Why did saloons have these swinging doors? (Is it even accurate they had these?) It looks very impractical as the dust from outside would constantly be blown in by the wind

Question

Why did saloons have these swinging doors? (Is it even accurate they had these?) It looks very impractical as the dust from outside would constantly be blown in by the wind

In: 5708

Answer 1

Here’s [some more info](https://www.mentalfloss.com/article/78758/how-did-saloons-old-west-lock-their-doors-night) on that topic…. “Café doors were actually practical for many reasons. They allowed ventilation in a small enclosure that was filled with folks smoking cigars and home-rolled cigarettes. The bidirectional hinges were handy for cowboys who both entered and exited carrying heavy saddlebags (unlike automobiles, horses don’t come equipped with locking storage containers in the rear, and there was always the danger of some low-down sidewinder stealing from you while you were inside getting your drink on).”