Mad men is back--and a gay moment

[+ FreshFluff]

So what did everyone think of Mad Men last night? There were some good parts, but I think that there were too many storylines. Peggy's wasn't particularly interesting.

 

The gay moment: Megan and Don held a small party with two other couples from the building. We had already met one of the couples, the surgeon and his wife. There was also a sales manager and his wife.

 

The sales manager told a story about one of his senior employees, who had been caught in a tearoom at Bloomingdales. Don and Megan laughed, the surgeon seemed a little uncomfortable, and the Sylvia was stony-faced.

 

This seems like a classic Chekhov's gun. Some thought the surgeon was flirting with Don, but I didn't get that vibe. Sylvia later mentioned that their college-age son didn't come back for Christmas, so maybe the son has come out? I wouldn't be surprised if there's a gay storyline involving this family in some way.

[+ Gar1eth]

I didn't see it, but I'm wondering what a male was doing in a tea room in the 1960's to begin with. You would barely find one there now--unless the one at Bloomingdales is a big restaurant like the Russian Tea Room in NYC is and not just one of those dainty places with the crustless cucumber and watercress sandwiches.

 

Gman

[JT Brooklyn]

"Bloomie's" is not what it used to be in manys ways!

[Phil_musc]

Tea room was another name for lavatory, I think. It wasn't a place you went to for sandwiches and a beverage.

[+ FreshFluff]

By tearoom, I meant a public restrooms where men went to have sex with other men. The Bloomingdales home department contained a restroom like this.

 

But there were definitely cucumbers--without the crust, if you were lucky.

[+ Gar1eth]

By tearoom, I meant a public restrooms where men went to have sex with other men. The Bloomingdales home department contained a restroom like this.

 

But there were definitely cucumbers--without the crust, if you were lucky.

 

Just so I can catch up if need be- is this terminology still au courant? I'd hate to miss an allusion if someone makes one.

 

Gman

[TruHart1]

Just so I can catch up if need be- is this terminology still au courant? I'd hate to miss an allusion if someone makes one.

 

Gman

 

Hi Gman,

 

I have heard the term “tearoom” as slang for public restrooms where sex between men is prevalent since the late 60’s, when I first realized my predilection for men. Since then, I don’t believe it has ever fallen out of use. It certainly has stayed in my lexicon!

 

TruHart1

[uwsman2]

There was a sociological study published, I think in the 1970s, called "Tearoom Trade," all about the public restroom cruising practices of gay men.

[Diverdan]

"Tearoom" is not used as a term as much any more. Most major department stores and malls have tons of security cameras around to discourage such interaction... I can recall meeting some wonderful guys in those places, but there isn't much of a need for them any more with the advent of the internet and hundreds of other ways to meet the "man of your dreams"... or just a man to have a hot fling, as the case may be. I met a very famous Russian Ballet star in a hotel "tea room" many years ago, and the resulting time we spent together is indelibly impedded in my brain (and elsewhere)... but that era has passed and filled with other options.

[+ Gar1eth]

Is there any relation between the terms Tea Room' and a 'Tea Dance'?

 

Gman