Milford chronicle., 1888-12-21
THEATRE usHERs.
some of Their Tricks and How They Avoid
Being Caught.

Some Of Their Tricks and How They Avoid
Being Caught.
A habitual "frst nighter' was noticed
coming out of an uptown theatre after the
first act, the other evening, in 40 very en-
Talk about the ticket spectators, they're
not circumstance to. these confounded
ushers, y he muttered, audibly,
''What is the matterF asked a friend,
standing near.
'Matterl Matter enough was the sour
response. Then with Frightening counte-
nance he threw open his coat front for more
air, and proceeded to unfold his tale Of wrong.
81 bought tickets this afternoon for seats
in the fourth row of the orchestra, and when
l handed my coupons to the usher tonight he
conducted me to seats in about the tenth row
back. protested that they were not my
seats, but the usher blandly assured me that
must be mistaken, as the coupons called for
the seats he showed me. l looked at the
coupons, and, sure enough, he was right He
must have made a dexterous exchange while
coming down the aisle, for could swear that
the tickets ! bought were for seats in the
fourth row. However, l succumbed to the
inevitable, but kept watchful eye on the
seats which should have been mine. just af-
ter the curtain rose this same usher con-
Quoted two beaming young girls from Macy's
to those vacant seats. They were evidently
friends Of his, for they gave him sweet
smile and a whispered injunction as be left
them. The seats got were the worst in the
house, 1 believe; and to top of the whole ex-
perience, there was a woman with a tall hat
in front of me, and fat, bald headed man
just behind me who breathed on my neck
with a breath that was strong enough for him
to lean up against when he got tired. Can
YOU wonder that am not on very good terms
with myselfF'
"Weil, no, scarcely" replied the friend.
"But am astonished that a man of your ex-
perience should submit so quietly to what
you endured. Why didn't you call an
other usher and slip him quarterl He
would then have played the same trick on
somebody else, and you would have gotten
Just as good seats as those you were cheated
out of. It is a simple remedy. Many a
time when all Of the good seats in the house
have been sold have gone in early with cou-
pOns for seats near the door. and with the aid
of half a dollar have had my pick Of the
house. Those fellows make big money in
that way, and they do their work so well
that they seldom get caught You have no
proof, and they say you are mistaken.
There the matter rests. If you make dis
turbance, you are put out. 1t requires
pretty good head to remember all Of tbe
changes they make in this way in
one evening, but practice makes them expert.
They only get a dollar a performance for
ushering, SO they think they have to do
something to make little extra money. OF
course, the 81 a week they get for this
work is rot all of their honest earnings, for
as a general thing they are employed in the
daytime as clerks and counter jumpers. The
Saturday half holiday helps them out on the
matinee. have known some ushers to make
as high as S25 week extra by selling seats, for
often when houses are running light people
buy a so cent admission ticket, and give the
usher a quarter more, thus getting a $3.50
seat for 70 cents.n
''Why doesn't somebody make a complaint
to the managers" suggested third patron,
who had been an interested listener.
sit has been done time and again." replied
the posted one, ''but it is of no avail. The
managers promise to suppress the practice,
and will do them the justice to say, that
they have attempted to do so. but tine ushers
are too clever for them. Watch them how
you will, you can never catch them red
handed don't think there is a theatre in
the city where this practice is not carried on
to greater or less extent, though in some
places it is not so bad as in others"
81 shall remember what you have told me
the next time l como here" said the victim,
as all turned to go in.-New York Tribune.