Articles and announcements on the cost of theatre tickets and the working class

“There is general complaint among the theatres that the recent panic has injured business, but among the amusement-loving public there is an equally general complaint that a large body of the people are practically excluded from first class entertainments by the high prices for admission and reserved seats. There is a want in this city of a first class theatre giving first class entertainments at prices within the means of everybody. The clerks in downtown stores, mechanics, laboring men and small traders are nearly all prevented from seeing performances such as they would desire simply because they cannot afford the luxury of a night at the theatre. Just now this class, which is a very large one—in fact, the largest in the city—is not to be counted among the patrons of our theatres. If a manager could be found who would cater for these people, giving them entertainments as perfect in every respect as entertainments are now given in most of our places of amusement, he would build up for himself a class of patrons not drawn at all from the regular theatre-goers of the metropolis, but even more numerous, and, because of numbers, much more profitable. We have no suggestion to make to any of our theatres on the subject further than to point out the fact, as we have already done, that a vast majority of our people are practically excluded from all first class places of amusement. The prices may be necessary to the success of the theatres generally, owing to the large salaries obtained by artists and the enormous expense attendant upon giving public representations; but the effect is to exclude a large amusement-loving class. The prices necessary to the theatres are too high for the general mass of the people. Are there not one or more theatres in New York large enough to supply this class with amusements at prices which all can afford to pay? We believe such an enterprise would prove emmently [sic] practicable and successful, simply because it would be immensely popular. It is a common argument among theatrical managers that they must give the people what the people want. That which the great body of the people most want is low prices. All that we can say on the subject is a reiteration of this one truism. Believing that a first class theatre adopting the policy of popular prices and bringing out that immense multitude which at present cannot afford an evening at the play would prove an immense success, we ask, who is there among our managers willing to make the experiment? Though we think the manager who could respond would find it immensely to his interest to secure this excluded class of patrons, it is in behalf of the people that we ask this question. A man receiving an ordinary salary who desires to take his wife to the theatre once a week is compelled to pay a whole day’s wages for the evening’s enjoyment. There is no theatre in the city affording entertainments satisfactory to an intelligent man so circumstanced at a price which he can afford. It is the battle of such men that we are fighting, and we hope our argument may have the effect of pointing out to some of our managers that there is in this city an element capable of supporting a popular theatre doing everything in the best manner at popular prices.”

“It has been felt for some time that the prices of admission at our leading theatres are higher than they should be. The fact has been recognised [sic] by Mr. Daly, who announces ‘the resumption of specie prices’ at the Grand Opera House, where hereafter the general admission will be half a dollar, reserved seats half a dollar extra. Such a plan, we believe, was once before tried at this theatre, and afterwards abandoned.”

“Mr. Daly has adopted a suggestion of the Herald and determined to make the Grand Opera House a first class theatre at low prices. Last night was the first evening under the new rule, and the house was a large one.”

“As we predicted before the prices were lowered at any of the theatres, the adoption of the Herald's suggestion has brought out a class of theatre goers who before were practically debarred from places of amusement.”

“Mr. Augstin Daly, in his two theatres, has been the first to recognise [sic] the recent increased value of currency and its approximation to a gold value. He has lowered the prices of admission at the Grand Opera House and Broadway Theatre, where a secured seat can now be obtained for one dollar, the general admission being fifty cents. We understand that the result has been most satisfactory. The two houses have been crowded for the last few nights, and it is noticed that the audience includes an increased proportion of ladies and children. A man who at the high rates can only selfishly take himself to the theatre, under the new system may invite his wife, his children and even, as has been suggested, his much-abused mother-in-law—to say nothing of the country cousins.

The example of the Broadway and Eighth avenue Theatres will be followed, we are informed, at the Olympic and probably at other theatres. It would not be a bad idea, on his return to the city, for Salvini to boldly appeal to the popular taste by appearing before the public at prices within the general reach of the average play-goer. This great artist has the one touch of nature which makes the whole world kin; and despite the disadvantages of a foreign language, we think he would in another theatre than the Academy of Music, and especially in Shakespearean plays, prove a great popular attraction.” Notes that a lecture series has also reduced prices.

“Reduction of Prices.—Augustin Daly has taken the initiative step in the reduction of the prices of admission to our theatres. At the Grand Opera-house the prices of admission have been placed at the following standard: Admission to all parts of the house except the gallery, fifty cents; reserved chairs in the orchestra and parquet circle, fifty cents extra; family circle, forty cents. With such liberal tariff we think the Opera-house ought to prove much more successful than it has hitherto been.”

“‘Round the Clock’ has been running a week at the Grand Opera House to good houses…So far ‘specie prices’ have proved excellent policy, especially as in the present hard times many persons are able to see performances from which they would otherwise be debarred.”