The times. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1890-1903, 1894-11-22
sPECULITIAg IN ffCh Bis.
,omp plants are Made OF the Way the Jsi-
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Some prominent, as well as conserya-
tive, citizens Of Richmond visited Inc
Times office yesterday anu CGih-
planned. In pronounced terms on Whas
they style the outrageous lreatlleht OF
the public az the Academy OF Music ooX-
office Yesterday. on the occasion Of the
opening sale Of tickets TO Joe Jefferson >
performance OF Rip Van Wrinkle Monday
night.
The following is the substance Of the
affair. as told to The Times reporter:
The box office was advertised 70 open
at A. NJ, and previous 10 tnat hour
number OF prominent citizens "ere mere
and took their places In a not yer! iUns
line. and congratulated themselves that
they would speedily procure tckeS.
Not so. however Four or hVe men,
whom those who were present say are
Identified with the house. II not regular
Of the line. having maintained that posi-
ton all night, and monopohzed the VIII
dow for speculative purposes.
While hey held the window others cir
culated outside, and as persons came up
one Of the Spectators would tell them
they would not be able 10 get tickets
by getting into line. but that for twenty
five cents a seat extra he would procure
them good seats.
Ii is alleged that one man held the win
dow for more than a half hour, and for
twenty-five GEMS a piece bought large
number of tickets for newcomers VINO
passed their money up. While those IN
line behind him, unwilling TO be inuicted
of bonus. were cut out OF cholce seats.
To such an extent was THIS procedure
carried that when a wel-known gentle
man, about twentieth I'm the line, who IS
"A liberal patron OF the drama In Itlch-
mend. reached the window the
entire lower floor had been taken.
except a very small number OF the
least desirable seats. He was approach
ii i'm line by one Of the canyasSers Tor
those at the window and offered good
seats at twenty-five cents each extra,
but he Indignantly declined.
These gentlemen expressed themselves
very empratcally, and condemned the
practice in the most unqualified terms
one gentleman said ne would endorse
the adoption OF any rule which would
restrict the number Of tickets TO be sold
10 any one person to ten. or even less,
although II would cut him out at times, as
he sometimes bought fourteen for his
family connection, as he did yesterday.
Among those who complained most Bit
terly yesterday were gentlemen who, rath-
or than allow previous engagements 10
suffer, paid the advance price.
The price OF two dollars seat was
considered a high charge by many Of the
habitual theatre-gOers, and the addition
al quarter was looked on as tribute
to practice that might have been
easily controlled by the box office.
The fact as charged by these gentle
men. that thev were forced TO contribute
a bonus 10 those who were claimed as
being Identified with the EMPLOYEES Of the
house. was particularly criticised.
This Objectionable and questionable
method OF imposing upon the public, by
sharp spectators when particularly at
tractive show comes along, has been root
ed out Ia other cities. ard II Is believed
that with a proper appreciation and de-
sire to protect the rights II the public II
could be easily effected here.