New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1888-11-25
THEATRE USHERS.
AN INSIGHT INTO SOME OF THEIR TRICKS


A habituai lrst-nehier' was noticed coming out
of uptown theatre after tho first act, the other
evening, in very enviable flame of mind.
Talk about the ticket spectators, they're not
circumstance TO these COMPOUNDED usheis,' he Eut
tered, audbly.
"what is the matteri n asked friend, standing near
"Matter1 Matter enough, was tho response
Then with b 9htenEg c0un'enance he threw open his
coatfront for more a." and proceeded to unfold HE
tale OF wrong.
81 bought tickets this afternoon for seats In TIE
fourth Of tho orchestra, ard when 4 handed my
coupons 10 the usher tonight he conducted me to
seats in about the tenth row back l protested that
they my seats but the usher biandIy assured
mo that must be mistaken. the coupons called
for the seats he showed me. looked at the coupons.
and, sure enough. he right lie must have mate
a dextrous exchange while coming down the aisle,
for could swear that the tickets bought were for
seats in the fourth However, succumbed TO
the inevitable but kept watchful eye on the seats
which should have been mine. Just after the curtain
rose this same usher conducted two beamns young
girls from Macy's to those vacant seats They were
evidently friends Of his, for they gave him sweet
smile and whispered injunction as he left them.
Now Uarrisons election couldn't be more certain
than the fact that tbs usher cheated me out OF my
seats in order give them TO those girls. The seats
got the worst in the house, believe; and TO
top OF the whole experience, there was woman with
Just behind me who breathed on my neck with
breath that was strong enough for him to lean up
against when he got tired. Can you wonder that
not very good terms with myssf?'
"Well, no, scarcely replied the friend But
am asonished that a man OF your experience should
submit 50 quietly TO what you endured. Why didnb
you call another usher and slip him quareri lie
would then have played the same trick on somebody
else, and you would have gotten Just good seats
as those you were cheated out Of 1t Is simple
remedy Many time when all OF the good seats In
the house have been sold have gone IN early with
coupons for seats the door, and with the aid Of
half dollar have had my pick Of the house. those
fellows mako big money in that way and they do
their work well that they seldom get caught You
have no proof, and they say you mistaken. There
the matter rests II you make disturbance, YOU
put out. 1t require, pretty good head 10 re-
member all Of the changes they make IN this way In
one evening, but practice males them expert They
only get dollar performance for ushcrtns. so they
think they have do something to make little extra
money OF course, the seven dollars week they
get for this work IS all OF their honest earnings.
for as a general thing they employed In the day.
time as clerks and counterjumpers. The Saturday
half holiday helps them out on the matinee. have
known uslers to make as high as S2o week
extra by selling seats, for often when houses are
running light people buy o0ccnt admission ticket.
and give the usher quarter more. thus getting Q
81 so seat for rs cents"
"why doesn't somebody make a complaint to the
managers IN suggested a third patron who had boen
an interested listener.
IL has been done time and again. replied tho
posted one, but it IS of avail. The managers
promise 10 suppress the practice and VIII do them
The justice say that they have attempted TO do So
but the ushcrs clever for them. Watch them
how you WILL you can never catch them rcd handed
don't think there IS a theatre In the city where this
practice Is not carried 10 greater or less extent
though In places II IS not bad In others
shall remember what You have told me the nexe
time ! here,' said tho victim, all turned -
N