Laurel outlook., 1945-08-29
Lights Of NewXork
by L. L. STEVENSON

One of the problems of the New
York theater is latecomers. Th'
| usual curtain time is $40. 1t sci
iom goes up at the time advertised
The delay ranges from to Is min
utes. Yet no matter how long it i!
held, there are always those wht
come in after the first act is wei
| along. That is true with hit show:
as well as those not in that class
The assumption would be that those
who pay $500 or even $4.8O for g
seat would want to occupy it as long
as possible. The reverse seems tc
be true-the higher priced seats are
not filled nearly as quickly as those
that cost less. Attempts have been
made to cure tardiness by not seat
ing late arrivals until the end of a
scene. That merely means a rush
period for the ushers. 1t also means
lot of confusion in the back of the
theater to the consequent discomfort
of those in the rear seats.
It may be only imagination on the
part of one who likes to be in his
seat long enough before the curtain
rises so he can read the cast and
the scenes, but it seems as though
the late corners always have seats
well down in front and in the middle
of row. Thus lot of people have
to arise and have their toes
trampled-which of course discom-
modes them and in turn discom-
modes those behind because their
view is shut off. By the time the
tardy ones have settled down and the
actors can again be seen and heard,
the illusion is completely dispelled.
The worst of it is that those who
cause the trouble do not seem to
care at all. In too many instances,
instead of sneaking in quietly, they
enter with clatter of conversation
which does not always die out after
they have been seated.
Late pests are bad enough on ordi-
nary nights. They are still worse on
opening nights. A lot of New York
ers, it seems, attend theater first
nights not to see but to be seen. One
of the surest ways to attract atten-
tion is to barge down the aisle after
the lights have been dimmed and
the opening lines spoken. Naturally
heads turn in the direction of the
intruders and naturally there is a
question as to their identity. If they
happen to be celebrities, or even
some erstwhile movie stars, names
are Tipped about the theater and the
people on the stage are thus forced
to carry on against unfair competi-
ton. AS for those who have come
because they are interested in the
play, they don't seem to count at
all. Members of 'Cafe society" add
to the general delight by greeting
friends on their way to their seats
1r by arising and calling to them !
after they have been seated.
Another grievance against late |
,omers is that as they grope their
way along the row, they knock hats
rom the racks under the seats or
,ause the owner to do the same
hing. There is no difference in re-
ults in either case-the owner has
O paw around until he finds his
leadgear and all too often, it has
,een kicked about until it has to go
o the cleaners. That's an item in it.
elf. Hat cleaners have imposed
0 per cent tax on their patrons.
hat is, while it used to cost so cents
o have a hat cleaned, the charge
5 now IS cents. I'm still in favor
f a collapsible hat that can be
nrust into the coat pocket when not
eing worn. Not only would it
scape damage in the theater but
nere is also the matter of check
1g and in New York, the cost of
hecking ones lid night after night
uns into real money.
Other than sheer exhibitionism,
ne of the reasons for late theater
rivals is New York's dining habits.
ew Workers who frequent the
mart spots like to linger over their
ocktails. That of course means that
ley start their dinners late. Some
otels and restaurants have a spe-
al theater service, the diner tell
G the name of the play which he
to see and the dinner being
,eeded up in accordance with
e curtain time. But New Workers
Se to linger over their food just as
ey do over their drinks. And it
,esn't seem to make any differ
ice at all if they do miss most of
first act, no matter what they may
I'VE paid for their tickets-or how
uch discomfort they cause others.
Traffic conditions are another
use of theater lateness. With war
ne restrictions on the gasoline sup
', private cars are not used for
eater going. Those who can afford
sh-priced seats as rule do not