MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Where did the the Box Office come from?

A distressed box office sign under the marquee of a downtown theatre

MUNDANE MYSTERIES: Where did the the Box Office come from?

If you are heading to the movies, a concert, or maybe show on Broadway you most likely bought your tickets from the box office. Even though most people now just buy them online there are some diehards who like to go up to the Box Office window and purchase a real ticket.

So why is it called a Box Office?

Back in the 18th century when the term started being used in newspapers to advertise where people could purchase “box seats” at the theater. These were usually the expensive seats in those little balcony “boxes” you see in some theaters. Regular tickets were purchased by a ticket taker as you walked into the venue.

As time went on they started selling all tickets from the box office.

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