# The "Green Room" **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [August 4, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-green-room/192900 "2003-08-04T14:43:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 6\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Isabelle](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/b5a626/32.png) [@Isabelle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Isabelle)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-green-room/192900/1 "2003-08-04T14:43:29Z")
Often you hear Hosts say that their celebrity guests are “in the Green Room” before being interviewed. (The Green Room hasa drinks and snacks for the celebrities) I noticed that Ricki Lake often puts guests in “the Green room” so they can’t hear what the other guests are saying. How did the “Green Room” come to be? Was it/ Is it actually Green? ---
**Author:** ![World\_Eater](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/w/f04885/32.png) [@World\_Eater](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/World_Eater)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 3:05pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-green-room/192900/2 "2003-08-04T15:05:21Z")
From here. [http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/20/1040174387343.html](http://www.smh.com.au/articles/2002/12/20/1040174387343.html) > [@](#): > > Current theory is that the room where actors anxiously wait before going out on stage is green because it is calming, and after they have returned, it is easy on their eyes after the bright stage lights. However, the existence of such a room dates back to English theatrical architecture of the 17th century, long before bright lights (candles and gas lamps could hardly be considered bright). > > The existence of the room at all was simply to enable stage managers to look in one place only for upcoming actors, and likewise actors would know to look for the Green Room to await their call to the stage and to retire to afterwards. Green was a common colour of the day and easy to replicate in fabric. Colour-coding of rooms for different uses made identification easy for illiterate servants. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 3:08pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-green-room/192900/3 "2003-08-04T15:08:17Z")
It’s a very old theater tradition. The green room was where actors would wait when their presence wasn’t required on stage. They were usually painted green, but it’s unclear whether they were named because of the color, or colored because of the name. One suggestion was that greens were scattered around the room, possible to muffle the sound of footsteps. There doesn’t seem to be a definitive origin. ---
**Author:** ![Nametag](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/nametag/32/406_2.png) [@Nametag](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nametag)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 4:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-green-room/192900/4 "2003-08-04T16:01:34Z")
I’ve seen one source claiming that the Green Room is where the actors would “turn green” from stress or jitters before going on stage (unlikely, as this is where actors change clothes - waiting is done in the wings). I suspect that some old and famous English theater had a tiring room painted green, and it just spread. ---
**Author:** ![Achernar](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/e274bd/32.png) [@Achernar](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Achernar)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 5:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-green-room/192900/5 "2003-08-04T17:50:07Z")
My drama teacher said it was bad luck to color the Green Room green. Of course, he thought everything was bad luck. Bloody thespians. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Cervaise](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cervaise/32/16693_2.png) [@Cervaise](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cervaise)\ **Post date:** [August 4, 2003, 7:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-green-room/192900/6 "2003-08-04T19:40:56Z")
My high school drama teacher told us it was because “that’s where the actors get paid.” I said: “Was the money really that color back then? Didn’t they mostly use coins?” I didn’t get an answer. I suspect the actual derivation is lost in the mists of time, and all we have are the best-guess theories as quoted above.