Stage Directions in postings: When did it start?

In My Humble Opinion
1

I am trying to remember when I first noticed stage directions in a post, such as “ducks and runs” or “sits down with popcorn”
Has this always occurred? Does it occur across most or all boards?
Any rhyme or reason to the syntax used (i.e. stares or /stares/ etc.)?

  • sits patiently and waits for wise responses *
2

Lordy, it’s been here since before I joined, and that was a dog’s lifetime ago.

Heavens to Murgatroid! Exit, stage left!

3

wanders in … wanders out

4

I recall it from FidoNET days, mid-1980s.

5

*calls Fido. Here, boy! Here, boy!

6

Actually, it probably drew from the cartoon cat whose catch phrase was "Exit… stage left.
Can’t bring a name to mind and will probably regret reading it here. Top Cat?

7

[QUOTE=Amateur Barbarian]
I recall it from FidoNET days, mid-1980s.
[/QUOTE]

I remember it from the mid-late 80s when I was on CompuServe CB, but would not be surprised if it predates CB or Fido.

I wouldn’t be surprised if teletype operators were among the first to do this.

8

Snagglepuss, already alluded to by Trinopus.

9

as far as I know it started in chat rooms and carried over … some of the ancient chat rooms had an action button and you could type in what you wanted it to say and it would post it as : user1 came in flopped on the couch and opened a cool beer :

It was also used in chat room roleplaying and still is in games like world of Warcraft ect

10

I don’t know where it started, but I see it all over the internet. It’s definitely not a SDMB specific thing.

11

Voltaire slaps niteshadea around a bit with a cold, wet trout!

12

Snagglepuss was from 1959 but The Goon Show featured the reading of stage directions and it started in 1951.

13

And it goes back farther. At least to here.

14

I’ve seen it on message boards for as long as I’ve had an internet connection.

15

And he was probably based on another pre-existing comedian, possibly from Vaudeville. He sounds a lot like Bert Lahr, the Cowardly Lion from Wizard of Oz, but there were no vocalised stage directions in that.

16

I’m not seeing it, when do they read stage directions?

17

[QUOTE=voltaire]
Voltaire slaps niteshadea around a bit with a cold, wet trout!
[/QUOTE]
Mirth, mIRC style…

18

Exeunt, omnes…

19

“Slowly I turn” can be considered a stage direction rather than a narrative.

20

Psst… your line is… “Susquehanna Hat Company”