New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1890-04-06
TICKETS ON THE SIDEWALK.
WHAT THEATRICAL MANAGERS THINK OF
SPECTATORS
METHODS OF GUARDING AGAINST THEM A
CHANGE IN THE LAW WANTED.

fore the playhouscs and shout to every body who
passes, whether he is going TO the play not that
they have the best seats in the house and that
can be bought inside have borne many ard deep
excavations. Theare-goers have denounced them
nHiSanccs and their methods dsOrierly, and man
ayers have tried to keep tickets ont Of their hand,
altogether yet they in the same old places every
night and their business seems to thrive. on tho
other hand managers have been charged from time
20 tlnlc with forming cOmpacts with the spectators
when compelled the buyers Of seats to pay extra
prices Tor them, and many Of the buyers themselves
nave encouraged the sidewalk dealers by purchasing Of
'cm regularly and often, instead OF at the box office.
Inc spectators are no doubt able to accommodate
some people to whom The premium is consideration
i'u WHO prefer TO find good seats waiting for
thcm at the door rather than take the trouble 20
OF sehd 10 the boX-oicc for them some days in ad-
vance INC worst effect Of the system is when
'ncSc men secure practically al the good seats for
some unusual attraction and compel the payment of
premium ny people of limited means who would gladly
by them at the box -occ even at some Inconvenience
ior the sake Of getting them at such price as they
feel that they can afford.
week ago there was an incident in front of one
81 the cyS theatres just before the beginning of the
pay Whch the sidewalk and the lobby were filled with
people, mat has drawn unusual attention to this bust
ness ana 10 the men who carry ii on. II was nothing
h'' tiin quarrel between two ticket spectators
'lch several managers have spoken freely on the sub
Icct ana their views are decided and also in some
case 50 different. that a comparison of them is likely
!" prove % interest II should be noted however that
INC opinions here expressed refer only 10 sidewalk
SPECTATORS and not to those n the hotels and recoc.
hilcd Offices who, it is generally admitted are able
10 oi'r much valuable accommodation to the public
ana especially to travellers. Many pcoplc indeed who
20 ID the theatre regularly go Il box coffee
but nave standing accounts with tcIot dealers
ana ms Is also true to a more limited extent of the
H"e"aK men, That the incident Just mentioned should
nave happened In front Of the Fourteenth street The
atFc rather than any other /, not due in any way -
the management or method, % the house. and II doe,
not connect Itself in any way with the manager. Yet
- IL dd happen there. the Fourteenth street Theatre
may he taken As starting point for inquiry into the
system. and Mr.. Roscnquest's opinions about ii may
be given first.
STRONGLY AGAINST THE SPECTATORS.
Mr. Ko,onluest * also tho manager Of the Bijou
Theatre and he decarcs eternal war on ticket spec-
lator,. lie formerly had arrangement, by which he
allowed I'm the lobby o: each theatre =, a nroicc-
lion against others, but he has stopped that.
lie doe, not zee any practical way. however 70 keep
away those who stay outside and do not ct in front Of
The door, as long the CIV grants them licenses. It
may here be noted that the license GRANTED by the city
n- "s i'c holder If il TO sell tickets on the side
valk but not in front Of the door Of the
theatre. except by permission of the manager.
Wien You see spectator, about theatre says
Nr E)>enquest, lyon may know it is doing a good
business. II the attraction does NOT draw we'll there
vii never be any trouble with spectators. The law
ought 70 be CHANGED 50 that they should not DO
licensed am thoroughly AGAINST the whole system
and Use every effort t. prevent those from CT;
ting hold Of the tickets at all but as long rs the CITY
gives - approval to the business do not how the
managers can do anything eiTcctual against it, Mr.
al.
on the specuiators for their seats. coming TO the
theatre late and expecting 70 lind them, and he has
met with circumstances from such people for not
having Spectator hand to sell them good seat,
when there were none in the boxoflce.
