Rowdy Sydney Youths

Hutt News, Volume 20, Issue 44, 30 April 1947, Page 11

Rowdy Sydney Youths

lUSTI'ItIIANCES IN THEATRES ACTION TAKEN BY MANAGERS Novel means to combat rowdyism in suburban theatres were adopted bj r :i HoytM manager when lie arranged ' for a photographer to take a flash- ' light of youths who had given eon ' stain trouble, says a Sydney paper. 1 | Police were in attendance at the time. They shone torches on the 1 youths, and the photographer then ' Hashed hi" hull). 1 The photographs were shown to ; the youths later and they were warned not to enter the theatre again. Copies have been circulated among the theatre staff, so that they can recognise the banned patrons. Suburban managers say that the rough element has been creating trouble recently in a manner reminiscent of the worst of the war period, except that vandalism has not been present to the same extent. j

"Louts With Long Hair" One described the youths as "local Bondi louts with long hair." Mostly te< n-agers. they have received a press build-up" in past weeks

because they wear their hair long in Cornel Wilde style. This flatters their ego and encourages them to Seek greater notoriety. In the theatres they have been admonished by the managements for stripping to :he waist on hot summer nights. 1 hey interrupt the show with cat-calls and noisy talk. Be-I haviour ol their pirl friends is as bad, managers say. The (lash-light stunt has proved the most effective way of overcoming 'he trouble, and is part of a general clean-up campaign to control audience behaviour with strict measures.