The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1833-1916, 1914-01-04
NO MORE PREMIUMS
ON OPERA TICKETS
Metropolitan Directors StOp
Agencies From Charging
Over Face Value.
DIRECT SALE rs ARRANGED
Subscribers May Buy From Com
pany-Recent Middle
Cause of the Action.
DIRECT SALE rs ARRANGED

Two important results OF the recent
tangle caused by the hypothecation Of
Metropolitan Opera tickets with the Met
ropolItau Trust Company by Tyson & Co.
were announced yesterday.
one is that hereafter no tickets for the
Metropolitan Opera House. either for the
season or for single performances will
he sold through ticket agencies at "A pre-
MUM. The other is that persons who
have been Subscribers to season tickets in
the past and for the present year may get
their tickets In the future directly from
the Metropolitan opera House instead of
from agencies, if they SO desire.
While subscribers for the higher priced
seats through agencies have got them at
the box office at face price, subscribers
for the cheaper seats have been compelled
TO pay 10 per cent. premium for them.
That increased price will be abolished
next season and IL the ticket agencies
handle them they must dispose Of them
1T par.
Tho ticket agencies have been accus-
toned to get 10 per cent. discount in
buying the high priced seats from the
box office, but they have paid par for the
cheaper seats.
Another source of Profit.
Hitherto many of the agencies. while
selling to their regular subscribers at par.
have been accustomed to take many seats
of the subscribers hands when IL was
not convenient for them to attend the
opera. Generally those seats have been
disposed OF at "a premium.
Under the arrangement that goes into
effect next year no ticket agency that has
direct dealings with the Metropolitan
Opera Company will be permitted to sell
single ticket over its counter at IA
premium.
In other words, the directors OF the
Metropolitan Opera Company have taken
every possible means within their power
TO prevent the sale of tickets 20 the pub
lie at eXorbitant prices. They have made
IL clear to the agencies that any viola
ton of this rule will be dealt with sum-
marty and the ticket agencies have an
bounced that they are entirely satisfied
with the new rule.
The directors of the Metropolitan Opera
Company were disposed at first TO refuse
to sell tickets to the ticket agencies as
q result of the recent ticket muddle.
They did. however. realize the fact that
many subscribers preferred 10 deal with
the agencies because of the various con-
Ncnicnces as to payment for the tickets,
disposal of seats not wanted md the like.
>ubscribrrs Are Notified.
The directors accordingly obtained from
the different agencies lists of their sub
Acribors and on December 20 sent out
letters to those subscribers. In that cir
Cuar letter the company announced that
''those who have heretofore subscribed
g. ticket agencies In tn. future IL they
80 desire, may make NJ their subscrip-
tions to the Metropolitan opera Company
direct.
The letter explained that the subscrb-
ers could, If they wish continue TO sub
scribe through the agencies upon the
distinct unde rstanding that the Metropoi-
tan Opera Company does not thereby con-
stitute the ticket agencies its agents.
at has furthermore been arranged,
continued the letter. that ticket agencies
shall make no charge whatever to the
public over and above regular box office
prices of seats In any part of the house.
So that. whether you choose to subscribe
direct or through a ticket agency, the
cost of the ticket will be identically the
same. In order to enable this to be done
the Metropolitan Opera Company takes
upon itself to allow the ticket agencies
reasonable compensation.
I'm order to avoid NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.
Il should be explained that this company
cannot itself undertake the resale of sub
scription tickets for its subscribers who
may wish TO dispose of them for single
performances or otherwise.
The opera company asked the sub
scribers to indicate their choice between
subscribing direct and getting their
tickets through the agencies. The COM
pany also asked the subscribers to send
record of their seats to the Metro
politan Opera House, where they can be
kept on file.
Many Prefer Agencies.
Responses to the company" said an
announcement from the opera house yes
terday afternoon. 'indicatc that very
large proportion Of such subscribers still
prefer to continue making their subscrip-
tions 10 the agencies. which. as has
been explained from time to time, afford
certain accommodations and conveniences
which II would be impossible for the
opera company to provide.
The opera company calls attention to
te fact that hereafter the public In no
case shall he compelled by any agency
70 pay more than the regular box Office
price"
Tyson & Co. refused to make any com
nent on the arrangement beyond saying
mat no opera ticket at present Is sold
'or more than its face value
David Belasco has tried on various
occasions to prevent tickets for his play
houses selling for more than the box
ofice prices. He did that for the holiday
performances. Whether theatre man
ayers would fall in line with the Metro
politan Opera Company directors in keep
ing down the price of seats could not be
learned from any person authorized last
night To speak on that subject.