The sun., 1900-02-09
PRICE OF THEATRE rICkEra
Too High for Play-Goers Of Moderate Means
An Endowed" Theatre Proposed.


To THE EDiroR OF The suS-Sri One OF
the first things which strikes an old New
Yorker upon returning 10 the city after an ab.
scncc OF some time Is the greater expense OF
attending the theatre.
Anew years since man In moderate circum.
stances could go out OF an evening. get good
seats at an Al house ard enjoy the show with
out the harasslng thoughts during the per.
formance OF Where can make up for this
piece OF extravagancep" especially " the play
be POOR, In those good old days II was posi-.
bic to obtain the very host seat In tho house,
at the box Office. for 81 so. By best seat is
meant anything within eight or ten rows ~
tho stage, or the first two rows In the balcony
In some OF the smaller houses In any other
part OF the orchestra or flrst balcony the scnts
were only 81. Now, however. one has TO carry
sack" 10 60 70 any Of tina best theatres o'
New York, as 50 and frequently $3.50 ls un-
blushinsly asked at the box Office FOR the same
seaes that in my day we're but 81 and Sl.oo
apiece.
II Is not all Of US who are as young as
we used to be and our hearing and sight
are not so good as ten years ago. 30 that 10
get seat near enough to tho stage 10
get an idea OF what is going on the aver
age midde-aged person has another modern
evil TO contend with the ticket Spectator.
II seems shame that any OF the best theatres
in New York would allow such scenes az are
enacted mighty upon the ravements in front OF
their entrances Iadies and gentlemen. IA
soon as they approach, either on foot or from IA
carriage. are heset and lostled in a most
annoying manner by this new tyne OF eytor-
tonist. snd even the poor passer-hy. who has
neither idea nor money 10 attend the p'r-
fornsncs. is pestered by these human iias
unit he has broken through aad passed beyon,
their last picket lines. Should q married man
some good Tiay" 90 to the box Office Of
almost any theatre and ask for tckcts-"a
couple OF good seats, not more than five IN
seven rows from the stagr"-the chances arc he
weeks"
As q result this man. II, he would see thi,
purchase his tickets from soma newss'an
agent or. or.specuator on the street at an advance
oitrom 20 cents to - .ach. Tickets At the re-,
rostet at 81. whereas they eye could not be- pur. Hm
chased for SO each
To attend the fashionable theatres. whore
will, when the next advance in prices comes.
be the privilege OF only the rich. as the poor
cannot afford It and the middle class only
occasionally by denying themselves in other
wavs
The stage by all is acknowle edged to be eiu.
eating and improving. Would il not. therefore,
ne hn eNcellent opportunity Tor some good
Phi lanthropists. instead ot endowing already
rich colleges or Libraries, To build some
theatres and 50 endow them MS 70 employ
good. strong, stock companies who would per-
form good PLAYS and operas at prices within
the reach OF the general public? such work
would be charity and a great benefit 10 the
people who would like 70 attend a good play
but cannot on account Of the expense.
There are laws passed by the Leg stature tC
govern rates N trans spor'ation, to regulate the
honrs of labor and the rate ~ wages. there IS
n ATaR q taRan ntNVy
hire, SO why could there not he some logis a.
tion 70 prevent theatres and playhouses from,
charelne such prices and permitting their
specuators but 10 keep them only for sale a,
the box Office at reasonable figures? Why
abused and swindled public" AZ Albany intro.
duce such bill?
II would be far more sensible than some
pending there at rho present time
A NouID-gE THEATRE.G .GoER.
New YORK. Feb. l.