At the end of the 19th century, Rio de Janeiro was undergoing structural changes driven by the desire of the elites, who sought to fit into European ideals of civilization. Coffee production, massive foreign capital investments, the abolition of slavery, and the establishment of the Republic help explain these changes. With population growth, stemming from abolition and the intensive arrival of European immigrants, the city's internal dynamics changed, including with regard to leisure.
The traditional festivities no longer served the interests of the city's leaders, and so it was necessary to think of new forms of entertainment. The elites' plan for games and sporting practices combined the ideals disseminated during the period: hygienization, sanitation, modernization, and order. The goal was not merely to entertain through leisure, but, above all, to educate workers during their idle time - following the logic of the European metropolises.
Starting in 1890, there was an increase in investment in activities related to the body and hygienist ideals, reinforcing the idea that a hygienized body would be a strong and robust body, prepared to face life's difficulties and withstand the work routine, forming a "healthy and progressive" nation.
Image description: The image is a poster advertising amateur races at the Velódromo Guanabara. The spatial layout runs from left to right, beginning with an illustration of two cyclists in motion. In the background, there are a fence and flags. Next, the text highlights "Today and every night today" prominently, followed by "Grandes Corridas de Amadores" (Great Amateur Races). Below that is written "Free Admission at 7:30" and, at the end, "Flowers, Music, etc.," all in capital letters. The poster is in black and white.Os velódromos exibiam corridas de bicicleta e muitos eventos tinham apostas. Mas esta era considerada uma prática salutar. Anúncio de disputa de ciclismo no Velódromo Guanabara. Arquivo da Revista Theatral - Biblioteca Nacional
These demands were picked up by the entertainment entrepreneurs and used to support their requests for authorization from the Municipal Intendancy. Many obtained their licenses for betting houses and gaming establishments through this type of argument. The frontões, bowling alleys, and velodromes functioned as "mini gymnasiums," with restrooms, a wine cellar, kitchen, botequim, and the so-called casas de poules, which concentrated the bets.
While some practices were widely accepted, others were not so fortunate: billiards, card games, pelota, cockfighting, bullfighting, horse circuses, carousel horses, cosmoramas, and jogo do bicho began to be suppressed, on the grounds that they were less civilized activities, which ran counter to the intentions of the elites.
Image description: The image is a black-and-white photograph of a group of people gathered around a table, playing bingo. On the left, we see four women concentrating on their game cards. On the right, there is a large board displaying bingo game results, called "O Bicho Que Deu." The game cards are laid out in front of the women, and a bottle of a beverage sits on the table. The text mentions that some newspapers publish game results with the aim of undermining the police, but these announcements are paid for by bicheiros.Matéria da Revista da Semana sobre a continuidade dos jogos de azar, já compreendidos como contravenção. Ed. 19 de 1953 - Hemeroteca Digital
While betting on horse racing and rowing - sports tied to the entertainment of the wealthier classes - was not frowned upon, games tied to workers' recreation were harshly persecuted.
There was an attempt to define what type of entertainment would be suitable for workers: games had to meet the intended civilizing ideals. Amusements that did not fit in would be suppressed. In practice, the leisure of the working classes was repressed and rejected -- albeit in a confused manner -- while the elites managed to keep their entertainment spaces virtually untouched.
