The Master of Ceremonies As
well as supplying from these ready-made amusements, the most popular resorts
competed to provide a variety of other entertainment, both indoors and
outdoors. Like the fashionable spa towns, which preceded them, early seasides
offered assembly rooms, balls, masters of ceremonies, theatres and circulating
libraries. These afforded the formality and organised social life to which
the mainly upper class visitors were accustomed. Visitors to the assembly
rooms would take out a subscription for the season which gained admission
for about half the price paid by non-subscribers. As well as breakfast
and afternoon tea, entertainments were on offer, such as balls, concerts
and card assemblies, and a coffee room where newspapers and writing materials
were available. The Master of Ceremonies organised the whole social life
of the resort – he arranged events, issued invitations and made
sure that the niceties of etiquette and protocol were upheld.
As
well as supplying from these ready-made amusements, the most popular resorts
competed to provide a variety of other entertainment, both indoors and
outdoors. Like the fashionable spa towns, which preceded them, early seasides
offered assembly rooms, balls, masters of ceremonies, theatres and circulating
libraries. These afforded the formality and organised social life to which
the mainly upper class visitors were accustomed. Visitors to the assembly
rooms would take out a subscription for the season which gained admission
for about half the price paid by non-subscribers. As well as breakfast
and afternoon tea, entertainments were on offer, such as balls, concerts
and card assemblies, and a coffee room where newspapers and writing materials
were available. The Master of Ceremonies organised the whole social life
of the resort – he arranged events, issued invitations and made
sure that the niceties of etiquette and protocol were upheld.