Daily Los Angeles herald., 1884-05-23
c,.llps. opraA mousr.
Sale Of seats Yesterday "A Large
Crowd. Great Enthusiasm and q
Handsome Premium.

Sale OF seats Yesterday "A Large
Crowd. Great Enthusiasm and q
Handsome Premium.
The sale of choice for seats for the
first week Of dramatic performances in
the new Childs Opera House began yes.
terday morning at auction at 10 o'clock,
and attracted large crowd Of persons
to the vestibule Of that magnificent edi.
flee. Mr.. AL. Hayman, the Manager,
stated to the crowd on the start, that
the purchasers at the sale were buying
the privilege Of getting q certain number
Of seats for week Of the Rhea dramatic
entertainments. the amount Of premi-
um to bs added the regular price OF
seats. This plan was adopted to make
q fair show for everybody. There was
only room for 1900 persons ia the house,
and as six thousand wanted to attend, it
was fair that the privilege should be
sold at auction SO that those who were
most desirous Of attending the opening
performances should hove the chance TO
purchase their preferences and avoid a
crowd and crush at the opening. Only
ten seats were to b sold in block at
time.
Fourteen seats were reserved for the
press Of the city, and box No. was re
served for the family Of the proprietor
Mr.. o. w. Childs.
The auction sale then proceeded, with
John 9. Bell as suctioneer. The three
proscenium boxes were put up first ON d
sold as follows: No. 3, to Mr.. /. w.
Hellman, at sos; No 2, to w. J. Kings
bury. at $40; and No. 4, to J. L. viii.
liams. at $50.
The interest in the sale of seats by
this time became intensified and tue
bidding started off in an animated man.
ner. The first sale was two seats in tie
dress circle to John +. Ponder Sl2. so
apiece premium. This created much in
tsest. and the next two were run up by
DR.. J. s. Griffin to sl6 apiece. The next
sale was to City Councilman p. Ballade
Of ten seats at $40 apiece. DR.. X. D.
Wise came next with two seats at 81. so
premium, and was followed by J. C.
Dotter, who took four seats at IS apiece
premium. This sale created much ex.
element and the bi,lding became very
spirited. The following sale was to 7. A.
Carey. of three seats at 80 premium each,
and was followed by one toJ. M. Griffith.
Of six seats at 50 apiece. Henry O'Mel-
vsny came in next with purchase of
four serts at SO each. Mr.. Ludlow fol-
lowed with purchase Of two seats at
SO each; Hon. 7. D. Mott, two at 81 so
each; John 4. Platter, three at 50; Mr..
Bryson, two at $50; C. Ducon nun,
two at 81; W. G. Kerckhoff, three at
"; w. Banning. two at 60; s. B. Cas-
well, four at 60; W. Lacy, two at %. so;
j. L. Williams, seven at $6. 80; G. w.
Burton. two at IS; w. J. Kingsbury.
two at $6; C. Il. Miles, two at s; DR..
A. 8. Shorb, G. A. Dobinson, Colonel
Sam Heilner. Colonel Gray. George
Rice, and Mr.. Montgomery swept
all that were put up at $3.50 each,
till about thirty seats were taken. Wal
ter s. Moore took five at IS each. and
Ben Eielman ten ct s5. Herr voegtlin
and Downey Harvey took two each At
s.. After few more sales at that
price, the premium dropped to A.5O,
then to q, at which q large line was
sold. At $3.50 twenty-five were sold.
The sale was so long continued that
many business men about this time left
the room to attend to their affairs and
the price dropped to e 50, and then to
~ each. at which price 100 seats more
were sold, when the sale was adjourned
till 7:3O r. M, in the vestibuls Of the st.
Elmo.
! The total amount of premiums for the
forenoon's sales was nearly $1,000 and
made by 100 purchasers. Parties who
bought their tickets early weat into the
street and sold favorite locations for
double the price at which they purchased
them and then returned and purchased
others not 30 well locatd, so that they
will get their own seats free. During
the afternoon q great many tickets
changed hands at large advance on the
prices in the forenoon.
EVENING. SALE.
At the st. Elmo Hotel, in the even
ing. q large company was gathered, and
the balance Of the orchestra. dress circle
and first row Of seats in the gallery were
offered and purchased with great spirit
by an anxious crowd. The prices ranged
from premium Of a so to $2.25 each.
till all were sold that had been adver-
tised. The balance Of the sests will be
sold at the box Office for the public con-
venience.
The total premiums will foot up about
$500. which added to the regula
schedule Of prices, viii make 1900 re
ceipts for the opening night. on Mondsy
next. The result is most gratifying.
and shows that the people Of Los Ahge-
les appreciate the courage and libsrality
Of Mr. o. w. Childs in furnishing them
the handsomest theater on the Pacific
Coast, and II may be in the United
States. Mr.. Childs was much gratified
At the spirit manifested by the public in
his behalf. and expressed, in his quiet
way, his extreme pleasure ct the COM
plete success Of the opening sales.
MIR. Al. Hayman is . very skillful
manager. apd under his able direction
the Opera House will doubtless be
great success. It Is to be hoped that he
| will settle Ia Los Angeles and direct the