Buying Tickets In The Mail In The Old Days

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 2:43pm

As a kid I remember Broadway show commercials with mailing addresses for tickets. How exactly did that work? You send them money and they send you tickets. Did you get any say as to where you sat? Were people less entitled and complainy then? I just don't see how that would work out at all. 

[Babe_Williams]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 2:53pm

They didn't only do this for broadway shows, they also did this for musical concerts. I'm curious about the logistics as well. It seems so quaint to stick some money and a SASE in the mail.

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 3:26pm

It was generally a check, not cash.  For sports tickets you could pick a price level and they supposedly sent you "best available" for that level

[Esther2]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 4:21pm

You sent a check (or for some events, like the World Series, you had to send a money order or cashier's check) for the amount that the seats you were interested in cost.  They would send you what they wanted to send you and you'd go and sit in those seats.  And it was wonderful because you'd be seeing shows, and concerts, and the World Series! 

It does seem so old-fashioned in this day and age.  Because it is.  But, there were no ticket fees. At least I don't remember any. 

[couldbnwouldbn]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 4:56pm

We used to do mail order tickets all the time since we lived in Philadelphia and it wasn't convenient to drive to New York to go to the box office.  The last shows that I remember doing mail order for was Sunset Boulevard and Victor Victoria.  You would check the listings in the Theater Directory in the Sunday New York Times and each show would list a mail order address for the theater.  They would ask you to list alternate dates you wanted to see the show and the section you wanted to sit in. You didn't get to choose a row or specific seat.  You would make the check out payable to the theater for the amount of the tickets, no extra fees and mail it in.  It would usually take a few weeks to get your tickets back.  This was always based upon availability and on a few occasions we would get a note back along with the check saying the dates we requested were sold out.  It wasn't convenient like it is today, but it was the only way back then.  If it was a show we just had to see and couldn't miss, we would do the drive up to New York to go to the box office.  We had to do that 6 times to finally see Liza in The Act because she missed a few shows that we had tickets for and had to keep exchanging them.  I have a picture of the listings from back when Victor/Victoria was still accepting mail orders, just don't know how to post it here.  I still keep all the old New York times print ad's, love to look at the listings and full page color photos from old days.

[Wick3]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 5:03pm

Was there a toll-free number one can call to buy a ticket back then? I remember long distance calls (calls made to another area code) can be pricey. 

[morosco]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 7:11pm

Back in the mail order days print advertisements would usually have a short line describing how to order by mail (and a reminder to include a self addressed envelope).

Many shows published a full size order form in their ads or flyers. See example below.

[Sutton Ross]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 8:54pm

That is wild and very cool to see that. Thanks!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/18/21 at 10:42pm

...and this is why I can't understand all the fuss and feathers about "good seats" today. I am used to getting whatever was sent to me and I was thankful for it.

[kade.ivy]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 12:02am

Can we take a moment to appreciate that the top ticket price for Hello, Dolly! on tour in 1966 was $9, which inflates to around $75 today? One would be lucky to find a rear mezz seat to a non-hit show for that price today, eh?

[LizzieCurry]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 1:24am

Dollypop said: "...and this is why I can't understand all the fuss and feathers about "good seats" today. I am used to getting whatever was sent to me and I was thankful for it."

Because that hasn't been a lot of people's realities — at least among those who post here. That's what's worked for you, but for people who are used to being able to be more specific, that's how they move through life. (I grew up with 12 channels on the TV, but I understand wanting more, and it's nice to have more now.)

[tmdonahue]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 9:13am

For my first trip to NYC, I wanted to see "A Chorus Line," which had recently opened and was firmly SRO.  My boyfriend--later husband--who had lived earlier in New York for six years, said, send a letter to the BO asking  for standing room, include a check and an SASE.  Got the ticket!  I was in my twenties and healthy so standing wasn't a problem.  I remember the first time the  periaktoi revolved, showing the mirrors, and the sound design upped the horns...I just about wet my pants.  What an exciting intro to Broadway.

[Phantom4ever]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 12:45pm

I remember my first trip to Broadway, you could either mail in a ticket request or call. I called about Phantom tix and the operator offered me front row seats. I never thought to ask if they were front center or front extreme side  and she didnt' explain so for months I was so excited and expecting to be front and center for Phantom and then I get there and I'm all the way at the end of the row and I had a terrible view. Lesson learned!

[Bettyboy72]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 12:54pm

Phantom4ever said: "I remember my first trip to Broadway, you could either mail in a ticket request or call. I called about Phantom tix and the operator offered me front row seats. I never thought to ask if they were front center or front extreme side and she didnt' explain so for months I was so excited and expecting to be front and center for Phantom and then I get there and I'm all the way at the end of the row and I had a terrible view. Lesson learned!"

I had the exact same experience at Miss Saigon. I was such a rube new to theatre and couldn’t believe my luck of front row. I jumped at the chance to sit front row. I left with an injured neck and missed 1/3 of the action. 
 

