Today's man is thrilled with entertainment electronics, audio video gadgets, movies and travel chances worldover and above all internet service. I am wondering what a rich person was getting 150 years ago, (when perhaps not even Electric Bulb was invented) for his entertainment other than drink and ......
2006-09-13 04:47:28 · 10 answers · asked by jeet 1 in Arts & Humanities ➔ History
We're talking about the mid-Victorian era. Well, there was always gambling, and the big houses would have their own billiard tables. Men could go to the music halls for the ladies there, and many women would be concerned with "good works" and charities, and would spend much time making social calls and receiving guests. Time was also taken to dress for the particular time of day: morning gowns, afternoon outfits, dressing for dinner, etc. Hunting, shooting and fishing, when it was in season. In country houses, there would often be house-parties with balls, dining and excursions; in town there would also be the Season where there would be plenty of entertainment. There were blood sports for the more unsavoury-minded, including cockfighting and rat pits. For ladies and gentlemen, there were ballets, operas and plays to dress up for, as well as musical evenings in their own houses where a famous singer might be engaged to sing for their entertainment; guests would often be prevailed upon to play the harp or piano, and sing.
"The Victorians were particularly good at being entertained and at entertaining others or themselves. Their performances at home were amateur, but they entered the spirit of do it yourself family parties with elaborately organised entertainments. The hosts and guests joined in charades, dancing, games, fireworks, magic lantern shows and piano sing songs making their own lively entertainment."
http://www.fashion-era.com/victorian_recreations.htm
Even at home with no guests, somebody would perhaps play the piano and sing; someone would read aloud, and there might be dancing if there were young people.
There is quite a bit on the above source, including the Races (sport of kings), visiting pleasure gardens and so on. They could go by train to the seaside - the railways opened up new vistas - and there were bathing machines for taking a dip in the sea.
It was the time also when people were fascinated by the paranormal, and would go to see table-tapping and ectoplasm issue from the mouths of mediums. It was a time of "spectacle" and the great Victorian novel.
There was a lot to do; when you have never had it, you don't miss it! In all, I think they probably had a better time than we do, making their own entertainment, communicating face-to-face and writing letters.
2006-09-13 06:05:12 · answer #1 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
Dinosaur bones were burried by Satan, and radio-carbon dating is actually a liberal plot to brainwash our children into getting gay-married. The world is actually only about 100 years old, and if you don't believe that you hate America. God also shares my hatred of gays and my love of high powered rifles.
2016-03-26 23:19:05 · answer #2 · answered by ? 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
"prize fights" eiyher between local champions or person slaves with marital ability!!!...bull and bear baiting contests!!!!dog fights against wild animals!!!"fox hunting on horse back!!!"horse racing"bareback,saddled and "harness-sulky racing!!!"road racing with carriages between the prized teams of rich plantation owners!!!!post races=point-to-point races with jockeys on horseback!!!!greco-roman wresling matches!!!social gathering at which the gentlemen would play cards-whist and poker,after they drank and ate their fills and had their "port" and they ladies rested in a sepate group!!!dice throwing!!!!...all of these pastimes entailed an element of risk and gambling on the "outcomes" made for a very "raucus " colonial environment and colorful folk tales,legends and stories also gave the proper "unenvolved" persons something racy to read!!!!bowling ten pins and horse=shoe throwing!!!pulling stumps in a competiton betweeen "prized teams" of oxen and draft horses!!!the drinking of coffee,drinking ale and spirits and smoking of tobacco at "public houses" or pubs"!!races between packet ships,schooners,clipper ships,steamboats and other conveyances from point to point...and betting on the outcome!!betting on which crew of slave could pick the most cotton in the fastest time!!betting on which team of horses or oxen could plow the most acreage the best!!!
2006-09-13 05:08:44 · answer #3 · answered by eldoradoreefgold 4 · 0⤊ 0⤋
Indoor Toilets, carpet..houses made of stone, Horses that weren't half dead
2006-09-13 04:48:51 · answer #4 · answered by Anonymous · 0⤊ 0⤋
....rich man's entertainment was some kind of titillating dance by a woman.........mujra..kathak..bharat natyam....bellydance...or dancer imported from Europe......
2006-09-13 05:04:53 · answer #5 · answered by spaceman 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
young cockney chimney sweeps.
2006-09-13 04:49:58 · answer #6 · answered by tich1983 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋
stage play, puppetry
2006-09-13 04:55:08 · answer #7 · answered by srikant k 1 · 0⤊ 0⤋
handmaidens
2006-09-13 05:02:48 · answer #8 · answered by smitty 7 · 0⤊ 1⤋
"SHATRANJ'_ a variation of CHESS.
2006-09-13 15:26:16 · answer #9 · answered by Truth ? 5 · 0⤊ 0⤋
HUKKA.
2006-09-13 04:50:59 · answer #10 · answered by jidane 2 · 0⤊ 0⤋