Smoking activities in Whitechapel ?

[swagman]

Hi. I have attached here a small exerpt from W H Bury's Dundee trial notes.

Can anyone on the forum help expand on the 'smoking concert' activity Bury is claimed have gone to ?

Is the word 'concert' ? I've never heard of any such activity either in contempory works regarding Whitechapel/England or since.

Paul

[Sam Flynn]

According to Wikipedia:

"Smoking concerts were live performances, usually of music, before an audience of men only; popular during the Victorian era. These social occasions were instrumental in introducing new musical forms to the public. At these functions men would smoke and speak of politics while listening to live music. These popular gatherings were sometimes held at hotels."

[Graham]

Not, then, a choir of heavy smokers coughing, retching, heaving and gobbing their way through the works of Arthur Sullivan?

Graham

[swagman]

According to Wikipedia:

"Smoking concerts were live performances, usually of music, before an audience of men only; popular during the Victorian era. These social occasions were instrumental in introducing new musical forms to the public. At these functions men would smoke and speak of politics while listening to live music. These popular gatherings were sometimes held at hotels."

Hi Sam. Thanks - a interesting insight into Bury's life. I would be interested to learn more about where they may have been held in Spittalfields/Whitechapel in 1888 and generally the class of patronage - i'll get working on it.

For example, whilst being all Male affairs one presumes their locations would be a logical hang-outs for working girls (but then i guess so were all the other pubs etc in the area).

It is obvious that Bury 'fancied' himself and wanted to move in higher circles than his current status allowed.. .... but anyway thats for a Bury thread i guess.

[miss marple]

Smoking concerts were generally middle class affairs. A chance for men who were not privileged enough to have membership of a club to get away from the wife, have a good smoke, talk, relax and enjoy some slightly risque entertainment. [ not prostitutes] In middle class houses often men were not allowed to smoke indoors, unless there houses were big enough to have a special smoking room. Men often had special jackets and hats to smoke in [to stop the wife conplaining about the stink]
The upper classes and aristocracy often had large combined smoking/ billard rooms where men could retire after dinner, leaving their wives to talk scandal in the drawing room, originally called the withdrawing room[ where the women would withdraw]. Very civilised. Very racy,theatrical and some aristocratic ladies took up smoking in the nineties, but amongst the middle classes it was not respectable for women. In Diary of a Nobody, that great comic novel of lower middle class life, Lupin, the son moves in a fast set and both his ex and current fiancee smoke.
Miss Marple

[swagman]

Smoking concerts were generally middle class affairs. A chance for men who were not privileged enough to have membership of a club to get away from the wife, have a good smoke, talk, relax and enjoy some slightly risque entertainment. [ not prostitutes] In middle class houses often men were not allowed to smoke indoors, unless there houses were big enough to have a special smoking room. Men often had special jackets and hats to smoke in [to stop the wife conplaining about the stink]
The upper classes and aristocracy often had large combined smoking/ billard rooms where men could retire after dinner, leaving their wives to talk scandal in the drawing room, originally called the withdrawing room[ where the women would withdraw]. Very civilised. Very racy,theatrical and some aristocratic ladies took up smoking in the nineties, but amongst the middle classes it was not respectable for women. In Diary of a Nobody, that great comic novel of lower middle class life, Lupin, the son moves in a fast set and both his ex and current fiancee smoke.
Miss Marple

Hi. If a resident of Spittalfields/Whitechapel was going out to one of these 'smoking concerts' in what sort of venue would that be held ? Would it be at one of the Music halls, pubs or were they held exclusively at more specific, select venues ?

[Sam Flynn]

I've attended many a "smoker" in the grotty back room of a rugby club.

[swagman]

I've attended many a "smoker" in the grotty back room of a rugby club.

Lucky you (from a man who loves cuban cigars but is banned from smoking in the house, at work, in the pub etc etc !!)

I think your comments are along the lines that my instinct tells me - that Bury is going to a 'smoking concert' but certainly a Whitechapel version - more '1888 meets chas and dave' than 'Bach & Mozart'

Paul

[Sam Flynn]

I like that image, Paul