The Newlybed

First, the props:

Jezebel tipped me on to this Daily Mail article, which introduces some fantastic sex instructional vids just released by the BFI (British Film Institue, darlings). [Note: As always, props means do take the time to read both articles and the always-pithy Jezzie commentators.]

Second, the goods:

Here’s the 1932 flick we’ve been dying to see, “The Mystery of Marriage.” Enjoy!

Because it’s hard to read the teeny font, here’s a breakdown of the above graph.

1. Curious, I searched Google News for ‘newlywed’ and - to my disappointment and surprise - got dozens of results detailing murders, abductions and otherwise heinous crimes involving the newly-married

1.b Hoping to skew my results in a saucier direction, I re-Googled for ‘newlywed sex’ only to encounter more graphic and disturbing details of the above crimes

2. I searched Google News’ archives for the for “newlywed sex” and was presented with the above graph, with over 16,000 results returned for the last 48-nd-a-bit years

3. 2004’s high water mark could be explained by a few different trends:

• Fever pitch reached on Season 2 of Newlyweds: Nick and Jessica
• Despite vocal opposition from the Bush administration, some US jurisdictions take first stabs at legalizing gay marriage;
• Legal challenges spread across Canada, and same sex marriage becomes legal in the majority of Canadian provinces
• The first rumblings of newlywed-focused The Nest [brought to you by wedding uber-brand The Knot] are heard across the web
• Bridezillas premieres on WE

4. Notably similar, there is a visible uptick in the mid-1960’s, which can be explained in part by the debut of The Newlywed Game in 1966

5. 1981’s steep decline? Charles and Diana’s mega-wedding piqued the interest of many; sordid details of their post-nuptial bliss were probably less headline grabbing.

Other explanations? Leave them in the comments section below.