Metrecal - a popular weight-loss powdered meal replacement
Judith Anderson - a Broadway star who also had a prolific career in film. Rosemary may be referring to Anderson’s famous roles as Medea and as Lady Macbeth
Steno pool - a group of secretaries who take dictation in shorthand
Dictation - writing down, recording what is said
Shorthand - a system of writing that uses symbols and abbreviations to increase writing speed
Longhand - writing out words in full
Dictation machine - a sound recording device used to record speech to later type into print
Carbon paper - sheets of paper that create multiple copies onto layered paper that is typed or written on
Adding machine - a mechanical calculator that creates a roll of tape for bookkeeping purposes
Playing Gin - a card game from a standard deck, where players match cards into sets and runs
Helena Rubinstein - an art collector and philanthropist, who was also a cosmetics entrepreneur
The Copa - a New York City nightclub where many entertainers made their New York debut
Cigarette girl - attractive young woman selling cigarettes from a tray held by a neck strap
Vassar - when How to Succeed was written, Vassar College was all women and meant to provide women with an equivalent education to the best men’s colleges of that time
Typhoid Carrier - reference used to describe someone to steer clear of; typhoid carriers are asymptomatic but contagious people infected with Salmonella typhi
Bergdorf Goodman - luxury department store
Fink - Informant, strikebreaker, generally unpleasant person
Wildroot cream oil - hair cream used for styling
Gatling - Richard Jordan Gatling invented a rapid-firing firearm that was an early version of a machine gun
”The Untouchables” - special agents during the prohibition who worked to end Al Capone’s illegal activities
Rail Splitter - person who splits logs into rails, famously known as a nickname for Abraham Lincoln, and used to describe someone who rose from humble beginnings
Shriners, Diner’s Club, Golden Key - Brotherhood of man references several membership-based groups, with Elks being the most recognizable. Shriners stemmed from Masonic Temple membership and is most known for supporting children’s hospitals. Diner’s Club refers to a charge account for business people, starting with New York based restaurants. Golden Key is an academic society.