Article February 23, 1981 Issue

The Broadway barker

David M. Wilson

"Show time—ten minutes! Ten minutes to show time!" Roy announced to the crowd hurrying by the theater. "Nine minutes to show time! Show time in nine minutes! Step right up and get your tickets before the show begins!" he called out.

Roy enjoyed his job as a Broadway barker. Many people were enticed by his announcements. Some stopped and studied the movie advertisements, then stepped forward and bought tickets for the show.

Yet, day after day, within fifteen minutes after the show started, some people who had just purchased tickets and entered the theater got up and walked out. The first few times it was rather amusing to Roy. He began to see, however, that the ticket buyers lured by his announcements were not always acting in their own best interest. They'd been manipulated and had wasted time and money.

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