Were guests allowed to smoke aboard helium ships like the Hindenburg?

Yes, there was a pressurized smoking room. It was monitored and had one electric lighter. No matches or lighters were allowed.

It was hydrogen and not helium.

Ummm, the Hindenburg wasn't a helium ship :) they used hydrogen. I'm sure they were allowed to smoke, you could smoke on airplanes back in the day. Helium is not flammable.

Yep....

'Google'....or go to... www.imdb.com....(the Internet Movie Data Base) and search 'Hindenburg Movie, George C. Scott'....This 1970's American Hollywood Movie shows the 'airship' pretty much just as it was with historical accuracy (although the movies melodramatic plot is not that good).

It shows how the very flammable 'Hydrogen' gas bag of the 'blimp' was above and separate (by 20 feet) from the passenger areas....Which were duplicated to be like the rooms on ocean going 'Ocean Liners' of the time....Bathrooms, restaurants, card playing rooms, bars, observation/ relaxation decks, and staterooms, beds/ bunks....All in the sky.

So, yes you could 'smoke' , eat caviar, and even dance in a ballroom with musicians.