Clarle' Hurnham. acting manager of the star
rhca'~. agrees generally with Mr. Ro,cnqgcst Here.
too. one Spectator formerly allowed by the man
agcmcnt protection against Others. but he is
icnanoed no lonscr. Mr. Durham ha, had some ex
pcrcucc with spectators. ana De tell, how only three
fOur years ago at the Fifth Avenue Theatre II was
the custom actually - seize hold OF people who
going in. In their effort, make them stop and buy.
and BE- declares that when two rival, got hold If the
same he Ia, ~cen them nearly tear lis clothes
oF. 81 the star. tchet, bought the sidewalk have
often been refused AT The door, the buycr having been
previously warned that they would be refused.
The buyers have usually been angry. but have seen
the nccc-.it, Tor the rule when II explained q
them. persistence in ths course soon MAKE, an end
If the trouble. which do, not usually begin again
TN some now attraction begin. 10 hll tie house, and
then the prlce-, may have % be repeated. ~ -
the piiucipir Of the system. Nj. Durham believe
that the CT, ia, no right 10 license man 10 Do
hr.uc,. w.ih another, private property without his
consent and Dr. tuuh, there radical cure for tn
evil ti the law il changed. lie approve, the custom
Of selling q, Let, hotels and recognized Offices. and
think, It is a real accommodation T. 4 large part Of
cic pgbi'
CAS- THE TRADE b. CHECKED OR NOT
+. G.. Gilmore Of the academy OF Music and
N5lp, Garden. IA, l,,ic hope u checking specula-
ton when theatre is d0lns an exceptionally large
bu,inc-s. lie III, permitted man to stand in t.a
lobby -. each house until lately. bat now hc ha, ,eg
them away. Efforts made to avoid selling seats
to SPECTATORS at all but corrc,p ondins efforts are
made hy the Speculation, to get them. They them
solves are known at the box Offices, bat they send
messenger boy, and shop girls, who sometime, after
iuNilc few seat, 90 away and change thcl: cothcs
and come back for more. Then the men viii - t.
shop, whcrc they are known. get headed paper and
write note, 10. seats, signing the names oi member,
of the firms and sending the notes 10y mcs,cnscrs
somcinr, several Of these arc received the paper
Of one firm all signed with different name, but
written in the same hand. y for keeping them
asav from ia, theatre Mr.. Gilmore doubts the posi-,
buty He has tried to order them or. ard has been
accused of assault and battery and he adds his name
the against tc law lti grants TIE utcsc,'
Daniel rrohman. OF the Lyccam Theatre. takes a
more cheerful view Of the subject II, refuses tickets
bought %. ,pcculaor and he hnds that HI trmncss
in dolng 80 discourage, them. II any one whose
ticket wa, 50 refused Should appeal to the courts
Nr rrohman thn., that he might recover damages
irt only for the price of IN, ticket and the plan
a!aptcd makes 50 mach tlONbs for the spc,uitOr
tnai he prefer, 10 leave Tie theatre
IN r,acs rather than 80 q the courts. Mr.. FIOhMan
vas annoyed iy the men who -old fchcts cN-
it.nlclV h-h prices at the Iiith Avenue Theatre
when the Hcndals were there. and Ia prevent ii he
say, that next year. when hi, stars Tack he viii
rent the house and ran IL himself
ONE REMEDY TH\T Il EFFECIUAI"
Nohody t1lk, more strongly against ticket spec /
nai,r, tlan Rudolph Aronson. of The Casino within /
Z, few wccA. he la, adopted "a new of selling /
seat, which prove, eff ctIal in stopping tn, i, walls
trade The buyer who comes 10 the Lex Office IA
advance doc, not receive coupons for HI, seats. but
a card with u number which corr>p ponds 10 the |
number on an envelope in which the coupons ar, /
plarql. The envelope also bear, the name OF the /
nry,r. The card good for admission Ior one per
SON or more. aud when he comes To tn door tho /
holder of il gives hi, name and receives The cavcopr |