Yesterday I faced terrible downtown parking woes in a vain attempt to buy tickets to the Lucinda Williams concert. I finally arrived at my destination only to be informed that I was at the wrong box office; the concert tickets were on sale across town at the Opera House. My only consolation was thinking about the origin of box office for a place where tickets are sold. The best I can come up with is that sometimes tickets are sold at a temporary office. For example, the high school drama club might set up a table each day at lunch to sell tickets, and they might have one of those little gray metal lock boxes to keep the money and unsold tickets in. Move the box, and you've moved the office, hence box office.

However, the term also applies to a permanent location for the selling of tickets, as in Call the Rupp Arena box office at 555-1234 for more information. So I am in the dark. Help, anyone?



"Is it too much to demand?
I want a full house and a rock 'n' roll band"
--Lucinda Williams, "Passioante Kisses"