Los Angeles herald., 1905-01-26
TICKET SPECTATORS
ROUTED AT 2ELASC0
Manager, Treasurer and Special Or
fieer Of Theater Spoil Youths
Hold.up Game

Manager, Treasurer and Special OF
ffeer Of Theater Spoil Youths
Hold-up Game
A trio Of young men Of a speculative
turn Of mind last night created a de-
cided commotion in front Of the Be
lasco theater They sought to sell
seats for the Belasco production Of
"Old Heidelberg" at an advance upon
the regular box office price. greatly to
the chagrin and opposition of Mama
ger Blackwood Of the theater.
The ticket spectators. taking advan-
tage of the big success of "Old Held
elberg,' had purchased a number of
seats-each of the young men seemed
to be supplied with at least a score
of Heidelberg" pasteboards-and made
their appearance first in front Of the
box office window of the theater just
before 8 o'clock, when Treasurer Clay
ton was dispensing the information,
that the theater was entirely sold out
and that standing room only was all
to be had.
Here's pair of fine seats in the
ninth row, just two seats i'm from the
aisle" announced one of the specula-
tors to man who was accompanied by
a young woman.
"All right, let me have them; how
much?" he asked.
"Three dollars for the two" suavely
answered the speculator.
Here you, Mister, don't buy those
tickets; they're our regular seventy
five cent tickets and if you buy them
they won't be honored at the door"
shouted Treasurer Clayton from his
perch behind the plate glass window.
Manager Blackwood was sent for.
He explained to the would-be ticket
buyer that no speculating in "Heidel-
berg" tickets was permitted; that If he
bought the tickets he couldn't pass the
door, that so far as the theater was
concerned the tickets were absolutely
valueless in the hands of any person
save the speculator. By this time the
attention of score of persons in the
lobby had been turned to the heated
argument and the other two specu-
ators made their appearance on the
scene.
"We'lI show you whether we'll sell
our tickets in front of the theater
or not. Come out here and watch us
work." said one of the duo to Man.
ager Blackwood.
"Al right, I'll accept your invita-
tion,' he replied.
The spectators approached a couple
who alighted from the Pasadena car
in front of the theater. The spectators
attempted to dispose of two seats while
at the same time Mr.. Blackwood ad-
vised the man not to purchase them,
explaining that they would not be ac-
cepted at the theater door.
For fifteen minutes the speculative
trio labored, used every argument at
their command, pleaded, even begged
in a number of instances prospective
Belasco patrons to buy their tickets,
while Mr.. BIackwood, with the assist
ance of number of the theater en-
ployes, insisted that the tickets would
not be honored.
Finally when the managerial patience
began to show signs of WEAKNESS Mr..
Biackwood summoned the theater spe-
cial policeman, Officer Gibson, and laid
plans for a V trick rush that when
set in operation with the policeman ut
the front of the attack, swept the
Heidelberg" ticket spectators COM
pletely off their feet and by patrol
work on the part of the theater peo-
pie for quarter of an hour thereafter,
the three young men found themselves
with a stock of last nights Belasco
tickets on their hands.
This morning they are not worth the
cardboard they are printed on.
Mr. Blackwood in discussing the
matter said; 1--WE don't want any
speculating around the Belasco the
ater. These young men simply took
advantage of the fact that we were sell
ing out the houses for old Heidel.
berg every night and figured that rs
the last performances approached the
demand for seats would be greater
than ever. Had the young fellows
simply asked the regular box office
price for their tickets l would not have
uttered one word of protest, but
did emphatically object to their de-
mandng a dollar and half for sew
enty-five cent ticket"
S-