New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1908-10-14
THEATRE TICKET SPECULATION.

II has been we'll said that nothing Is ever
settled until It IS settled right For several
wears agitation has been caused by endeaFor 10
suppress the obnoxious, extOrtOnate and there
fore inexCusable speculation in theatre tickets.
Recently that agitation became once more vlsI-
BILE but it appears probable that II Will suosde
into the annual calm, the coming or which mas
so frequently soothed the anguished mob or
speculative leeches that batten on our smuse-
ment loving public.
This subject is one on which the rivals In
theatrical business. the Syndicate" and the
independent managers, can unite, and ought
10 unite. for the suppression of a nuisance
Legal decision has established the fact that
thea trcal managers possess the right to sup
press the traffic if they wish to do so. Why,
then do they not suppress it instead OF taking
about their wish TO do so? Speculation in the
atre tickets is a public injustice and. because
of the manner of 1t, q crying public onence.
Why Is it. and why has It been. permitted to
continue: The plea of inability TO e1ungush
the nuisance-a plea which has often been ed
vanced-is futile. The thing that has been
done once can be done again Augustn Daiy
stopped speculation in tickets 10 Days Thea
ire Harrison Grey Fiske stopped It at the
Manhattan Theatre
1t has been often declared or insnuated that
this abuse of the public is allowed because
theatrical managers surreputiously connive at
IT and stand in On the profits" No positive
legal proof to sustain such a charge or In
situation is at hand, but Mr.. Marc Klaw, be
It remembered (and Mr.. Klaw is in a position
to speak with authority on the subject, Is
quoted as saving that ne knows OF six theatres
where the practice Is officially countenanced.
When theatre ticket speculation continues 10
thrive and. practically Is unmoested, after
court of law tin the suit brought by Mr.. Hay
mani has declared that managers possess the
right TO stop it If they wish to do so, the pub
lie. naturally. will suspect and not only does
suspect. but believes that there is collision
between the manager and the Spectator, and
that the latter in most cases,-however indie
pendent he may appear to be,-is only an en-
ploved salesman. acting for the manager do
ing his offensive work according to his orders,
and drawing a salary for doing It,
The manner OF this obnoxious business II
we'll known. Persons who on a stormy night
In New York. have passed through the theatre
district Of the city after 80 are familiar with
the husky greeting. Ere you are! A good or
chestra seat for 30 cents" For If 1.-The mar
ket' is down" the huckster sells for what
ever ne can get; while if it is "up" he EFFORTS
the largest possible premium on the face value
of the ticket 1t Is not unreasonable suspicion
under existing circumstances that theatrical
manager who finds himself burdened with
So article" that he cannot sell at that price
Will be as willing to sell his article" for what
ever it will bring as the corner grocery Is to
veud speclsed peaches at cut rate.
1t has frequently been noticed that when the
applicant cannot purchase good theatre seats
at the box office, not one being left" he can
/ buy them at an advanced price in hotels. II
truly this is a convenience to the transient
population OF the city which is not universally
conceded why should an exorbitant advance
on the price be charged? At the best, the per
sons who buy theatre tickets for a perform
ance they have not seen are, in the slang of
the day taking a chance"
If the managers have the right to stop specu-
latiOn in theatre tickets, which is a downright
dishonest traffic, oppressive to the public and
injurious TO the theatre, why does the city
government of New York issue licenses to
theatre ticket spectators? Is it possible That
the interests of certain influential local polti-
clans in certain theatres and theatre holding
companies have anything to do with this singu-
| lar circumstance?