The Ritz Hotel, Entertainment in the Nineteenth Century

Places to gather have always been common in human history. As people, we crave and need interaction with each other. More so now, socialization is encouraged throughout day to day life. During the early 1900s, the upper class could enjoy areas like this more than the lower class. This is why places like the Ritz Hotel in New York were created, for people to have a place to gather outside the home for people of the like mind to interact.

The Ritz Hotel was completed in May of 1906 and it offered more than just hotel services. It also housed The Palm Court; one of the most decorated tea rooms at the time. It was wrapped with copper details, chandeliers, and luxury textiles. The over decoration within the hotel adds to the aesthetics in the room by showing all of the luxuries that the hotel could afford for its guests. Tea was considered at luxury at the time, and the upper class would frequently indulge in this tradition. This hotel was considered as a destination for the rich to experience the richer and for them to glorify the luxuries they had.

During the time that the Ritz Hotel was on operation, the two classes would have felt very separate. The perception that the large lower class would have upon the small upper class would have been something along the lines of snobby and condescending but because the two groups did not socialize, there would be no issues between them. Hotels and places like the Ritz would glorify how amazing they were. This situation could be compared to the racial segregation that happened in the 1960s. By separating a visual minority class, it is setting up a playing field for people to start raising issues. There is the possibility that people in the lower classes felt left out. This could have caused tension between the two social classes.

            Since the Ritz Hotel opened, it has continued to be in operation. There have been constant renovations to preserve the wonderful architecture of this building. However, in January 2007 a large fire engulfed the Hotel, leaving only a few areas behind. It has been reconstructed to be nearly the same as it was before. Presently, it plays a different role in society. It is no longer available to only those who can afford its luxuries. Even though there is luxury services provided, there are restaurants, cafes and services available to all of the public. Meaning that was once an exclusive area is now an inclusive place to gather. If the Ritz Hotel was left as a place for just richer people to go to, I do not believe it would be in operation today. Having an inclusive environment means there is more of a chance for the business to flourish in present day business society. 

It is important to research into places that were seen as a destination place in history. There are reasons why people would frequently visit them. The designs and decorations within them appealed to the time and there would be lessons to take form them. From the Ritz Hotel, one can tell that the extravagant decorating can attract an upper class customer base. It was also determined by the client how much money was to be spent on the interiors of spaces. This contributes to the problem that furniture and good quality products were only available to a percentage of the population. Social standings in the early eighteenth century influenced the way it was decorated. If common furniture pieces, minimal lighting, and no extravagant features were implemented, the Ritz would not be a successful business. Most people would have access to furniture that was common, so it would not be set apart from any other place. Unfortunately not everyone was able to enjoy the beauty of places like the Ritz Hotel, but we are all able to implement similar concepts into buildings created today.  

Sources:
THE RITZ-CARLTON HOTEL- ATLANTIC CITY (HISTORICAL TIMELINE)

The Ritz Carlton: Our History

The Ritz Hotel, London

About the Ritz London