MATINEE HATS.

Dominion, Volume 4, Issue 951, 19 October 1910, Page 7

MATINEE HATS.

AN ALLEGED ADVERTISEMENT. PRESS AGENT SUES THEATRICAL MANAGER. By Telesraph—Press Association—Copyright, London, October 17. As a sequel to the "big hat" case, cabled in April last, Mr. Daiui,a press agent, -and his wife, sued Mr. Frank Curzou, the theatrical manager, for £152, including Mrs.'Eardley's fees, in pursuance of an agreement.to arrange a big advertisement for . Curzba by creating .the matinee hat incident. The agreement was denied by the defendant. .• '■■"'■■■■ Judgment was •reserved. , THE STORY AS TOLD IN; COUET. At the Bow Street Police Court, Lpidop, on April 15, Mrs. Blanche Eardley, authoress, Drought a summoos for assault against Mr. Frank Curzon, lessee of the Prince of Wales Theatre. Mrs. Eardley said she was a widow and her address was ■ the Ladies' 'Army; and Navy Club'. She. purchased stall-tickets for the Prince of Wales Theatre and went there on April 6, accompanied by a woman friend. . . . "We reached the theatre rather late/', continued Mrs. Eardley, "and we passed in; intending to. take off our hats directly we sat dowji. Almost immediately, and before we had a chance of raisins our hands above our heads; a man sitting behind said very.rudely: 'Take off those ridiculous 'hats.' I. was.'annoyed at his tone, which :was' very offensive. I .turned round and' said:.-' No. '■ A , , moment later the man said: 'Are you going to take off those absurd,hats? , ; By that time I was .very much annoyed, and. I said:-'No; if you had asked me in a proper manner I would have done so, bat now, in retain for your rudeness, 1 absolutely refuse ..to take' off my: hat.' '. '■■-.' ~ '..-.;: .\ •' '-:;.:■'■ ';-: ;;■.".;

. ."The gentleman'-went'out into the corridor, and a';few seconds later, an,attendant . caine. in' and - said:' fWill you: ladaes please come and speak to Mr. Curzon?' We did so, and Mr. Curzon/eaid: 'I mast ask! you to remove yerar hats or leave the theatre.' I replied: "I am very sorry I cannot possibly <io';that; Tpaidjor my stalls to see the "play, and I want to do so.' > ■~.';'■■■'■•:" '']■■)"•':. ,' \ ■■ ..'.■■•■. ;.■■.■■■. '"-'■ ■ "Mr. Curzon skid: Ton caffinot db' that unless you take off your hate.' We stood in- front. of. the: door leadin? to the stalls.: I continued: 'I want to see the play and I want to go back:to my Beat, Piease let me.' -I stepped forward, when Mr. Curzon .put his hand.on'my' arm. andupushed me back;a.couple of : paces. ;I;then gave him my card and told him lie would hear from fmy solicitor and vleft the -theatre."-.■■■■ '.:-\ The'samo eyenang, : .added Mrs.Eardley, the. money She'had: paid, for the stalls was sent, on- to her ,at the club,; but she'eent .it back. ; ■ ..' "■""■.:: '.'.■ '■'■■ '■■ '■'/■'■ :: ':-%' ' •"Mγ.' , Curzon denied iaving touched' Mrs. Bardley. ; : :. v':.-a^ ; y; : '■ -.' :, : !'; • . The magistrate;, said, that people, who i'took■■■'seats l " m'. theatres 'must benave as leasonable beings. 1 ; H<i, thought l Mi - .; Curzon had acted in-aii;admirable .manner and- did everything a gentleman ought to have.done. He dismissed, the' summons with five,guineas'.costs. - •. .■ ~;. _ ■,;