The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1918-12-31
TICKET PRICES
IN FINAL FLIGHT
Regular Theatre Seat Brokers
Anticipate Law-Not So
the Curb Runners.
ONE ASKS $3.50 ADVANCE
Swami Says Ordinance Will
Be Enforced but Does Not
Affect Past Sales.
ONE ASKS $3.50 ADVANCE

All Of the old established theatre
ticket agencies were observing yester-
day the spirit OF the ordinance which
goes into effect to-day restricting them
from charging more than 80 cents a
seat in advance of box Office prices.
But the demand, especially for produc-
tions rated as successes, was enor-
nous, and in many instances disap-
pointed patrons turned away from the
agency counters after being told moth
ing was left, to find insinuatingly soft
voiced young men at their elbows.
Invariably they were offered accom-
modations If they were willing to pay
the price demanded by these sidewalk
dealers. In some instances the de-
mands were 100 per cent. in excess OF
the face value Of the tickets, and even
at that rate seats met with a ready
sale. They wero practically unobtain-
able for some theatres at any figure.
AS is usual in New York seats for the
New Years Eve performances tonight
are being sold at an advance of from
81 to $3.50 above the reg ular price scale.
The regular agencies yesterday were Of
fering them at 80 cents above box Office
prices. but they were not plentiful-even
for the less popular attractions.
For Tiger Tiger" and "Lightnin'
the tickets brought $3.50 for New Years
Eve and s2.2o for ordinary nights. in
Guiding the war tax, at the box offices.
This brought them up to $3.50 and $40
respectively, at the agencies.
Winter Garden nt $3.50 Advance.
The box Office price for orchestra
chairs at the Winter Garden New Years
Eve is 81. Three of the leading agencies
in the Times Square section announced
they had none for sale. A reporter for
THE Sun received offers Of six seats
from three separate SPECTATORS at $3.50
each. At o'clock last night the sane
agencies had no seats left for the pe--
formance of Martha at the MetropoII-
tan Opera House last night. The re-
porter received offers OF two Sc seats fo,
Sc each. Tickets for "The Canary"
which bring $3.50 at the box Office. were
being hawked about the theatre district
Cor S. a seat.
Another reporter for THE SrN at
tempting to purchase Geats for Dear
Brutus' at the Empire Theatre for
Wednesday afternoon from a recognized
hotel agency was met with the demand
for $3.50 each. II Is a So show
There was vigorous denial on the part
of the agencies that they were in col
fusion with the sidewalk vendors. A
report that the theate managers were
considering a general advance in the
prices of tickets as a result Of the action
by the Aldermen gained little credence
last night in we'll informed circles.
Law Not Retroactive.
The ordinance curbing ticket specula-
tors will become effective to-day. but 1t
have already been soaked" on their
New Years Eve enterta inment paste
boards These were the words OF dubious
offered by District Attorney
Swami yesterday afternoon to Indignant
citizens who called him up and told him
their troubles.
II bought ticket last week fo- ,
show l am going to attend tomorrow
night" said one man. II paid twice as
much as the price printed on II. What
are you going TO do about Il t:''
Not a thing was the District AZ
torney's answer. The man at the other
end of the wire was then told, in diplo
matte language, that he was out OF luck,
but the ordinance does not cover sale
Of tickets in the past for performances
after the law becomes effective
But this law will be enforced from
now on" said Mr.. Swami. "Speculators
must have their licenses or receipts for
their application and the fee OF S35
before they can operate. We know IN
license forms have not been printed yet,
but an>>excuse based on that fact will
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