[My thanks to Leslie T for the following]
NOTE: This is supposedly a true story about “Dr Zhivago”, told when the film was first released in London with ticket prices for newly released films much higher than normal.
Betty and Sylvia, two middle-aged ladies, have just spent many hours together shopping in the West End. As they leave Selfridges, Betty says, “Sylvia, it’s 2pm and I could do with a nice rest. How about us going to see the new film Dr Zhivago? It’s only just opened here in London and they say it’s very good.”
“Good idea, Betty,” replies Sylvia.
So they walk round the corner to the cinema, go up to the box office and ask the ticket clerk, “How much are the tickets?”
“Tickets this week, ladies, are £20 each,” replies the ticket clerk.
“How much did you say?” asks Sylvia, looking a bit shocked.
“£20 each, madam,” comes the reply.
“So what is he, this doctor Zhivago – a specialist?” asks Sylvia.
Credit: David Minkoff, A Word In Your Eye