It was the “withdrawing room”, where ladies would withdraw from the others to put their feet up and take care of other private business involving chamber pots behind screens or curtains.
I’ll bet they don’t billiard in the billiard room or conserve in the conservatory……let’s see here, now- - what other rooms do they have on this old Clue gameboard?
It was actually the funeral home industry that came up with the term “living room.” For the hundreds of years before funeral homes existed, the deceased was usually laid out in the parlor for a few days before burial, mostly to give people a chance to pay their last respects, and partly to make sure the person wasn’t just in a coma. The funeral homes took the term parlor for their use, and invented “living room” for private residences, as if to say that it’s no longer appropriate to wake people at home anymore. Penn & Teller mention it on their Showtime series.
COWBOY7 over 14 years ago
You might be on to something, Nelson………..
Yukoner over 14 years ago
English sure is one weird language.
sottwell over 14 years ago
It was the “withdrawing room”, where ladies would withdraw from the others to put their feet up and take care of other private business involving chamber pots behind screens or curtains.
baggybut over 14 years ago
Nelson just ask the $64,000 question> LOL
marvee over 14 years ago
And gentlemen put on “smoking jackets” and went to another room to smoke after dinner.
dukekraus over 14 years ago
When it was called the parlor it was used as a viewing room for the deceased.
Nighthawks Premium Member over 14 years ago
I’ll bet they don’t billiard in the billiard room or conserve in the conservatory……let’s see here, now- - what other rooms do they have on this old Clue gameboard?
jtviper7 over 14 years ago
It was Colonel Mustard in the living room with the lead pipe…
JanLC over 14 years ago
nighthawks, why wouldn’t you play billiards in a billiard room?
Clue: Dining room, Billiard room, Kitchen, Conservatory, Lounge, Hall, Library, Ball room and Study.
Mr. Green (Michael McKean) killed Mr. Boddy (Tim Curry) in the hall with the revolver.
Dry and Dusty Premium Member over 14 years ago
But they do bath in the bathroom!!!
CRL29P over 14 years ago
We always called it the front room. The kitchen is more of a “living” room in many homes.
jpozenel over 14 years ago
We did too CRL29P. It was in the front of the house, but other than that, it never seemed like a very descriptive name.
We also used the word “davenport” rather than “couch” or “sofa”. I don’t hear that used very often today. (I’m not sure which one Earl is lying on.)
rotts over 14 years ago
auf deutsch, ist “gute Stube (“good” room - very formal)
jrcarter53 over 14 years ago
We could throw family room into the mix also?
Edcole1961 over 14 years ago
It was actually the funeral home industry that came up with the term “living room.” For the hundreds of years before funeral homes existed, the deceased was usually laid out in the parlor for a few days before burial, mostly to give people a chance to pay their last respects, and partly to make sure the person wasn’t just in a coma. The funeral homes took the term parlor for their use, and invented “living room” for private residences, as if to say that it’s no longer appropriate to wake people at home anymore. Penn & Teller mention it on their Showtime series.
ottod Premium Member over 14 years ago
We were never allowed to play kitsch in the house for fear we’d break something.
ottod Premium Member over 14 years ago
Point to you, ElDO!
Charles Brobst Premium Member over 14 years ago
No, but their ignorant children are.
Dapperdan61 Premium Member over 14 years ago
These days the main living are is often called the great room. For me it’s my media/couch potato room
GROG Premium Member over 14 years ago
Does anyone actually study in the study?
theR0nin over 14 years ago
Yeah, they pretty much did “billiard” in the Billiard room– they played Billiards there.
NoBrandName over 14 years ago
In the house where I grew up, the front was in the back and the back was in the front.
DonVanni over 14 years ago
Did they lie in the library?
JP Steve Premium Member over 14 years ago
^”I really enjoyed War and Peace” Yup, they did!