, 1876-11-26
M'VICKER,S VICTORY.
HOW HE WoRsrED THE TlcKET sPECULAToRs



Special Correspondence eT The Tribune.
NEW YORK, Nov. 22.-Mr. McVicker's strug-
gle with the ticket spectators is the nvcfiest
theatrical thing in this city just now. Thus
far he is the victor, having not only discounted
the enemy, but gained an amount and kind of
advertising that could not have been bought
with any expenditure Of money. To understand
the situation the fact must be borne in mind
that the Lyceum Theatre has long been what
show-tolks. calNan s'unlucky house" Few en-
tcrtainments have ever been made profitable
there, and for several years it has been at the
command Of whoever had an experiment to try.
Wrestling matches have occupied its stage, am
ateur aspirants for dramatic distinction have
numerously failed on the same boards, aud to
its oHuers<it has been q bad Investment finan-
ciallv. Those familiar with the show business
understand how damaging such treatment Is to
theatre: Thus. although the Lyceum has
fairly central location, and is one OF the pret-
in disfavor with both managers and public
Consequently Mr. McVicker accepted q disad-
vantage when he leased the establishment;
but I am told that the rental was
dxed at a low price, With With the privilege
he knew as well as anybody that he had an Oh
stacle in the way to SUCCESS which even Booths
popularity here might not overcome. Booth
mad played marrclously printable engage
ment at the Fifth Avenue Theatre last year,
yet that did not preclude financial failure at the
Lyceum.
At the outset, the anxious manager was
approached by the spectators, who are kind
OF business men unknown In most other cities.
They 10 not take to this pursuit in the intervals
Of other employment, but devote themselves to
it exclusively, Some Of them derive large in
comes from it, and are practically partners
wfth the managers. At some Of the hrgest
theatres the best seats can not be bought at the
box-oflicc, no matter how early they arc asked
lar bargain, placed in the hands OF speculat0rs,
to be returned at the latest moment il not sold
at an advance. 1n cases Of great crowds, as in
the first weeks OF ..Sartlanapalas - at Booths,
at donSe S}ces o1 with set 1hs The
supposed to be divided between the speculators
and the managers. Daily, Of the Fifth Avenue,
once tried a fight with the spectators, but it
ended in compromise Well, they went to Mr.
concessions he was willing to make. The
shrewd manager knew that the public hates the
spectators, and that the newspapers would in
tie main sustain him in q contest Did he rea-
Lyceu1n as to more than counterbalance the
drawback of its 1lfayors Any how he sur
priscd the spectators BY telling them that not
unly would he coneedc nothing, but that they
could not deal at all in his tickets. They dcfed
him. He advertised his determination; also
that the advance charged at the hotel ticket
offices would be only Is cents, instead Of the
usual 50. The newspapers did take up his
cause, and 1t became topic Of general CONVEX
sation. On the morning that the sale Of tickets
ors' money was refused ut the box-otl1cc
when Offered by themselves, q treasurer
who knew them BY sight being On duty:
but, by putting friends aud relatives in line,
they secured about 200 seats. On Monday, as I
am trustworthiIy informed, a1r. McVicker sent
for several Of the leading spectators, and
offered terms OF peace. He Ind secured the ad-
ycrtising, and was not arcrsc to dealing with
them. Perhaps, he was frightened because
most Of the motel men had refused to sell his |