The Kennewick courier-reporter and the White Bluffs spokesman. [volume] (Kennewick, Wash.) 1938-1939, 1938-09-22
Nv Z. l.. STEVENSON

Every night in the year an aver
- more than 5000 New Workers
o. "a visitors to New York are pro-
a;ded with costly entertainment
..;.bor. having to pay admission
..as For these free show stars Of
..ae screen, and radio are en-
s,aved some at five-figure fees. Elk
ppansive studios are maintained and
heaters leased. Radio is the host.
a, tho public has to do. or as much
= the public as can be accommo-
lated, is to obtain tickets. For a
sumber of programs, the demand
!" - heavy ticket requests have to
:. made at least three weeks in
.avance. That has brought a new
lind Of ticket scalping. Spectators.
.s-ouoh various forms of chiseling,
.h,.in ducats and peddle them at
sronn Is cents to dollar each.
rr,,e the tickets bear a warming
.s.inst sale, but that makes no diff
ssrence. For the less popular pro-
Grams. tickets are distributed here
nd there. Since they are free,
.here are always takers.
n the not so far-off days, studio
audiences were limited indeed. Usu-
.lly chairs were provided only for
snonsors and their friends. Occa-
sional visitors. to whom it was de-
erred to show special courtesy. were
admitted. For the general public,
there were barriers. Instead of being
invited to come in and see the show
t,om a comfortable seat, the public
vas invited to stay out. Radio lis
,,oers set eyes on their favorites
mlv when they broadcast in public.
smetimes radio performers were
u,ed to lure trade. It seems but
NV ! short while ago that one OF
- earlier teams filed big res
t,rrant on the nights they broadcast
ANN there. But despite lack OF
Recommendations and other draw
hacks. studio audiences started to
now. Then came the accommoda-
lions.
Ia its quarters in the RCA build
hs. the National Broadcasting COM
many has 10 studios each capable
d seating from a few hundred to
l,so0Eand 1900 seats are far more
than the total in many a Broadway
theater. Pages and ushers are nec-
essary to direct ticket holders to
the proper studios and to keep them
h line. Also to keep them from
smoking. During 1887, the total
number Of show attendants was
7Sl.o37. The number, Of course.
would have been greater, but even
with repeat shows, it was impos-
sible to take care of all who wished
to attend. The repeat shows. most
Of which 60 on late in the evening,
attract as many as do the earlier
shows.
The Columbia Broadcasting COM
pany leases three theaters and
maintains studios for audiences in
The Barbizon Plaza and on the New
Amsterdam roof. Audiences during
The past year totalled approximate
y 100000 persons. In 1885, the
total was 636. 1886 and in 1886. 791 ,687.
That accounts for about 10000 more
agar. Also. there are the various
independent stations with their stu
dos.
Meanderings and meditations: A
long string Of barges slipping slow
y down the Hudson With a
little tug putting Importantly ahead
and another nudging the mid
die barge like collie dog herding
sheep A barefooted girl skip
ping rope on the broad deck Of
scow =. Wash Tapping in the
WIND on the deck of the last in line
'..I envy barge people their life
Sliding through waterways
nom the Great Lakes down to the
yea Ho hurry No fuss
-. Only an occasional worry *.
homes travelling right along with
@em A living earned with
plenty OF time for meditation
heading =. Or to turn out that
aOVei and ever changing seem
~ A big white excursion
eamer hurrying up the river
rags flying gaily An orches-
70 playing dance music All
0ecks crowded =. City prisoners
wt ior day of freedom With
ured homecoming.
e6ell syndicate.-wNU Service.