Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1900-02-17
Ticket Speculation.
Norfolk, va, Feb. 16, 1900

Norfolk, Va, Feb. 16. 1900.
Editor Virginian- Pilot:
Dear Sir,-I noticed in your paper to-
day IL communication signed Patron
of Both" in regards to the management
of the Academy of Music. intmating
that people were allowed to buy tickets
at their box office yesterday morning
for the purpose of speculation. 1 have
some knowledge OF the management of
u theatre (but I wish to say right here
that l am in no way connected with
the Academy of AIusic), and 1 WOULD
like to set forth the following facts
about the sale of seats at a theatre.
which might be Of interest to the people
at this time.
When the advance representative of n
theatrical company comes to Il city TO
make arrangements for the perform
ance of his company he makes his
terms with the management of the the
atre in regard to the price of admis-
sion to be charged, and he arranges the
scale OF rates which shall be in effect
for that performance, grading the.
prices according 10 the location of the
seats. II is not the theatre that makes
the prices. Consequently the academy
of Musics management could not have
been the ones to make The Idv!rTTCr- iitt
the price OF seats for the performance
OF ''The Christian THE Christian"
has established a reputation for itself,
and as 1t is only going to be produced
here one night, it WAS natural that
there should be a rush for the seats,
and the first who came were, no doubt,
the first served. Those who came late
got left. Those who came early and
bought tickets, and who, later in the
day saw that they could sell them at
Il premium. naturally took advantage
of the opportunity to make n dollar or
So by staying away from the play and
1;SHncinp n thpir fic1sotS CiGn11 yal
business instinct. Nine men out of ten
would have done the same thing, IL they
cared for the additional dollar, or what
ever the premium might have been
than they did to witness the show. AS
for large blocks OF tickets being sold to
a single individual. ii is a common oc-
currcnce on the day before the sale of
seats for a popular performance for
parties to arrange with some one to be
on hand at the box office window carly
in the morning and thus avoid the
trouble and rush in getting their seats.
This practice has led some young men
TO make a business of securing seats for
patrons for consideration. At any
rate, there is no reason on earth why
the mana cement OF a theatre should
make n rule prohibiting itself from SELL
ing to q purchaser any number of tick
cts he might care to buy. Theatrical
people are not in business for the pleas
people arc. Every one is after the same
thing, and the quicker we get it the
better satisfied we are. Mr.. Patron OF
Both" complains about the eXorbitant
prices people had to pay the spccnla-
tors for seats. do not sec why they
had to pay them anything at all above
the regular price. II they did not think
the show was going to worth the price
the tickets were held at. they were very
foolish TO buy the tickets II they
thought the show would be worth the
price, then they bought With the eX-
pectancy of getting the value of their
money back in enjoyment. AS for lin
ting the sale OF tickets to four to a
person, that Is absurd. What could n
man do who wanted to take his family?
How could person give theatre par
ty? For a rule to be effective it must
be tho same for all. Suppose Il man
did wish to speculate. and the rule mot
over four wac in effect, could he not