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 seaside
locations 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 seaside
locations 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.