Those Ticket Prices

When I placed a telephone order May 15 for four $50 tickets for “Aida,” the order taker at a major ticket agency knew enough at that date to state that if the show were cancelled, handling charges of $23.50 would be retained. Less than 12 hours later, the cancellation of the operatic spectacular at the Los Angeles Coliseum was announced.

Let’s say 5,000 tickets sold, each with an additional fee of about $6. Six times 5,000 equals $30,000: a good deal for someone?

DR. MARTHE BROWN

Malibu