That event led me to be the annoying consumer who asks the box office staff, “how high is the stage?”

I guess with mail in someone would get those seats and be SOL. 

Updated On: 5/19/21 at 12:54 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 2:32pm

kade.ivy said: "Can we take a moment to appreciate that the top ticket price for Hello, Dolly! on tour in 1966 was $9, which inflates to around $75 today? One would be lucky to find a rear mezz seat to a non-hit show for that price today, eh? "

My mother and I were in the Opening Night audience of HELLO, DOLLY! on Broadway. When sat 6th row center in the orchestra. I still have the ticket stubs. They were $9.90.

I was also in the audience for the closing performance (12/27/70). The seats were a bit further back in the orchestra section and they cost $7.50.

Updated On: 5/19/21 at 02:32 PM

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 2:42pm

Wick3 said: "Was there a toll-free number one can call to buy a ticket back then? I remember long distance calls (calls made to another area code) can bepricey."

I don't think toll-free numbers existed at that time. Whenever I needed to call the box office, I'd arm myself with a bunch of change and head to the local pharmacy after school and call from the phone booth there. I'm trying to think whether it was an operator assisted call or whether I could dial directly but I can't recall. It was definitely a rotary phone, though...and the pharmacy always smelled so good!

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 2:48pm

LizzieCurry said: "Dollypop said: "...and this is why I can't understand all the fuss and feathers about "good seats" today. I am used to getting whatever was sent to me and I was thankful for it."

Because that hasn't been a lot of people's realities — at least among those who post here. That's what's worked for you, but for people who are used to being able to be more specific, that's how they move through life. (I grew up with 12 channels on the TV, but I understand wanting more, and it's nice to have more now.)"

 

I had less than 12 channels on TV in my younger years. That may explain why I rarely go beyond Channel 13.

 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 2:53pm

During the late 1970's and 1980's (and early 90's)? if you did not want to do mail order or go to the theatre, you could also go to a Telecharge outlet (they were usually located either in a record store, like Sam Goody's, or in shopping malls) and someone with a computer hooked up to the Telecharge system could tell you where the seats would be located before you paid for them.  .Also don't forget -- until fairly recently they still had HUGE lines at theatre box offices the day after a big hit would open.  For The Producers, the line was so long that they had to split it up and open up a second box office at a theatre that wasn't in use (perhaps the Broadhurst or the Booth)?

Updated On: 5/19/21 at 02:53 PM

[nealb1]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 5:19pm

I remember it well.  When tickets first went on sale for "Miss Saigon," it was all through the mail.  I filled out the form from the newspaper, put my dates in that I wanted to see the show, and mailed it in with my check.  Saw the show twice the first week of May 1991.  Had my tickets for over 1 year before seeing it.  Then when the show was cancelled, I never sent my tickets back in.  I held on to them.  There was no way that the largest advance ticket sale of Broadway show wasn't going to be saved.  And, it was.  

[morosco]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 5:40pm

Was there a toll-free number one can call to buy a ticket back then?

I don't think so. Probably because credit and debit cards weren't very common back then.

[Jaxson2]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 9:14pm

Bettyboy72 said: "As a kid I remember Broadway show commercials with mailing addresses for tickets. How exactly did that work? You send them money and they send you tickets. Did you get any say as to where you sat? Were people less entitled and complainy then? I just don't see how that would work out at all."

It wasn't that complicated. I saw JC Superstar that way. You mailed a letter with a check. I stated that I wanted seats between row C and H center orchestra.   I'd give a range of dates like May - June and I'd specify day restrictions or that any day and time was okay.  They did answer the phone back then to verify if a date range was possible.

Then they'd send the tickets within a week.  I don't like mobile ticketing b/c I like to save tkts from shows I attended.

[Jaxson2]

Posted: 5/19/21 at 9:16pm

Wick3 said: "Was there a toll-free number one can call to buy a ticket back then? I remember long distance calls (calls made to another area code) can bepricey."

There was no toll free. That 800 number service was available in the 70s and 80, but you would call the specific theater in 212 area code. They answered the phone then, but did not sell tix over phone.

[Dollypop]

Posted: 5/20/21 at 1:28pm

I remember when a Telecharge booth opened at Macy's at the Walt Whitman Mall in Huntington (Long Island) NY. It was located at the store's main entrance in the mall and had marquee lights surrounding it to make it look like "Broadway". There were also Playbills there from almost every Broadway show that was running at the time. The mall was a good 45-50 minute drive from my home so I didn't go there very often.

Does anyone here remember the "twofers" that were available in schools and libraries?

[Rainbowhigh23]

Posted: 5/20/21 at 1:49pm

I remember in 1989, when Phantom on a Saturday night was sold out a year in advance, one of the RAs in our dorm claimed to have tickets. She got a group from the dorm to go down to the Majestic with her on a Saturday night but when they got there they saw that she had only the twofer slips. Of course there was nothing available at the box office and the group came back very angry!