Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE: "Two Thumbs Up" for stadium seating

my profile | my password | search | faq & rules | forum home

»	Film-Tech Forum ARCHIVE » Operations » Ground Level » "Two Thumbs Up" for stadium seating (Page 2)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Author

Topic: "Two Thumbs Up" for stadium seating

Michael Gonzalez
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 790
From: Grand Island , NE USA
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 12-15-2001 11:26 PM

Actually that is a good point that I have always wondered about. At almost every theater that I have been to, there usually isn't handicap emergancy exits. I 've wondered how a wheelchair bound person is supose to exit the theater in the event of a fire. Most theater exit doors require the customer to climb a set of stairs to get to ground level.

| IP: Logged

John Walsh
Film God

Posts: 2490
From: Connecticut, USA, Earth, Milky Way
Registered: Oct 1999

posted 12-15-2001 11:33 PM

You are definitely right about women's bathrooms, Gerard. Over at Nassau Coliseum, when there's a rock concert, they make every other men's room for ladies. I, too see very few people in wheelchairs come into our theater, but I think the laws requiring a specified amount of wheelchair spaces is based on future data that show there will be a serious increase in old fokes; better to be ready.

My dad was in a wheelchair. From 1985 until 1990, he lived here in Connecticut, then moved to San Diego. I would push him around, and holy smokes what a job. Very few places around here have accommodations for wheelchairs. The simplest things become a major barrier (doors, curbs, steep ramps, etc.) When he went to San Diego, it was totally different- very easy to get around. California has tough handicap laws, and we neeed to catch up.

I don't think that handicap groups want everyone suffer the same limitations they do; in fact I think they want the opposite. They want to do things for themselves, but do need "systems" in place to be able. I mean, if you feel like seeing a movie, you just go without really thinking; you don't need anyone's help. If you need to call someone to help, arrange transport, ask for the key to operate the wheelchair lift, etc. it starts to "kill the fun" of going out. Wouldn't it be nice if even someone who can only move their finger could say to themselves, "I'm gonna get a beer right now, then see that movie.."

| IP: Logged

Sean McKinnon
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1712
From: Peabody Massachusetts
Registered: Sep 2000

posted 12-16-2001 02:39 AM

I agree with Joe.

| IP: Logged

Dave Bird
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 777
From: Perth, Ontario, Canada
Registered: Jun 2000

posted 12-16-2001 08:22 AM

No Gerard, it was SLOPED in my case. And actually, I was in one of the smaller auditoriums last night and noticed that with only 2 seats
on each wall, the "handicapped parking" was at the back again. But, no stairs or access problems anywhere, even the exits...

I recall a discussion a couple years back on the drive-in list. I'm not sure if an owner was threatened by a suit, or simply was wondering what he had to provide. I suppose a ramp to the snack bar, and accessible washroom. A little easier to modify than the tragedy about to occur in Toronto....

| IP: Logged

Bill Enos
Film God

Posts: 2081
From: Richmond, Virginia, USA
Registered: Apr 2000

posted 12-16-2001 10:33 AM

The only complete solution would be to have a flat floor at sidewalk level with no fixed seating, patrons would pick up a folding chair when they come in and sit anywhere they like. The screen would be fairly low to avoid having to look sharply up and with a steep projection angle and a clear space in front there would be nobody walking thru the beam. I saw a place something like this at a resort many years back and it wasn't too bad.

| IP: Logged

Jim Ziegler
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 753
From: West Hollywood, CA
Registered: Jul 99

posted 12-16-2001 02:28 PM

Unfortunatly, that is not a solution. Lowering everyone to the lowest commone denominator is not a solution. What else are we willing to sacrifice because some people cannot participate? Shall we shot down the Ivy League because less intelligent people are upset that they can't have a Harvard education? There will always be those things that some people cannot do. While that may be unfortunate, the people who can do those things should not be denied them by the minority that cannot. Realize, I am not talking about all facets of handicapped accessibility. Handicapped restroom stalls, wider doors, et al are feasable and easy to put into a new construction. Elevators to all levels of a stadium theatre is not feasable

| IP: Logged

Adam Fraser
Master Film Handler

Posts: 499
From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 12-17-2001 12:59 AM

In the small one-screen theatre we own, which was built about 60 years ago, the architects had an answer to the crying baby problem, its called a "cry room" placed at the back of the auditorium. When a crying baby is bothering the audience, we ask the parents to go with their kids into it. They do about 80 % of the time. The room is independenlty ventilated with a separate set of speakers. You can see it at www.pinestheatre.com/cryroom1.jpg

| IP: Logged

Paul G. Thompson
The Weenie Man

Posts: 4718
From: Mount Vernon WA USA
Registered: Nov 2000

posted 12-17-2001 05:13 PM

I think stadium seating is just fine if it is done correctly. I would give it a Thumbs Up. If it was not done correctly, a different jesture comes to mind.

