# Stage Directions in postings: When did it start? **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [August 26, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038 "2016-08-26T18:44:03Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![SantaMan](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/da6949/32.png) [@SantaMan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/SantaMan)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 6:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/1 "2016-08-26T18:44:03Z")
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 \* ---
**Author:** ![Trinopus](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/2bfe46/32.png) [@Trinopus](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Trinopus)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/2 "2016-08-26T20:04:23Z")
Lordy, it’s been here since before I joined, and that was a dog’s lifetime ago. Heavens to Murgatroid! Exit, stage left! ---
**Author:** ![QuickSilver](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/quicksilver/32/7832_2.png) [@QuickSilver](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/QuickSilver)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/3 "2016-08-26T20:07:37Z")
_wanders in … wanders out_ ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:07pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/4 "2016-08-26T20:07:39Z")
I recall it from FidoNET days, mid-1980s. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:17pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/5 "2016-08-26T20:17:22Z")
\*calls Fido. Here, boy! Here, boy! ---
**Author:** ![Amateur\_Barbarian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/59ef9b/32.png) [@Amateur\_Barbarian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Amateur_Barbarian)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:30pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/6 "2016-08-26T20:30:10Z")
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? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/7 "2016-08-26T20:33:07Z")
[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. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/8 "2016-08-26T20:33:36Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > 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? Snagglepuss, already alluded to by **Trinopus**. ---
**Author:** ![nightshadea](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/7ba0ec/32.png) [@nightshadea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/nightshadea)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 8:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/9 "2016-08-26T20:43:24Z")
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 ---
**Author:** ![Spice\_Weasel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/spice_weasel/32/5435_2.png) [@Spice\_Weasel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Spice_Weasel)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 9:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/10 "2016-08-26T21:56:51Z")
I don’t know where it started, but I see it all over the internet. It’s definitely not a SDMB specific thing. ---
**Author:** ![voltaire](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/voltaire/32/313_2.png) [@voltaire](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voltaire)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 10:11pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/11 "2016-08-26T22:11:36Z")
> [@nightshadea](#): > > 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 _Voltaire slaps niteshadea around a bit with a cold, wet trout!_ ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 26, 2016, 10:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/12 "2016-08-26T22:54:20Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > Snagglepuss, already alluded to by **Trinopus**. Snagglepuss was from 1959 but The Goon Show featured the reading of stage directions and it started in 1951. ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 1:11am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/13 "2016-08-27T01:11:55Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > Snagglepuss was from 1959 but The Goon Show featured the reading of stage directions and it started in 1951. And it goes back farther. [At least to here.](https://youtu.be/MYP1OBZfFK0?t=61) ---
**Author:** ![elfkin477](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/e/a9a28c/32.png) [@elfkin477](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/elfkin477)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/14 "2016-08-27T01:23:20Z")
I’ve seen it on message boards for as long as I’ve had an internet connection. ---
**Author:** ![GuanoLad](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guanolad/32/42_2.png) [@GuanoLad](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/GuanoLad)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 1:23am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/15 "2016-08-27T01:23:42Z")
> [@Amateur\_Barbarian](#): > > Actually, it probably drew from the cartoon cat whose catch phrase was "Exit… stage left. > [@cochrane](#): > > Snagglepuss, already alluded to by **Trinopus**. 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. ---
**Author:** ![Princhester](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/3e96dc/32.png) [@Princhester](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Princhester)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 2:56am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/16 "2016-08-27T02:56:34Z")
> [@kunilou](#): > > And it goes back farther. [At least to here.](https://youtu.be/MYP1OBZfFK0?t=61) I’m not seeing it, when do they read stage directions? ---
**Author:** ![gotpasswords](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/g/c57346/32.png) [@gotpasswords](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/gotpasswords)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/17 "2016-08-27T20:12:58Z")
[QUOTE=voltaire] _Voltaire slaps niteshadea around a bit with a cold, wet trout!_ [/QUOTE] Mirth, mIRC style… ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_Ace](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/6bbea6/32.png) [@Johnny\_Ace](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_Ace)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 9:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/18 "2016-08-27T21:14:32Z")
Exeunt, omnes… ---
**Author:** ![Kent\_Clark](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kent_clark/32/105_2.png) [@Kent\_Clark](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Kent_Clark)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 10:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/19 "2016-08-27T22:44:29Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I’m not seeing it, when do they read stage directions? “Slowly I turn” can be considered a stage direction rather than a narrative. ---
**Author:** ![Count\_Blucher](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/c5a1d2/32.png) [@Count\_Blucher](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Count_Blucher)\ **Post date:** [August 27, 2016, 11:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038/20 "2016-08-27T23:06:29Z")
> [@Princhester](#): > > I’m not seeing it, when do they read stage directions? Psst… your line is… “Susquehanna Hat Company” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/stage-directions-in-postings-when-did-it-start/764038.md?page=2)