment’s Bratz dolls. “Mattel reps compared the split to that of J. Lo and Ben, though the dolls never had to suffer being called ‘Kenbie,’” wrote staff writer Ashley Powers.
Caught in the act
Valentine’s Day is not always about making a connection. Sometimes it is all about conducting clandestine operations — a.k.a., catching cheaters. On Feb. 13, 2010, private investigator Daniel Gomez showed readers “how to counterattack cupid’s arrow.” A former Dallas police officer, Gomez admitted that his stalking tactics weren’t very different from the tactics he used as a homicide detective — only in this instance, one would catch the perpetrator in the act. “Capturing infidelity is his specialty,” Jon Nielsen wrote.
Sweet revenge
Still bitter about your ex? On Feb. 3, 1989, sending your ex a bouquet of dead flowers hand-delivered by a grim reaper was one way to express those feelings. Drop Dead Florists’ bouquet delivery service went the extra mile — delivering bouquets to recipients at their place of business for added humiliation. “Much of the satisfaction for the sender of such an unsettling gift,” Nancy St. Pierre writes, “is the humiliation of the recipient. ‘Most want us to send these to the office of the person receiving the flowers so they can really be embarrassed in front of their co-workers,’ Mrs. Roberts said.”
Ah — love’s sweet revenge!
Forced fun
On Feb. 12, 2013, Matt Wixon criticized Valentine’s Day, asserting that it requires the not-so-spontaneous “romance man-date” of consumerism and overspending as Valentine’s Day stakes (and expenses) rise. Labors of love, Valentine’s gift-giving and acts of affection can become analogous to tasks one performs at a job, or as Wixon puts it, “punching a romance time clock.”
Love at first byte
Before message boards and even the internet were commonplace, one company thought to dream big on Feb. 4, 1985. Sextex was “a sexy information service” where customers would pay by the minute to engage in X-rated conversation. Former staff writer Steve Levin took the plunge to experiment with the site and met a woman named Shauna. Little did he know, he was an early pioneer in online dating and faced the woe of an instant spark and disappearance that is common today.
Divorce is a recurring theme
Is it true that Cupid has a sense of humor? Perhaps for 15 couples filing for divorce on Feb. 14, 1945, he does. Seven years later, matters went from comical to miserable for the plump cherub. On Feb. 15, 1952, only 20 sweethearts tied the knot on Valentine’s Day, while 27 others filed for divorce. On Feb. 14, 1985, The News reported that “it is not at all uncommon for people to get their divorce [on Valentine’s Day] ... when maybe three, four, five years ago they got married on Valentine’s Day.”
It seems that North Texans have the penchant to make Cupid work double shifts on his special day. “Cupid is no longer shooting arrows of love; he’s out guzzling Rebel Yell trying to work up enough courage for today’s courtroom drama.”
Things to do
Forget a quiet candlelit dinner: Dallasites often celebrated Valentine’s Day in nontraditional ways. One option was exploring the infamous Saint Valentine’s Day Massacre that took place in Chicago on Feb. 14, 1929, when seven gang members and their associates were shot to death. In 1970, from Feb. 12-14, you could take your date on a scenic stroll through the annual massacre creative arts exhibition to really visualize the day’s events.
Or if you were feeling like you wanted a more hands-on approach, in 1965, you could dress up in 1920s costumes and head to your local gun club for cocktails and several rounds of shots — and I don’t mean beverages. What could be more romantic?
Avoiding Romance
On Feb. 14, 1960, The News’ Anna Draper gave some advice to men who wanted to “ward off pursuers’' on Valentine’s Day. She suggested a few tongue-in-cheek ways to achieve this: “For the poor man who can’t resist the lure of perfume, we suggest: Look to science. Get the latest oxygen mask,” and “Curves by any route are the real danger. We suggest glasses with lenses that let others see in but the wearer can’t see out. Or, horseblinders.
You might also try the power of straight thinking.” Was this foreshadowing for Valentine’s Day 2022? Dulling your senses is definitely one way to avoid romance; for those going this route, a face mask should do the trick this year.
Romance vs. comfort
Love is not a 24/7, fiery-hot romance. On Feb. 13, 1991, some couples told their stories of how it’s not only about accepting your flaws, but maybe even smelling them, too. One man “no longer fears rejection when faced with an attack of flatulence,” while another woman “goes most of the winter without shaving her legs.” Comfort around your partner can be the ultimate representation of your love, but a divorce lawyer warns not to turn comfort into The Twilight Zone. Once the romance is flushed, the true relationship can be born.
Researchers Alyssa Fernandez, Meagan Hurley and Ana Niño contributed to this report.