EARLY DOORS

Dominion, Volume 7, Issue 2153, 20 May 1914, Page 8

EARLY DOORS

CHECKING AN ABUSE. At the last City Council meeting, Councillor W. H. I'. Barber, who happens to bo chairman of the Wellington Opera He-use Company, moved that a by-law bo drafted compelling lessees and hirers of theatres, hails, etc., to open tho doors to the public at least half an hour before the entertainment is limed to start. Tiro council favoured the proposal, and on Friday next the By-Laws Committee of tho council wili interest themselves in ilie framing of tho now by-law. The abuse to bo checked by the by-law in question is -that known as "early doors"—an abuse which has grown gradually from beginnings, At one time tliero was. 110 such thing as early doors, a means to squeeze an extra sixpence or shilling out of patrons. It was "first come, first served," as it is still in London to-4»y. Tinder the: objectionable system which lias grown up in tho business, ft person may wajt at tho theatre entrance for a couple of hours before tho perfenntmce commences, and when tho lato doors aro opened rushes inside to find all ths best, seats occupied by those wlw have paid the extra money. At first tho early doors used to opo-i at 7 p.m., and the lato doors n quarter of an hour later: then the late doors wore kept closed until 7.30 p.m., to allow of a little snore time for the application of the- sqifee®?. During tho last year or two some of the visiting managements have hung on to the early doors until 8.45 p.m._. though tliero is a crowd waiting; admission at tho late door. Indeed the rule is tlwt tho bigger tho crowd at the late door tho longer should the early door be kept open, as there aro all the njoro to tempt with comfortable seats at a minimum of discomfort, in getting into them, There have been occasions when the lato door people who have perhaps waited iu a queue for an. hour have fotind every seat occupied Uy people who have paid the early door f«e, Councillor Barber's action is directed against sneh methods, and will be appreciated by til© general play-going public.