The third tier of the theater was very large box
seat areas to be rented by the year by wealthy patrons. These
came complete with private areas where a curtain could be drawn.
This was something quickly criticized for allegedly being so
that the elite could solicit the services of prostitutes who
often could be found at theaters of the age. In fact, many of
the actresses themselves supplemented their income on the third
tier.
This also led to the
British expression, “Said the actress to the Bishop”, implying
illicit things actresses would tell ministers during confession.
This was a precursor to the American version of an expression
with the same meaning, “That’s what she said”, which was first
popularized in the 1970s on Saturday Night Live.