The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1904-01-03

tiske, manager Of the Manhattan Thea
ter, is convinced that the 81 scale of
prices IS excessive, in present circunl-
stances, and that the public, by the
poor patronage il has bestowed upon
many Broadway playhouse this season.
mas declared its opinion tla. a majority
OF the performances offs = at the s.
scale are not worth tde ,oaey Mr..
Fiske makes the foIIoVlnr statement.
4 am satisfied that 4 large number
of persons, irrespective - the question
Of personal means. fs-i that $50 is
quite enough TO pay Cor N orchestra
seat, unless in an exceptional case
such as the engagement of some great
foreign artist imported at heavy ex-
pense and exploited under a continuous
large outlay.
The Introduction of the s. scale at
the Broadway theaters seven or eight
years ago was warranted only by the
fact that the puolic was in an amiable
and generous mood with respect to
theatrical amusements and cid not stop
10 question Their cost Three or four
theaters with attractions that proved
to be popular instituted the scale. and
other mana gers followed suit either be-
cause they believed the public was viii
ing to pay the advance, or because they
feared that TO charge lower rate than
some of their competitors would place
their theaters in q false position in the
eyes of the public That is TO say, the
manager who thought that the class
OF his house depended upon the price
he asked for seats was on this theory
forced into the company of other man
ayers who had placed the rate of seats
at s., while in fact he may have had
doubts as TO the wisdom Of charging
that high rate regularly ard without
discrimination as to the succeeding at
fractions OF varying values
In present conditions $50 is enough
70 charge for an orchestra seat. do
not make this statement without reason.
| for / have sought the views of a large
number OF representative playgOers on
the subject and l have discussed the
matter with a number OF prominent
managers. both of theaters and of at
| fractions L have also received the
opinions OF several Of the principal
ticket agents who come in corset with
many strangers and many wealthy resi-
dent theater patrons. Without excep-
ton these various interests are agreed
that the prices asked by -heaters on
| Broadway are excessive. exacted as
these prices are for all sorts Of attrae-
tions-the good. the Indifferent. and the
worthless-and that it Is only question
of time when the managers of this city
viii be forced TO readjust the scale in
conformity with public sentiment and
the real worth Of offerings.
The attitude OF the public in the
larger cities throughout the country
seems to be the same as that in New
York. and in Difference TO the public
in these cities nearly all the attractions
of the better class that have charged
81 a seat heretofore outside OF New
] York as well as in that city are this
season on their tours charging SL50 II
that tariff is more equitable now in other
cities il certainly also is more equitable
now in New York The expenses OF
company travelling naturally are greater
than the expenses Of a company playing
in New York. so from every viewpoint
a reduction In theater rates in New
York would seem 10 be wise and timely.
In several instances 1 have learned
that managers. recognizing the facts.
are DESTROYS TO make the change, but
that they fear u act individually, on
the ground that a reduction by one man
ager, for instance. would be miscon-
istrued by the public. and might reflect
upon the theater involved. This is a
narrow and illogical view TO take. and
so far as l am concerned am not only
isatisfied that the $3.50 rate is demanded,
. but irrespective OF what other ir5t-class
Broadway theaters may charge. 1 pur-
pose TO adopt that scale for ties best
seats in the Manhattan Theatsr here
latter. beginning with the engagement OF
The Virginian' en- Tuesday. January 5.
! L have consulted with Kirke La Shelle.
manager Of The Nirginian, and with
the managers OF other aJtTG ctiOnS that
are to appear at the Manhattan. and
II lind that their views entirely accord
with my own