Final answer:
In the late 20th century, European theatres faced challenges with booth renovations due to absentee owners who had migrated to the Americas. These privately-owned booths, which were used for a variety of private activities, were difficult to repossess for necessary theatre updates, especially in Italy.
Step-by-step explanation:
The question of whether booth rental is allowed in a licensed shop can be interpreted as a historical inquiry into the practices of European theatres, particularly during the later periods of the 20th century. In this context, the term 'licensed shop' could refer to the theatres which operated under certain regulations and were permitted to sell booths to individuals for personal use. Many theatres in Europe and especially in Italy encountered problems with booth ownership when private citizens began to use these spaces for various purposes beyond watching theatre productions. Theatre booths were not only a space for enjoying productions, but they also were furnished by their buyers and used for a myriad of private activities, from serving as improvised offices to intimate encounters. Curtains were even added to provide complete privacy from the rest of the theatre.
The complication arose when theatres needed renovations but could not proceed due to the absence of full consent from all booth owners. This was because numerous booth owners had left Europe without a trace during the period of mass migration to North and South America. Theatres struggled with staying up to code and keeping their doors open due to the difficulty in locating these absentee owners. Eventually, a process was established whereby booths could be dispossessed after extensive efforts to find the owners proved futile, though this process was not easy and was riddled with legal challenges.