New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-15
LETTERS TO THE EDITOR
THEATRE TICKET SPECULATION.
Mr. Klaw S Opinion as to the Way to Stop It.

To the Editor of The Tribune
Sir: I read the editorial on theatre ticket specu-
laton in this mornings Tribune and l. of course,
heartily welcome The Tribunes support in this
fight to abolish sidewalk ticket speculation But
The Tribune has fallen into common error. The
Court of Appeals did not rule that the theatre
| manager has the right to abolish sidewalk ticket
speculation 1t merely ruled that the theatre IS q
private business and had 4 right to refuse at
our doors anybody whom choose. But that
very decision which stamped OUTS as a private
business like any other business, would not have
given the right stop speculation in tickets
The only people who can stop that far the
sidewalk is concerned. the Board of Aldermen
who have legalized this trade. There is nothing to
stop any one from buying a ticket at box Office
There is no way l know of that viii keep people
from buying tickets use whatever. precaution we
may to prevent them from falling into the hands
Of ticket spectators.
You would he surprised at the deYices resorted
TO to secure these tickets We get letters from
reputable bank clerks. Insurance men, chemists
prominent law offces-yes. ana even newspaper Of
hces- These letters contain orders for seats. ac-
companied b. checks. We take a memorandum OF
the tickets. and very often find them in the hands
Of the sidewalk ticket spectators who have IN
duced these very people to write for them
So far as the hotels are concerned. if the side
walk nuisance Is abolished managers can soon
regulate the hotel part of this trouble. As matters
stand now have doubt that hotels work IN
with the spectators and spectators work in with
the hotels. I understand that two years ago, when
an effort made this evil before the
state Legislature, several of these newsstands
Joined with the spectators defeat the efforts OF
the managers
Ny contention is simply this That If the side
walk ticket speculation is abolished, the public will
soon find out what theatres are keeping their
tickets in the box Office and which ones are not,
and believe this is made clear to the
patrons Of theatres they will compel man
ayers to deal fairly With them. But under the
present denloralizng arrangement. where any man,
by buying SO badge from the Board of Alder
possible to regulate the matter, and nearly every
manager is brought under suspicion. The very
case OF Collister agt Hayman which The Tribune
quotes. came during winter when joined with
Mr.. Hayman. during the Rogers brothers engage
ment. to break up ticket speculation in front of
the Knickerbocker Theatre. which cost in the
neighborhood of $1,000 in the hire of detectives
and others, and which. regret to say, did not
break it UP at all These have means Of get
ting tickets which you cannot break down.
The Daily device of selling tickets Is only practca-
BE where theatre has very large outer lobby,
tickets until after they reach the theatre Fortu-
nateIv. NJ. DAILY had such lobby. which was well
inside tie storm doors, but tried II later the
ictorta Theatre, some years and were
c1-sed BY the papers of subiecting patrons
pneumonia while they were waiting for their seats.
We were compelled TO abandon IT,
hope The Tribune will continue It's support in
this matter. and I only wish that the managers
cid have the right to abolish sidewalk ticket spec.
uatior; but the very that theatre is not
a public business prevents any from stopping
speculation. But the Aldermen can regulate the
traffic on the sidewalks Of New York, and in the
Of the poor fruit vendors and vegetable buck
sters, they do regulate It and keep them moving
al the time MARC KLAW-
New York