The Game Room, History

It's the 20th century and leisure is not only acceptable—it’s aspirational! Following the hardships of the Great Depression and World War II, the 1940s ushered in a time of economic growth, one with rippling suburban expansion and a newfound importance paid to down-time and homebody pleasures.

Homes transformed from purely functional spaces or decorative statements, into a family’s personal retreat, and rooms like Fisher’s game room began to pop up across the country.

Featured prominently in the center of the room is a pool table, doubling as a card table and signaling a shift from quaint conversation to competitive sport and social drinking.

The hutch in the back corner is lined with trophies, goblets, and bottles along the bottom, pointing to the particular rise of cocktail culture and home entertainment. The wealthier class began setting up home bars as a result of the 1919 Prohibition Act (also known as the Volstead Act), a bill which prohibited the sale, production, and transport of alcohol. Many people turned to private spaces to enjoy a drink discreetly, often in hidden rooms or basements to hide from authorities while enabling them to entertain their guests.

Following the end of Prohibition in 1933, there was a great initiative to make alcohol and its production respectable again. With these spaces already established, in tandem with the 20th century push toward homelife, there was a surge in these spaces featuring at-home bars and liquor cabinets, allowing homeowners to host guests without the formality of a dining space.