Cigarette smoking

[Marky B]

I have just watched Commanche Territoy with Maureen O'Hara and MacDonald Carey as Jim Bowie. Charles Drake also appeared in the film and he was seen smoking a cigarette,but as Bowie was killed at the Alamo in 1836,was cigarette smoking around before then?
Ta Ta
Marky B

[Count_Emmup]

Yes, it was fashionable in 16th century court circles, and more widely used by 17th.

[jno]

perhaps not; Wikipedia says it was uncommon in the English speaking world until the 1850s. But perhaps he had picked up the habit in Spanish American territories

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cigarettes

[Ethel]

Tobacco has been around for centuries, as you know, but manufactured cigarettes first appeard in the US in 1860, although hand rolled cigarettes were invented in 1832.

In 1762 cigars were introduced in the US, so it is possible that Charles Drake's character was smoking a cigarello.

Interestingly, Massachusetts banned smoking tobacco in the streets in 1683, punishable by fines.

http://www.cigarettes-below-cost.com/history_o f_cigarettes.html

[Marky B]

It could have been a cigarillo,but although the film was entertaining enough,I think there was a load of historically inaccuracies. Thanks for the answers.
Ta Ta
Marky B

[dot.hawkes]

I have a copy of MAUREEN Ohara's memoirs and on page 131 she comments:
'My last picture of the decade was Comanche territory, a fairly decent western and the film in which i mastered the American Bullwhip. by the time the picture was over, i could snap a cigarette out of someone's mouth.'

[jno]

set then, but written in 1859; it's possible he got his historical facts wrong.