New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1896-03-15

DETAILS THAT TROUBLE PEOPLE WHO
WANT TO GO TO THE THEATRE.

In its consistent of serving the interests Of
the public The Tribune has more than once taken
the New-York theatres to task for the practca IN
efficiency of their advertisements. 1t has been sus'
gested that the newspaper advertisement OF every
theatre should tell where the theatre s and al what
,,r,a tho performances begin. few OF the adver-
tsements do tell these things. but many do not The
theatres are largely supported by people from out
of town. OF the 100000 or more people VINO every
day form the floating population OF New-forK Clty
every one has some primary OBJECT IN MS Vist
These primary objects differ widely. but the Sec
ondarv object In nineteen cases out OF twenty
to 60 to the theatre. And the most OF these peops
do not know where the theatres are ana the al.
y.rtissments do not tell them. Even New-fork PEG.
ple cannot keep track OF the hours al WHICH p'ays
begin They vary from to $50 o cocK' OF even
utt,e later sometimes. and they are often changed
al the same theatre, so that NOBODY Out an expert
could ever carry tina hours In his mead.
A singular ray Of light has now Illuminated the
brain of somebody in Albany, and bill mas peen
introduced which orders that every theatre IN its
newspaper advertisements. shall mention It's place.
its time of beginning performances ana the prices
Of its seats 1t also makes 1t unlawful for any
nerson or corporation to sell theatre ticket for
,rora than the advertised rate. This last clause 10
impracticable. Ticket specializing Is s''evous
wrong hut II cannot be mended in this way. This
law would not only prevent seats being SOLD al inc
hotels according to the present system. TOT 'he ac
commodation Of guests, who are ofteh ia'e arrivals
,n the city and cannot go to the oox-omce week
in advance to secure good seats but 1t would forod
tho selling of seats for charity performances at
fancy prices Often seats and boxes at pehents
ore sold ar from SIS to $500 each. when the regular
nrices are perhaps from s. 30 to s25 Many worthy
objects have gained thousands OF dollars III 'hs
way But the other provisions OF the Dill are IN tns
direction OF public convenience the size OF 81 aa'
vertisement in a newspaper would not nave 10 oe IN
tv
not al ALL for the space which they now occupy II
o,,.r 6,,ed I'M with vain repetition Of the name OF
the pay or of the star actor
Here are some figures. On day OF ias' week
which was chosen for this census there were II" '"s
advertising columns OF The tribune thifS-iouf
notices of amusements. In eighteen Oh 'heS7 '"e
location OF the theatre hall was given with more
or less ex .ctness often less. In eighteen also 'he
time Of beginning the performance was given. Inc
nrces were mentioned in twelve while three others
gave some of the prices. but not all both time anu
Mace we're mentioned in twelve OF the adVeruse
ments time and prices In four and place ana prices
in five Only three gave time. place and prices anu
thcre were four of the notices which gave no time
no place and no prices. The most or the prices
that we're given we're either special and unusua or
extremely low OF the three which gave all the DE-
sired details one was a cheap music nan. one was
q concert and one free exhibition OF pictures
There was one curious example An ADVERTISEMENT
of a concert told the prices and the date out not
the hour and not even the name OF the hall where
4, w,s 10 he given to say nothing Of the exact
place. Probably the most OF the people who were
likely to 20 to the concert knew where It was TO oe
I'M, the advertisement would not be OF much use 70
The Clause in the present bill about the advanced
nrices 81 tickets is enough OF course 10 raise up
aasains, n the opposition Of theatrical managers
bIt II is sincerely be wished that the petty an
noyance OF not knowing the time the place or .ne
nos, ~ nlay that one wants to see could IN some
wav he remedied 1t is impossible TO estimate me
aggregate OF misery that out-of-town people nav
For the Fifth Avenue Theatre. and the advert Use
ment does not tell where II Is Neither does tnis
tight OF control over the theatre in reasonaole
things is unquestioned for they license them ana
,hav connel them to provide for the SAFETY OF tnei
audiences The theatres look after the comfort OF
the pubc of their accord ana AFTER sats,y ana
COMFORT have been provided the next consideration
might we'll be convenience.