I recall that on my Grandfather's 1982 machine, one pressed a button on the left for Cycle A, B, C , or D; then turned the timer dial on the right to the position marked with that letter. The dial may even have stopped when reaching the selected position. Pulling the knob out started the machine. When the cycle was complete, the knob pushed itself back in. His had the square, flip-top soap dispenser and the door-mounted silverware basket. That machine had a different fill operation from the one in the video: after draining, it would begin filling with the motor still running. After 10 seconds, the motor would shut off for several seconds, then start up again and continue running throughout the fill sequence. My guess is that was to dump out any cold water entering in, for a true "hot start". The brief pause might be so it could move from drain mode to wash mode? The mechanical experts can say whether that's correct.
Until around 1978, possibly earlier, the door was latched by pushing down on a latch located in the middle of the control panel. Pulling on the latch lifted it upward and outward.