Question Home

Position:Home>History> How did people entertain themselves during the 1800s?


Question: How did people entertain themselves during the 1800s!?
Best Answer - Chosen by Asker:
Edit, the person above did a more textbook account!. and posted whilst I was writing my humble offering, but alas, I will let the simple version stand!. It is remarkable to note the afore mentioned response failed to note, or I failed to notice the remark that not all, in fact a relatively few people had time, or in cold water flats, the places to engage in outdoor activities, much less the money or time!. They were trying to survive!. Let us not forget Charles Dickens accounts of the times!.

Now on to my original response:
Bear baiting (a horrible blood sport, no need for details) probably is the worst black eye in "entertainment history!."

For the most part, those with at least some wealth attended concerts, circuses, plays, etc!. Apparently parlour games and music performances at home were popular as well!.

Those who could read did so, and apparently people actually engaged in conversation (whatever that was)!. This may have been the golden age in which pub crawling, or at least going down to the local got started!.

I would hazard to say with the lack of laws regarding worker rights, many spent long days of toil for little money, and overall people in the working levels were more occupied with attempting to survive than be entertained!.

The, suddenly everything changed in the next century with the BBC home service and other radio service in other lands!.
Overnight everyone was enlightened, entertained, and found themselves not having to slave away!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

War was a big part of the 19th century!. Since there were few things to entertain people, during battles people would set up chairs and watch from the hillsides!.

During this time Europe was always at war with each other, so there was no lack of entertainment for the people!.

Even in the US, during the Civil War, people would line up chairs to watch the battles!. But most of the wars in the US were against the Native people and were too far away from the cities and towns to watch!.


Www@QuestionHome@Com

throughout the 1800s, people enjoyed music and dancing!. Every house that could afford one had a piano, and the daughters of the family would learn to play and sing so that they could entertain the family and any company!. People of all classes would enjoy going out to dances!. Towards the end of the 1800s the gramaphone was invented, but many people would not have been able to afford one!.

Card games and board games of all kinds were popular, and people were fond of riddles, conundrums, charades, acrostics, and other word games!.

Popular outdoor games included tennis, archery, and croquet, which could be played by both sexes on a lawn!. Croquet sets ever came with attachments for holding candles, so that people could play at night!.

In the late 1800s, bicycling became extremely popular with both sexes!. For the first time ever it became permissible for women to show their legs, at any rate while they were riding a bicycle!.

Theatres, music halls, and circuses were popular forms of entertainment which attracted people of all ages!. Small carnivals and stunt performers popped up everywhere!. "I went down and saw Miss Ella LaRue walk a rope stretched from the brick building corner of D and Union Streets to the balcony of the Opera House - about 160 feet" reported a man in Virginia City!. "She was dressed in short frock, tights and trunks - Great "shape" - more of it than I ever saw in any female!.'

Women's clubs became very popular in America after the Civil War!. Women of all classes would meet together to discuss literature, history, and current affairs!. The first club was started in 1868, by the turn of the century there were 5,000 local clubs in the General Federation of Women's Clubs, and that was only a tiny fraction of the total number that were scattered around the United States!.

Www@QuestionHome@Com

If you mean the 19th century that's one thing!. More technological devices were available then--mechanical child's toys, stereopticons for the drawing room, looking at pictures, either painted or drawn!. If you mean the 18th century that's another thing!.

In the 18th century there were books, there were pubs (men only), and there was playing music at home!. Sheet music used to be a more common commodity than it is now, and more people could read music!. Singing was something that women routinely did to amuse company, as was playing the piano (pianoforte)!.

Walking and viewing scenery was also more common than it is now!. People rode horses, although often this was not for entertainment!. Drawing was an occupation that both men and women practiced!.

The lower class had a harder time of it, as they always have!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

The 1800s lasted a long time!. Things changed!.

Began with celebrations for victories over Napoleon, ended sitting around a big gramophone, listening to Dame Clara Butt!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

sing, dance, drink,
crafts and reading
performances at royal courts or events provided much entertainment

Www@QuestionHome@Com

They sat around waiting for someone to invent television!.Www@QuestionHome@Com

Lets see -witchcraft- making boot leg liquor-Hooker hotels-fashion!.!.
Www@QuestionHome@Com

sexWww@QuestionHome@Com