Opium den

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An opium den is an establishment where opium is sold and consumed. Opium dens were prevalent in many parts of the world in the nineteenth century. In the west they were frequented by and associated with the Chinese. Patrons were seen reclining and smoking opium out of special pipes.

Contents 1 San Francisco's Opium dens 2 Substantial references in fiction 3 See also 4 References

[edit] San Francisco's Opium dens

From the late 1880s to the 1930s in San Francisco in the area of Chinatown, many of the stores had an opium layout in the rear for their customers. During this time the Chinese were allowed to smoke opium, provided they did not do so in the presence of an American. If an opium den was found by police, all who were in the room at the time would be arrested [1].

[edit] Substantial references in fiction

• In the Sherlock Holmes story "The Man with the Twisted Lip," Watson goes to an opium den in the East End to find Isa Whitney.
• In The Insidious Dr Fu Manchu (1913), Nayland Smith and Dr Petrie enter "Singapore Charlie's" Thames side opium den in search of Dr Fu Manchu and his henchmen.
• In The Picture of Dorian Gray, Dorian visits the Opium Dens of London when indulging in the pleasures of life whether moral or immoral, subject to the influential character Lord Henry and his hedonistic outlook on life.
• In the Tintin story The Blue Lotus, the main character Tintin is seen infiltrating opium dens.
• In the 1984 film Once Upon a Time in America, the character of Noodles (played by Robert De Niro) frequents an opium den. There is a theory that the entire film is an "opium dream".
• In the graphic novel The League of Extraordinary Gentlemen, Mina Murray finds aged adventurer Allan Quatermain in an opium den.
• In the movie From Hell the main character frequents opium dens.

[edit] See also

• Crack house

[edit] References

History of San Francisco's Opium dens [2]

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