THEATRE METHODS.

Evening Star, Issue 19351, 10 September 1926, Page 2

THEATRE METHODS.

TO TUE EDITOR. Sir, —In the letter written by OJH.B. in your correspondence columns of Thursday’s 1 Star ’ he refers to methods adopted by the managements of our picture theatres. 1 have been a victim of one of tho acts stated by the writer, and denied by a picture theatre manager in his statements in your footnote m which he says “ every seat rot genuinely reserved is for sale.” A short time ago I, accompanied by my wife and a friend;, paid for stall seats at a picture theatre, and entered only to find all “ unreserved seats ” full. I returned to the tickeLbox, got back my money, and wont out. Wo decided to try to reserve downstairs, and after ringing straight away from tho slot opposite the theatre wc wore given good seats that wore a few moments previously “ genuinely reserved ” (using the manager’s own statement). Is that “ any seat not booked being on sale to the public”? In my opinion it was on sale to tho public all right, but not an ordinary stall seat; it was one of many held over to the last minute for reserves. Another proof of this is as follows: —Wc again visited this theatre, and not getting a seat (except behind tho posts) I again demanded my money back, and was told by the attendant in the ticket-box that “ I could pay extra and get an unclaimed reserve!” Yes, an “unclaimed reserve ” sounded very unlikely at tho opening of the theatre at 7 o’clock. I think it is the opinion of many patrons of this theatre that there are a good many “unclaimed reserves.” Perhaps this is not the case with all tho theatres, hut some other that is genuine will receive my patronage after this.—l am, etc., Once Bitten, Twice Shy. September 9.