New-York tribune., 1910-10-23
Queer People
Seen From the
Box Office
CRANKS AND SKEPTICS
Questions and Condolences
Pour in Upon the Blase
Man Behind the'Wickct.

Man Behind the'Wickct.
In q line OF excited persons crowding up
/ to a theatre ticket window TO buy seats
/ are there likely to be any experiences IN
/ store for the box office man? Or does every
one ask with quietness, intelligence and
! sobriety for one. two or four seats and
| placing down the major part of his salary
/ for them walk off smiling ccntentedly? Is
! ticket selling just a routine of passing out
! tickets and taking in money?
The box office men say not. Quite the
contrary. They declare that no two persons
are alike even IN the trifiing transaction of
/ buying ticket. The range Of questions,
! kicks. pleasantries and personal histories
! that come in at the window Is enormous.
4 There are certain phrases used. too. and
questions which nine persons out of ten are
4 sure 10 ask In fact, the mere remark to
treasurer" as the box office man OF a
/ theatre is technically called, that ne must
| have some stories TO tell about selling
! tickets TO the Great Public brings forth a
! grin OF appreciation.
J A woman asked for trading stamps with
! her purchase of tickets at Hanmerstein's S
| Victoria, In AID street, few days ago, and
| was OF half mind TO give the tickets back
| when she found she could not get them
! And at the same place rather lost looking
little man asked timidly at the box office
for a single ticket to Albany.
AS matter of fact the man IN the box
! office is never sure Just what is going to be
! demanded of him each time new head
! and shoulders pass into the frame Of his
| little grated window.
Have you tFo seats here reserved for
me7'' asks the stranger with superb but
! &c
| things that nine people out Of ten say. II
! occurred Yesterday al the Hippodrome
'eWho are your then queried the box
( Office man gayly. The PRESIDENT Ol Oiie
/ United States?''
! The Hippodrone is constantly the scene
( Of odd box office Incidents Last season
during the offering Of "A Trip TO Japan
! little woman came several times TO arrange
! for a tour 10 the land Of flowers
! You can sell me tickets 70 japan can
vou notT she inquired hopefully
/ Some people ask WHY" when told tha'
| they cannot get the seats they want-seats
| that have been already sold
.ewhat.s the matter this afternoon that
7 can't get a dollar seat?' demanded
furious Young woman, who dashed into the
big pIavhouse at the last minute on Thurs-
dsv-a full house, holiday afternoon
"C,fve me two good standing room seats
said a PoIak from the lower East SIDE VINO
was next in line.
Another queried susptciously, Can get
q good sit down seat for 81?
Face after face came up and passed, each
with a different expressioT-pieasure' sat
tsfac..on surprise. disappointment, distrust.
hone rage II was extraordinary 10 SIT
behind the grating with the box office man
fash of faces
Two Thousand people few past that win
6ozv IN less than three-quarters OF an
hour ZACH vetttnS tickets and change be-
fora he dissppeared And that IS something
- . 4-a+ FOR the one man who stands be-
hind the window.
Only a few came out 10 change seats.
and they all wanted to pay more and slt
nearer. One of the holiday-makers came up
to the window hesitatingly- Il have only
80 along" he said. IF I gave them to you
for better seats would you pay our carfare
homer
The astonishing part OF listening 70 the
stories OF box office men is TO hear them all
tell practically the same things. are tnese
the best you have?' is the pass word at
every theatre ticket window. For, or all
the thousands of persons who buy seats
every day. there is hardly a soul who does
not say that A ticket seller in Rlchmoho'
va mt ND a sign once requesting people
not 70 ask that question, and one OF the
na-rons of the theatre wrote an indignant
letter. TO the manager. The sign had to be
taken down again
Mort box Office men agree that women
r,,vers form the main interest In the ticket
selling business They go at ticket buying
as though 1t were some kind Of shopping.
said the treasurer at the Hudson Theatre
Yesterday They want q bargain
While he was speaking a nice looking
little woman bustled up to the window.
.'Win you wait On me. please? she said,
Iassantly. It want five seats in the sec
end balcony for tonight, and want them
in the front row and in the centre There
was a moments pause while the man
looked over what he had left
ct am giving a little theatre party. you
know" she smiled, con1dingIy. There are
five of us-five ladies. We have just come
m from the South and are stopping at
hotel down the street This is my treat II
il were only I, alone. I should buy 81
seat. but you see how expensive that would
be for five
The box office man handed out the five
seats.
Now. are IHeSe IoT bO-HASl4N' A4c'ASN
-be little lady anxiously. And are they IN
the first TOW. centre? Yes? are there any
posts in front?'
No posts in the second balcony mad
am"
..Oh. no. OF course. Now, are these the
hest YOU have? You haven't any others?"
Those are exactly what you asked for
madam"
you're sure? Well. If you will hold them
for t1st a few minutes I shall go around to
The hotel and ask my friends IL they think
that will do, and II so I shall be right
back
In a few minutes she came hurrying
hack. II think 1 Will take those she
basued She was in excellent spirits.
When the tickets we're handed her she
gave a sudden gasp and grew red TO the
roots OF her hair.
'.Oh my money! she murmured- What
shall I dog My dear sir, I have 1T right
here with me, but I don't know how 1 am
going 10 get at it She looked around the
lobby hopelessIy step right into the side
Office here, madam said the ticket man.
an unofficial smile stealing over his face
NO matter how long they have been
standing In line he said afterward, they
seldom have their money ready II is either
IN a nocketbook underneath a pile OF junk
IN their shopping bags and requires three
hands 10 get il out, or else II IS slowed
arrav m themselves in some unknown spot
uybera onlv they or an X-ray could dis