The first reference I can find for cigarette holders is from the late 19th century.
Their use seemed to end (in the US) during the 1950’s.
[ul]
[li]Where & when did people start to use them? [/li][li]Are they still in use today (besides by hookers)?[/li][li] If so, where?[/li][li]Why do hookers use them?[/li][li]Silent film stars sometimes are pictured with them. Why?[/li][li]Why did people stop using holders?[/li][/ul]
Links, cites & any other data are welcome.
As far as I’m aware, they were used before they made filtered cigarettes in order to look stylish and decrease the likelihood of one’s inhaling a burning bit of tobacco cinder on the draw.
…and obviously, in that case, their use would decline after the poularity of filtered cigarettes.
I have no cite, however, and may be quite wrong.
racinchikki’s right, as far as I know. They went out of style when “cork tips” became popular.
Peace,
mangeorge
Extending on racinchikki’s answer, you could also use them to smoke an unfiltered cig farther down, also, easier to hold a cigerette, and for some, I think, it was for looks.
I would also think that they would have the advantage of not making the smoker’s fingers smell quite so objectionable, since he is not actually touching the cigarette.
And I’ll add to nineiron’s reply, as a reformed smoker, that not only the smell, but the telltale yellow nicotine stains can be eliminated by using a holder.
Of course, since the thirties, Hollywood has glamourized smoking, especially ladies with looooooooong holders.
The art of smoking with a holder was immortalized on the silver screen…just think of a sultry blond with a mink stole taking a drag of a foot-long holder, snap inhaling the smoke ball which formed along her lips, and exhaling a long stream of thick, white smoke…dah-ling.
Of course a guy with a cigarette holder was simply considered rich, eccentric, vain or just plain old gay (please take no offense;) ).
With the introduction of filtered cigarettes, holders were considered old-fasioned and obsolete.
…or possibly Frankin Delano Roosevelt.
Not to hijack or anything, but was FDR our ONLY cigarette-smoking President?
ISTR reading that Ike smoked a lot (4 packs/day) back when he was planning D-Day. It’s resonable to assume that he kept smoking after the war ended.
The Russians produce (produced?) a cigarette with a built-in holder. According to Russian friends this was so they could be smoked while wearing gloves or mittens. When shown these as boys at a U.S. smoke shop (a brand called Sputnik) we immediately fixed on the obvious: full price for a cigarette with 1/4 of the tobacco.
A reason I’ve heard – in addition to the above – is that the length of the holder serves as a radiator, causing the smoke to be cooler. And after all, one does want to be cooler when one smokes. . . .
And let’s not forget that lady’s got the looong white gloves, to go with…
No self-respecting starlet is going to get caught with yellow stains on her gloves, is she?
I want one-and I don’t even smoke!
Try GOOGLE and search for Denicotea (sorry, can’t provide a link).
Has a section on holder history and has a line of 30’s style holders, including the archetypical holders usually seen in cartoons and the like…flared end for the ciggy, and a fish-tail mouthpiece.
Unfortunately…since Denicotea is a German company…the high end products don’t seem to be available in the USA.