What is the ratio for handicapped seating vs normal seating? Is it standardized throughout the US?

Handicapped seating could be a major issue, but I think it has to do with where the auditorium entrances are. Seems little thought is given to the emergency exits in the front of the auditorium. Very few of these doors seem to have ramps leading up to the emergency exits. If the emergency exit doors are at floor level, the other side would probably have steps.

If the theater has a sloped floor, a problem with run-away wheel chairs can be just as dangerous.

Would it make sense to keep the handicapped seating in the rear of the auditorium providing the entrances are at the rear, also?

If I was confined to a wheel chair, I would like to park as close to the exits as I could without any stairs or steep grades (up or down) impeding my escape.

| IP: Logged

Barry Floyd
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1079
From: Lebanon, Tennessee, USA
Registered: Mar 2000

posted 12-18-2001 01:27 PM

I too agree with Joe about the infants. Call me biased, but the perfect location for a family with an infant is the Drive-In Theatre!! As the father of a one year old, our days at the local 27 screen Regal are over (at least for several years).

By the time you add up the cost of dinner for 2 at a decent restaurant ($38.00) + 2 adult tickets to the 9:00 p.m. show ($16.00), a stop by the concession stand - 2 Cokes and a popcorn ($11.00) - then to top it off - paying the baby sitter for 6 hours ($40.00) - then having to drive her home at mid-night - that's $105.00 for a date with my wife.

The same date with my wife and my son at the drive-in for TWO shows (first run) and dinner for all three of us.... $22.00. Sure the food may not be the same, and there's no THX certified multi-channel surround sound, and no stadium seating, but I could go to the drive-in 4 times, and still not spend the same amount as I would for one night at the indoor theatre.

Could the stadium seated auditoriums have a provision for a "Cry Room" ?? Even our church has a cry room. Huge sound-proof glass window, with speakers in the ceiling.

------------------
Barry Floyd
Floyd Entertainment Group
Nashville, Tennessee
(Drive-In Theatre - Start-Up)

| IP: Logged

Gerard S. Cohen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 975
From: Forest Hills, NY, USA
Registered: Sep 2001

posted 12-18-2001 07:40 PM

Wow, Adam, that "Cry Room" beats even the V.I.P. room at Radio City Music Hall, (alongside the projection booth!) And your theatre is very tastefully designed. Looks like the kind of auditorium I'd really enjoy seeing a good movie in. I'll bet audiences behave well in such a setting, and with such an attitude of service on the part of the manager.
So your manager's creation indicates there are more solutions to a problem than one can guess at! And Barry's church experience reveals
sometimes creative minds think alike.

| IP: Logged

Adam Fraser
Master Film Handler

Posts: 499
From: Houghton Lake, MI, USA
Registered: Dec 2001

posted 12-18-2001 09:12 PM

Thanks Gerard,
We take pride in having a first rate presentation and if you are ever in Northern Michigan stop by.. There is no reason for the rest of the audience to be annoyed by one or two loud kids when there are 450 other people watching a movie that they paid $6.00 each for.

| IP: Logged

All times are Central (GMT -6:00)

This topic comprises 2 pages: 1 2

Printer-friendly view of this topic

The Film-Tech Forums are designed for various members related to the cinema industry to express their opinions, viewpoints and testimonials on various products, services and events based upon speculation, personal knowledge and factual information through use, therefore all views represented here allow no liability upon the publishers of this web site and the owners of said views assume no liability for any ill will resulting from these postings. The posts made here are for educational as well as entertainment purposes and as such anyone viewing this portion of the website must accept these views as statements of the author of that opinion and agrees to release the authors from any and all liability.