Doormen Collection

Welcome at the White Tower, the restaurant in Percy Street in Bloomsbury, London established by John and Eileen Stais in 1939. It specialised in Greek and Macedonian dishes Date: 1966

Dorchester Hotel - Model in short coat. Date: circa late 1950s

The Passing of the Patron, woman, doormen bowing
The Passing of the Patron: a Study in Worship, of woman (the Patron) and small child, with doormen bowing and staff waiting at a cinema entrance. Also captioned, All This For 3d. 6d

Staff of the Oriental Hotel, Dallas c. 1912 (b / w photo)
DHS212206 Staff of the Oriental Hotel, Dallas c.1912 (b/w photo) by American Photographer, (20th century); Dallas Historical Society, Texas, USA; eDallas Historical Society; American, out of copyright

An Old School-Fellow (engraving)
1107152 An Old School-Fellow (engraving) by Weekes, William (fl.1856-1909); Private Collection; (add.info.: An Old School-Fellow)

Old Maid card game - Doorman Dormouse. circa 1950s

Distributing the Times
Publishing the Times newspaper. The papers are loaded on to express carts for distribution from the publishing office

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Doormen: Guardians of Grandeur and Hospitality - From the hallowed halls of the White Tower in Bloomsbury to the elegant entrances of the Oriental Hotel in Dallas, these distinguished gentlemen have welcomed guests with a bow and a smile since the early 1900s. In black-and-white photographs and engravings, they've been immortalized as old school-fellows and even playful doormouse characters in an Old Maid card game. As the Passing Show magazine cover from the 1930s attests, their role is not just about distributing newspapers or checking coats; it's about creating a sense of arrival and making every guest feel like royalty at the grandest of establishments. From Paris's Hotel du Louvre to London's most prestigious addresses, doormen continue to uphold the tradition of gracious hospitality, welcoming each visitor with a warm and welcoming smile.