The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1898-03-15
Tho Theatre Scat Bill.

A bill pending at Albany. introduced by
an Assemblyman from the borough of
Brooklyn, has for its object State super
vision over theatre box offices, with penal
ties for the sale of tickets which do not
assure the purchaser a seat. Several dele.
cations of New York theatrical managers
have visited Albany for the purpose Of pro.
testing against the measure and pointing
out its injustice and impracticability.
OF late years there nave grown up in the
theatres of most of the large cities, con.
spicuously in New York and Brooklyn,
what are known as continuous perform
%ances," beginning about noon. and keep
ing up until IL in the evening or
thereabouts. Tho prices charged are
graded, but there are no reserved Seats"
In the words of the managers announce.
ment, "You come when you please, You
stay as long as you please, and you go away
when you please" Continuous perform.
ances had their origin in New England,
where they were in successful operation be-
fore they came to New York. 1t Is an in.
genious plan, because, without additional
expense to the management, as many as
three or four audiences are secured each
day and evening, thus making possible a
reduction in the price of admission. The
stay of each auditor is indefinite. so that
at certain times in the day or evening the
theatre is filled only in part, while at
others it is crowded or overcrowded, some
in seats and some standing.
Evidently, therefore, a bill prescribing
penalties for the failure OF a manager to sup
ply a seat for every patron would prevent
the giving of these entertainments, and thus
deprive a large public necessarily frugal in
its expenditures for amusements the op.
portunity of witnessing many excellent
performances.
Again, at many of the so.called vaude-
vile houses where continuous perform
ances do not prevail many persons are
satisfied to see only a particular fea-
ture of the performance. To compel the
manager to furnish such people with a seat,
to be reserved for them during the entire
performance, lasting, perhaps, from 8
o'clock until midnight, would be a hard
ship and an unwarranted interference be.
tween the patron and the manager. In
like manner at operate performances of the
higher grade the system of boxes and box
parties makes impracticable the enforced
StliiuB VI SEATS ~ Vic DON Office, as III de-
mands the selling of general admission
tickets simply.
A very little consideration Of the matter
shows the futility and injustice of any at
tempt to regulate by legislative authority
conditions which theatre patrons have
themselves established, and with which
they are well satisfied. People who have
to stand in theatres may grumble, but be-
fore paying the price of admission they
know that there are no seats for them.
How can a manager tell in advance what
will be the public demand for the enter
tainment he offers1 Only when a play is
popular is there any such trouble. The
best of seats are to be had when the peo-
pie do not care for the play. II a man
would rather stand In order to see q play
than to stay away and not see IL, why
should he not have the liberty of pleasing
HIMSELF
mo seat. no fare" was years ago the
cry of many travellers, but 1t IL obvious to
every one that II this rule prevailed in New
York vast muititudes of people would be
seriously Inconvenience at certain hours,
fox II all those desiring transit had to be
furnished with seats a great part of them
would have to walk.
Moreover, this measure would result
naturally in increased charges for admis-
sion to theatres. 1t IS n foolish interference
the best advantages OF seller and buyer.