Bowl Double Standards?

Re “Tradition’s Still Mainstay of Sixth Mariachi USA” (Calendar, June 26): After traveling 85 miles and spending $250 on two box seats and $15 for parking, we were not allowed to take in a six-pack of soda pop with our picnic basket.

It seems to me that whenever there are TV news segments covering the L.A. Philharmonic Orchestra or the Playboy Jazz Festival, the patrons seem to be having a great time picnicking with their champagne and other beverages.

Are we all being treated equally at this county-owned facility? The search of our picnic basket was done more aggressively than a U.S. Customs border-crossing inspection.

PAUL RENTERIA

Phelan

The packed Hollywood Bowl Mariachi USA concert June 24 combined great mariachi music with a scene at the entrance to make anyone’s blood boil. Ticketmaster failed to provide its customers the warnings that those who purchased tickets directly from the Bowl received. As a result, the unwarned who arrived carrying picnic containers and/or coolers larger than 15 inches wide by 15 inches high and 22 inches long had them confiscated until after the show.

All containers were opened and searched. The policewoman who opened our two coolers made my daughter remove the caps from two sealed bottles of mineral water and throw the caps away.

If all concert-goers received these same warnings, it would be more understandable, but many of these warnings and harsh treatment were unique to this particular concert, undoubtedly because it attracted a largely Latino audience.

I found these restrictions and searches extremely demeaning and insulting. Furthermore, the Bowl did not receive $4 from this Irish lady for one of its paper cups of warm beer.

PAT GREUTERT

Pasadena