Atlanta tri-weekly journal. [volume] (Atlanta, Ga.) 1920-19??, 1924-01-01
BROADWAY PALACES READY
TO LEVY TOLL OF $lO,OOO,O0O
ON NEW YEAR CELEBRANTS
Theaters and Restaurants
Raise Prices to Sky and
Dry Forces Admit VoIStead
Act Is in for Haunting
BIZ ROBERT T. SMALL
(Leased Wire Service to The Journal
DOWNRIGHT. 1923

(Leased Wire Service to The Journal)
Copyright 1929
NEW YORK, Dec 9S.-New
York is preparing for a S10,000,000
celebration of New Years eve.
From the preparations that are be-
ing made it is apparent the merry
making will surpass anything seen
in the city before. Tn emyriad boot
ieggers report their busiest season
and the promise of q liquid evening
is everywhere in the air. Prohibi-
ton agents admit their forces are
entirely Inadequate to cope with the
tens of thousands wko will be on
pleasure bent. The Volstead act
promises to be in for such d flaunt.
ing as it has never known before.
And the cost of it all is the ar1az.
ing thing. Apparently nothing stag
gers New York nowadays, nor does
it deter the populace Of the hinter-
land from flocling into the rnetropo-
lis TO pay the outrageous prices that
are DSlnS QenlanQGQ.
Mr.. Ziegfeld is celebrating New
Years eve by bringing. into town
one of his newest productions,
which has been playing several
weeks on the road at $3 and 81 a
seat. All that Mr.. zingfeld is going
to charge the poor benighted New
Yorker and his "sweetie" is SIG. so
seat. Fred Stone, the missionary
actor, who has been playing Step
ping Stones" at $3.50 a seat, has
determined that the foolish virgins
and Others who are going out to
make night of it next Monday
shall pay $11 apiece TO come to his
theater before they go on to the
restaurants where the real gougirg
begins.
Theaters Levy Toll
Altogether, forty-two theaters
have announced prices that are
doubled or more for New Years
eve. When the managers are asked
why they have taken such drastic
steps to shake down the populace
they shrug their Shoulders and say
simply because they can get the
money and the public likes it.
The celebration of New Years
eve in the modern manner is a, lux
ury if ever there was one. Money
apparently counts for nothing, and
there is no one to blame the restau.
rant keepers and the theatrical pro-
ducers for getting all they can out
of the 'boobs" and ''goofs" who are
out to make a splurge.
The restaurants and the road
houses about the city are charging
anywhere from SO a person up for
supper and dancing" But this is
by no means an inclusive charge.
Every bottle of mineral water or
ginger ale that is served at a table
will cost anywhere from 81 upward.
The bonifaces are not dumb. They
know very we'll that the water and
the gingerale is merely ordered to
serve as an adjunct to the thousands
of gallons of liquor that is in for
consumption as 1924 steps out into
disordered world. And so the pro-
prietors will more than make up in
water charges for what they once
received for wines and liquors. In
other words, the diners-out next
Monday will be paying for water eX,
actly the price they once paid for
champagne.
SO Supper to Cos. SEQ
At the rates they are charging
some of the road houses ought to
pay off the mortgage with the pro
ceeds of this one evening. They
will serve supper which usually
would retail for about 81 a plate.
They Will furnish souvenirs, rattles
and Ounce caps-oh, they are going
in strong for Ounce caps this year
at cost of about so cents per per
son. The rest will be profit.
At every table where drinks will
be served during the long winters
evening it is figured that supper and
water and other little extras will
cost each person at least $40 to $25.
This is of course provided you bring
your own. If you have not been
forehanded and have to make a deal
with the waiter or the maitre d'hotel
there is no telling where the ex-
pendtiures will end. Probably not
within $50 per person.