PICTURE THEATRE SEATS.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXVI, Issue 20363, 18 September 1929, Page 14

PICTURE THEATRE SEATS.

Sir, —May I draw attention to the unfair treatment, meted out to patrons of picture theatres? The prices advertised arc from Is 6d up. Wo live some miles out of the town, and having a family of four can only afford Is 6d for seats. Arrived nt the theatre we take our places in the queue, and before we reach the ticket oAire, after having waited half an hour or more, find a notice being put up: "Front stalls full." Next price, 2s 9d. Being a party of four or five, the extra charge is lioyond us, so we hopefully try another theatre. Again we take outplaces in a queue, and before we get near the window, up goes the sign: "Front stalls full." So we are obliged to return home. This has also frequently happened to numbers of my friends. Good luck to the management if they can fill their theatres at 2s 9d and more. But do they? No, certainly not—except, perhaps, on Saturday nights. One night last week we managed to get some Is 6d seat s nt a city theatre. All the first row had the reserved signal on board, so we had to take scats near the screen, During the whole evening the allegedly res-rvod seats remained empty, with the exception of about six late-comers. Also, a whole section of 2s 9d seats in the stalls were empty. Now is this giving the public a fair deal? In any case the front stalls are ho near the screen that the picture is out of focus, and even a shilling is too much for this neck-breaking performance and is most injurious to the eye;;. A number of people not wishing to Income cross-eyed and stiff-necked pay the extra 3s 3d, and are duly ushered in'o seats in the stalls further back, and though they express a wish to sit iti Seats where there is no one blocking the view (and I before mentioned there were dozens empty), they_are told promptly and firmly that they must sit where they are told. So they meekly sit. Again I ask, is this giving the public who supporL (he theatres a square, deal ? The Mother of Fovr.