just a sort of broad overview, look you see, concerning some of the dynamics and aspects of visiting (or attending ) a theatre in Washington (DC) during the year of 1976. this is not something i have ever experienced personally, and no i have not ever been to the place at all in any year. if for some reason you have a partial, passing or maybe vested interest in this subject, well then here you go.
one of the main considerations to, well, consider when going to the theatre in Washington is by what means of transport to get there. this is as true of 1976 as it is of any year. also, it is true of any variation of Washington, and not just the DC one. but i am not certain that there is a theatre as such in the UK equivalent of Washington. maybe.
i quite like the cultural perspective element of the above, even if it must (i suppose) be seen in the context of 70s America. to consider Mercedes Benz as a "similar" luxury set of wheels to a Rolls Royce would surely be seen as comical over here in the UK, then and now. perhaps Americans in 76 had a very, very loose sense of the differences between class of cars, seeing them as all "European". for the record, then, whereas a Rolls Royce speaks of sophistication, class or simple rock and roll excess, Mercedes Benz is basically announcing you are middle class, middle management.
but yes, i suppose either car would have got you to the theatre. i would like to think that the Rolls Royce would have been the more impressive way of arriving, but i simply don't know enough about the values of Washington society in 1976 to say.
exactly what would one have seen in the theatre in Washington in 76? well, watched, rather than seen, i guess. going on my extensive research, which was one magazine, it seems that the theatre circuit in this place and at that time was dominated by Dick Robison. no, me neither, and also it seems there is little about him out there on the internet. so, if nothing else, maybe this image is of use to someone.
perhaps the biggest issue here is that Americans, then as is the case now, seem keen to spell the word theatre as "theater". i have no idea why, and it is like what they do with proper words like colour ("color"). some might consider a look at these spelling differentials as an interesting, insightful and informative thing to do, but such is not happening here.
as far as i am aware there is no specific (or pacific) law which has ever stated that patrons of a theatre (or theater if you must) had to eat Spanish food after a performance. well, not a judicial law, or statutory one, at least. in terms of social laws, or etiquette, it appears it was an expectation, though.
finest Spanish cuisine is also if not an oxymoron then a misnomer, is it not? rather like asking someone what the best ever punch in the face they got was. one such unfortunate incident will of course stand out, and linger longer in the memory, vividly so, but that in itself does not make it all that great. this was all 1976, you must remember. a time when Spanish cuisine effectively amounted to "English style fish and chips" to cater for the influx of British tourists. now they have probably added pizzas or similar to the menu.
not going to the theatre in Washington (DC) in 1976 probably meant you found yourself instead at some form of formal, "black tie" ambassadorial event, invariably held with both the blessing and presence of Henry Kissinger. i have never had reason to attend such, and so far as i am aware have not ever received an invitation for one. no doubt they are quite smart. this is probably particularly true as there were no intrusive smoking laws back then, so you could have enjoyed a cigarette at any stage of the evening.
whereas it strike me as unlikely, absolutely wonderful stuff if anything in this post has been of the slightest interest or use to any of you.
be excellent to each other!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
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