South Bend news-times. (South Bend, Ind.) 1913-1938, 1921-08-28
OF BILLY PATTERSON UNFORGIVEN
Day OH0er Patrons Miss Opea-Seep Streets Purchase Tickets

Of the builder OF the theater He booked what he be-
eved were good attractions and he enjoyed them. II
the heater suffered loss for reason another
Nj Oliver would foot the loss and say nothing contenti
the enjoyed seeing performance II
South Bend citizens wanted to avail themselves OF
opportunity TO witness either a good play or good
musical comedy, good I otherwise.
1t was also well and good with Mr. Oliver.
Whenever Mr.. oliver heard Of a good play IN New
York else where. he would go and get It. The thea
tergoers the city were welcome 70 attend the per-
formances at the low cost Of Al saat IN tbe o.rbestra
or Sc for box, the box containing six seats.
CANIPED ALL NIGHT TO GET SEATS.
Through the attractions booked by Mr. oliver the
theater became famous only in South Bend but
elsewhere as we'll although not more than two attrac
tons month secured during the early days Of
the playhouse The builder preferred good attractions
in fewer numbers to poor in larger number.
And was the theater popular among South Benders?
Listen! When and women bring their bedding and
sleep out the pavement all night that they will be
the opening the theater ticket office
o'clock in the morning it is safe TO that the theater
popular.
when men and women will stand in hne. two
deep and half block long for hours and hours some
times from o'clock in the morning until o'clock at
night say that the theater which
they waiting open is popular.
that what they did upon numerous occasions.
nfrequent sight seepers along
the sidewalk in front of the theater men and women
stretched out on bedding brought from home. These
and women not to be cheated by circumstance
from seeing good theatrical attraction They argued
early patron got ticket theater would
hold only many. and those who were not fortunate
enough early, often found themselves late to
standing
From the opening nights. which attended by
brilliant audiences and the performances OF which
given six-coumn reviews in the South Bend
papers the theater began gain national reputation.
Before the opening Oliver the only theater boast
ed by the city Goods opera house the entrance 10
which was where the Oliver hotel cafeteria has its
W. Washington entrance The coming OF the oliver
theater deracted from the patronage Of the little
upstairs theater Washington v.
LIMITED NUMBER OF TICKETS.
The best attractions available secured for the
theater OF leading dramatic operate
that far Chicago appeared at least
night a the Oliver. Owing the high class attrac
tons capacity audiences greeted practically
the popular playhouse, and invariably the
house ticket seller could dispose
of the tickets 10 a performance at the ticket office
opened O'Clock in the morning of the day
the attractions were to appear.
The business OF the theater for many years
nected from the Oliver Chilled Pillow works F. Nip
pold divers secretary, acted for Mr.. Oliver and
infrequent occurrence for booking agent OF
some theatrical company wishing engagement at
the Oliver trudge to the plow works to nego-
with Mr.. Nippod.
The limited capacity OF the house necessitated the
limiting of the number of tickets sold TO any per-
son. The placed tickets, order
to the purchase. the prospective patron of the
theater be line Wealth social influence
had no bearing in the matter. Factory workers. bust
industrial heads, all stood in line. waiting
their turn 10 get the little box office window OF
course those who braved the night and spent hours
sleeping pavement in front of the theater and
adjacent business houses always first in line How
ever these early be deprived of the
privilege of sidewalk sleeping though such sleep