B'way fears photo hurts biz
League to counter terrorism snapshot with B'way project
In Tuesday's issue of the Times, the front page carried a color shot of three cops with automatic rifles, standing in front of the TKTS booth. James Estrin's three-column photo illustrated an article on the Bush administration's guidelines on preparation for a terrorist attack.
The theater community was horrified that Estrin had chosen to photograph the armed cops, who patrol the Times Square area, in front of this much-revered Broadway symbol.
Worse, the photo showed no one standing in line at the discount-ticket booth to buy tix.
Timing questioned
"It was taken before the booth was open," said Catie Marshall, director of communications for Times Square BID.
David LeShay, spokesman for the Theater Development Fund, which runs the booth, called it "a powerful image of the heightened security measures." Compliments aside, he went on to say that the photo "can leave the impression that there was no activity at TKTS." LeShay said the booth did "normal" business that day.
The League of American Theaters and Producers immediately went into damage-control mode, issuing a mass email to ask legit publicist and producers for photo-op suggestions.
No formal complaint
Producers may have been outraged -- "we should withhold our advertising!" said one -- but the league lodged no formal complaint with the Times.
"It is a news picture and they put it up," said Patty Haubner, the league's spokeswoman. "Now it falls on our shoulders to demonstrate the fact that Broadway is open."
In response to the Times' photo, the league is assembling a photo project called "A Day in the Life of Broadway." A promotional event to be staged in Times Square may be announced today, Haubner said.
TKTS patrons appear to have taken the brouhaha in stride. After the photo appeared, one customer reportedly asked a booth employee when the "armed guards" came on duty so she could have her photograph taken with them.
