Did they have indoor restrooms in Ford's Theater during the 1860's or did the patrons have to use a privy out back?

John, I wrote Ford's Theatre with this question back in 2011. Here is the reply I received:

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Mr. Norton:

The Ford's Theatre which was owned and operated by the Ford Brothers in 1865 would not have had indoor restrooms as we know of restrooms today.

Indoor plumbing as we know it today did not exist at that time. The 1963 booklet you noted may have been in reference to the planned building of new restrooms for the theatre just prior to the restoration of the building's interior back to a working theatre. The referenced renovations began in 1964 and was completed in January of 1968.

Also, noted in the "National Park Service Historic Structure's Report" of Ford's Theatre (circa 1963), it does not give any indication that any indoor bathrooms/restrooms existed back then. What would have existed at that time just outside behind the theatre were small "outhouses." Finally, the floor you mentioned above Taltavull's (commonly referred to as the Star Saloon) was used by the Ford Brothers as a lounge area as John Ford lived in a room above that floor next door to the theatre.

We hope this information is helpful in clarifying and answering your inquiry.

We thank you for your interest in Ford's Theatre National Historic Site.

Eric Martin
Education Coordinator
FOTH

Thanks Roger, that was my guess


John, I wrote Ford's Theatre with this question back in 2011. Here is the reply I received:

++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++++


Mr. Norton:

The Ford's Theatre which was owned and operated by the Ford Brothers in 1865 would not have had indoor restrooms as we know of restrooms today.

Indoor plumbing as we know it today did not exist at that time. The 1963 booklet you noted may have been in reference to the planned building of new restrooms for the theatre just prior to the restoration of the building's interior back to a working theatre. The referenced renovations began in 1964 and was completed in January of 1968.

Also, noted in the "National Park Service Historic Structure's Report" of Ford's Theatre (circa 1963), it does not give any indication that any indoor bathrooms/restrooms existed back then. What would have existed at that time just outside behind the theatre were small "outhouses." Finally, the floor you mentioned above Taltavull's (commonly referred to as the Star Saloon) was used by the Ford Brothers as a lounge area as John Ford lived in a room above that floor next door to the theatre.

We hope this information is helpful in clarifying and answering your inquiry.

We thank you for your interest in Ford's Theatre National Historic Site.

Eric Martin
Education Coordinator
FOTH
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What exactly is a "water closet?" Anna Seward wrote in 1861 that the Clubhouse had a bathroom on the second floor and a "bath and water closet" on the third floor.

That is the British expression for what we call a "bathroom."

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I should have said that is what it means today.

When I was in England, the water closet was a tiny room that held just the toilet. The bathroom was separate with the tub and sink. The biggest challenge in visiting Europe was trying to figure out all the ways that toilets could flush! At that time, there was a popular book on How To See Europe on $25 a Day. My friend and I decided someone should write one on 25 Flushings a Day. In every country we had to look up, look down, look all around to figure out what to do. Men in Paris had it the easiest. They just walked behind a short fence along the gutter and out the other side.

(03-18-2014 09:26 AM)J Hewitt Wrote:  Did they have indoor restrooms in Ford's Theater during the 1860's or did the patrons have to use a privy out back?

In the book The Restoration of Ford's Theater, it was hinted that rooms on the second floor of the Star Saloon building may have been used as restrooms. This was accessed from the theater at the time by a doorway that connected it to the rear of the Dress Circle. I don't know if it's correct or not, but it makes sense. The theater season did not extend through the hot summer months and during the winter it seems this may have been a refined courtesy to at least the ladies who attended performances there.

I agree, and we know that even modest homes had "commodes" which were essentially pieces of furniture with ceramic pots enclosed.

Our 13-room Victorian home was moved in 1950, and we lived in it during the two-month process. Since our family had been in the home since 1862, we had Victorian commodes stored in the attic. Down they came, and we made do with our "toilets" during the move. Thank the lord I was too young to be assigned the task of emptying them each day into the slop bucket.

Well, with the capacity of Ford's Theater to hold 1600 people or more- that could have been some long lines to the outhouses!

(03-20-2014 10:17 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Well, with the capacity of Ford's Theater to hold 1600 people or more- that could have been some long lines to the outhouses!

Especially for the ladies!

Could be the reason women didn't drink much in those days.

Well, ...it Depends

(03-20-2014 10:17 AM)LincolnMan Wrote:  Well, with the capacity of Ford's Theater to hold 1600 people or more- that could have been some long lines to the outhouses!

Bill, additionally, there was the Greenback Saloon on one side of Ford's and the Star Saloon on the other side. I would assume the patrons of those establishments were also back there making the length of the lines even worse?

Naw, since men were the ones using the saloon, chances are they'd use the wall.
Quit being so 21st century Roger.

You're right, Jerry. I was about to buy some Kimberly-Clark stock after I read Gene's comment, but I've now changed my mind.