New-York tribune., 1922-12-25
ziegfeld Offers
Counter-PlanOn
Theater Tickets
Solution in Selling
20 ONLY at Box Offices on
S;r,i. Come First Served
p..is: Hits at Scalpers
alsency Is Impractical"
,.hl.ne's Proposal for Cen
,,,I Office WOuldn't
Work. Says the Producer

-,,s ziegfsld jr. in statement
.,hlic yesterday again stresses
~ .,,,ios 70 the establishment Of
w,,S.,ed ticket agency as pro-
IA. LEBLANC, and offers sug-
~ p his own which, he feels.
efis.s. IN . solution Of the ticket
III pro''a'
grefieiA. that theaters discon-
he l.,lings with all ticket agen-
rnas .n.,rSinr eut-rsts dealers; that
tes, \. I'D AZ box Offices on first
rekeD " ssred basis and that al
sore.a.s a the Producing Managers
uenpss I've bond, 70 be forfeltC
At'osa'.ss ,sv violation Of the agree
y s.l. l...,o,rd.ss = the handling Of tickets.
Saws Fisn Is lmpraeticaele
z,,es,h describes the central
,-~sey plan as utterly imprac-
tetet Vs refers 70 spectators "a
,e..i.,, ,e.si of the theater." His state
~ ~ recently published statement
g,.,t;on 70 the proposed arrange
n the Producing Managers As
..eiftiO1 for cchtint NSAtN N'.NS no.
s..-~l. forth considerable criticism
80 several members Of that body.
psr,snsl feeling should not enter into
~,,,er Of such grave imortaneo both
- theaters and the public: l am
..,osed 70 nothing that would be Of
.r,ss 70 either. ! an heartily N
,,,sy of ANYTHING that viii really I'M
-, -, sbe prevailing conditions gov
.i,r the sale Of theater tickets.
y .s eager 20 give my aid in this
E,.,fion as any member Of the Pro-
:-,lrg Managers Association.
eVbep this matter was brought up
= ,is association could not be pres
=. Al the meeting, but had been l
y,oN have expressed myself Just as
a,orrly IN disfavor Of q central ticket
,S,eas do now. Certain members Of
"A, association are opposed 70 ticket
,,,,uletion and others 70 the sale Of
st.rste tickets. These by-produets Of
4, shsater are regarded by some as
Ultimate. But / consider them both
,,rs,itss Of the theater. The ticket
,vpeies that charge only so cents ad-
r,sss over ~ box Office price Of a
.',kst are an asset 20 the theater as
w1 s great convenience 70 the
is,tsr-roing public They are by no
r,trs 10 be c. ssed with the mulcting,
sserupuloUs ticket spectators.
Demand Fixes the Price
lam ready at any time, as my past
,sorts prove, 20 fight for the benefit OF
h, public against this evil. Theater
,tkets are public commodities, and as
ush are liable 70 fluctuations in value,
Tasjss. 70 the law Of demand and sup
by. TIE theatergoer always clamors TO
sasni successful production, and at
anss h, will pay an exorbitant price
fsr ticket. In doing so he fixes the
price Of the ticket. Most Of the com
tlains that are made come from per
sons who cannot secure what they
lssire, though willing 10 pay any price
q grntify their desires. There are not
fsheient theatergoers who will pay
be price at cut-rate ticket ofhees 20
lscp a theatrical failure running. Still
here are many others who are paying
lvarced prices 20 witness perform
nces OF successes now in the second
ear Of their metropolitan run.
after thoroughly considering the ar
.n0euent Of n central ticket Office pro-
osed by the Producing Managers As
ociation. and with the full belief that
ne plan now offered is utterly i'm
ractical, offer the following sugges-
ons:
al. Make every box office Of every
heater its own central Office.
90. Eliminate dealing with sll agen-
aS. stop all sales Of tickets to cut
ate dealers.
u. Place every ticket on sale at the
,ox Office Of each thester, every pur-
haser who comes 20 the box Office 70 be
,Iven choice Of available locations,
ieket sellers refusing sale to any
psrson known by them as 'diggers IN
,ollusion with ticket spectators and
agencies,
g. Each and every member OF the
Producing Managers Association 70 give
. Guaranteed bond Of $4,000, 20 be
yessed with the treasurer Of the Pro
tuslng Managers Association, and TO
bs forfeited 20 that association upon
VIoa that any OF the articles Of such
a. sptement has been Violated BY one
e n Members in any way.
Win Practice Own Plan
y believe If the above suggestions
we're carried into effect they would
bring more theatergoers 70 the bsleo-
tss, save the enormous expense OF
establishing a central ticket Office, and
it1Esy with 'gypping spectators, buy
tss and the return Of unsold tickets
!, he box oflce az the last moment.
Issi every theater owner and producer
WI be placed on an equal level and
a. equal chance be given all.
Moreover. irrespective Of the
Nihes or policy Of the Managers As
ptittion, the main features Of the
n've plan will be put into operation
sssFihg the engagement Of Billie
Burke in Rose Briar' at tho Empire
iesater. With the cooperation OF the
s'arles Frohman Company, and with
Sihe Burke and the play Rose Briar'
q an example, am glad OF the op-
eH1nity 10 demonstrate 70 the pub
y and the Managers Association that
hssiers and attractions properly and
mi conducted need no outside aid