New-York tribune., 1921-01-04
Few Producers Are
Eager to Initiate
Harris's Price Cut
Why Should We Reduce
Rates When Houses Are
Sold Out, People Turned
Away? Is Their Position

Theatrical producers Of New York ap-
pear indisposcd to follow the example
of Sam H. Harris, who announced yes
terday that d reduced scale of prices
would go into effect Immediately in all
the theaters controlled by him, where
by $3.50 hereafter will purchase the
seats that have been bringing SO and
the cheaper seats be CORES spondingly
lowered in price. In the vaudeville field,
however, lower prices are close at hand.
The Keith circuit is the first to in
augurate a new scale in the price list,
having posted the announcement OF a
general reduction to 60 into effect on
January 10 at both the Colonial and
Alhambra thcaters. This being the
nlst srep in gradual readjustmenr
and possible return to pre-war prices.
When, some three months ago, the
Selwyns originated this policy, it was
with the idea of ultimately reducing
the cost Of production also and swing
ing back to conditions that prevailed
before the war 1t is perhaps, too
soon to decide how successfully their
plan will work out. They continue to
have, however, the satisfaction Of ca
tions.
In the Belasco Offices no changes in
the present scale will be made There
was no raise put in effect at the
Lyceum for "The Gold Diggers.' md
the modest increase to So for "Debu-
'@u' at the Bc!asco Theater, S felt to
DC thoroughly justified by the elab-
oratsness Of the production. More
over, Mr. Belasco does not add an
Ec-.
ances. '''
- William A. Brady's two theaters
mas remained staple through the post
war furries, nor has A. r, woods
lalsea the rates for the one show he
mas running at present, "Iadios,
Nlght,' at the Eltinge Theater.
no action along the lines Of reduc-
ton has been taken in the Erlonrcr-
roh'nan ofhccs, nor is any meditated
ne same attitude Of letting well
enough alone obtains with Waeenhals
q he nper. Why, when their houses
are are solq 'lg, out for weeks in advance for
both The Bat" and Spanish Love"
when they turn people away at Extra
matlnees, when the highcr-priccd seats
are the first to be sold out, why. thew
ask, should they cut rates?
Nharles Dillingham; always has ad-
Vocated moderate scale Of prices. and
at the Hippodromo the dollar-seat has
been maintained With his attractions
at the Globe Theater he pursaes a diff
terent policy, finding higher-priced
seats justified by the huge cost Of pro
duc1ng musical shows with their many
large -sa!aried principals and numerous
clo orus, elaborate costumes and the ro
of the same.
Joe Weber is one Of the producers
who believe that the readjustment Of
theater prices should be made first bv
the dramatic houses, arguing, that
these, With the smaller number of
actors, sometimes only six or eight.
no musi-ians, no lyricist. no music
writer. no chorus with the accompany
ing expc-lse of several changes of
costume. are laborinS under no such
handicap Of overhead charges as is
carried by the musical comedy pro
ducer
The views of George NJ. Cohan on
thls subject are interesting, because
he IS IN both ends Of the game, with
Z muse show to Offset the two dramatic
attractions he has running at pres
ent- And what he thinks about it IS
shown by his list of prices, which
strike 3 top notch of $3.50 for "The
Tavern" and The Meanest Man in the
World, (" in which he himself is play
ing, giving his Tooth performance to-
night, and So for Mary"