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Topic: Had many "Cars" walkouts?

John Pytlak
Film God

Posts: 9987
From: Rochester, NY 14650-1922
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 06-15-2006 07:42 AM

If a grocery store can run a child care center in the store while parents shop, why can't a theatre have a supervised "play center" for the little ones while the parents watch a movie?:

http://www.wegmans.com/about/pressRoom/pressReleases/childMagazineAward.asp

quote:
ROCHESTER, N.Y. - When it comes to being 'family-friendly', Wegmans Food Markets is the best supermarket chain in America, according to a five-month study conducted by Child magazine. The magazine evaluated 44 retailers nationwide. The rankings will appear in the August issue of Child magazine, on newsstands July 15.

"We're honored that Child magazine rates us No. 1," says Danny Wegman who was interviewed for the August article. "We like making life a little easier for everyone, so we work on making shopping more interesting to children, and more convenient for adults."

The magazine considered the exceptional array of services at many Wegmans stores that take the hassle out of shopping, and make a trip to the supermarket an outing that kids and adults can enjoy together.

Among those services:
- Wkids Fun Centers - secure, supervised areas in 27 stores where children ages 3-8 play while parents shop;

http://www.wegmans.com/about/pressRoom/pressReleases/dulles2.asp

quote:
Each month, thousands of children visit Wkids Fun Centers at Wegmans' stores, where children ages 3 to 8 play while their parents shop. The area is well-supervised and secure, and the service is provided free of charge. There's a climbing gym, computer games, books, toys, and lots of fun.

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Stephen Furley
Film God

Posts: 3059
From: Coulsdon, Croydon, England
Registered: May 2002

posted 06-15-2006 08:06 AM

quote: Mike Blakesley
I would also like to charge, say, $10 for babies

I don't think you'd be allowed to sell babies. [Smile]

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Lyle Romer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1400
From: Davie, FL, USA
Registered: May 2002

posted 06-15-2006 09:07 AM

quote:
If a grocery store can run a child care center in the store while parents shop, why can't a theatre have a supervised "play center" for the little ones while the parents watch a movie?:

Muvico has this in most (if not all) of their locations. I'm not sure what the lower age limit is. I'd think there's quite a cost to offer this because I assume (I know what assuming does) that you need to hire licensed child care providers to supervise. Also, the liability insurance both for injuries and God forbid and abduction.

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Richard Hamilton
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1341
From: Evansville, Indiana
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 06-15-2006 01:44 PM

quote: Lyle Romer
Muvico has this in most (if not all) of their locations.

When I did the install at their Peabody place in Memphis, I walked by the child care room and thought "what the hell is that?" First one I had seen. Does this concept increase revenue? Like Lyle said, I would think the operating costs to the theater would be too high.

quote: Gregory Brannon
I think all kid/family oriented feature should be 90 mins to 100 mins max.

About 10 years ago, after a movie I had a parent complain to me about a disney cartoon. He said it was only a little over an hour long (70 minutes). He thought he should pay less because of this. My only reply to him was, "did I charge you double for 'Out of Africa'?" and I walked away. hehe

Later, Rick

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Robert Burtcher
Expert Film Handler

Posts: 194
From: Oklahoma City, Oklahoma
Registered: Jun 2005

posted 06-16-2006 04:03 AM

quote: John Pytlak
If a grocery store can run a child care center in the store while parents shop, why can't a theatre have a supervised "play center" for the little ones while the parents watch a movie?

Harkins Theatres also does this at several of their theatres. According to their website, it's $6 per child.

Warren Theatres have what they call a "Cry Room" in many of their auditoriums. According to their web site, it's essentially a small enclosed booth at the back of the auditorium with it's own sound system and a large window so you can still see the show without your offspring bothering other patrons.

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Mark Gulbrandsen
Resident Trollmaster

Posts: 16657
From: Music City
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-18-2006 07:21 AM

quote: Mike Blakesley
I cannot for the life of me figure out why all these otherwise-intelligent people bring their 1-year-olds to see ANY movie. As if the kid is actually paying attention. More often than not the mom winds up pacing the lobby for half the film.

I always wopndered that too... they can't afford a baby sitter er something like that...... Someone(Tim perhaps) needs to do up short trailer that pokes fun at crying babies, cellphones, and bringing in your own food that will embarass the heck out of the babies parents... so they won't bring the kid back there next time! I wonder if babies get anything out of a film sub consiously?

Mark

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Mark Lensenmayer
Phenomenal Film Handler

Posts: 1605
From: Upper Arlington, OH
Registered: Sep 1999

posted 06-18-2006 01:42 PM

Almost had a screening of CARS on Friday ruined by one of the loudest screaming kids I've ever heard. This child is afraid of loud noises and screamed LOUDLY AND CONTINUOUSLY from the start of the trailers forward. The parent finally took the child out at the start of the film, but it totally ruined the ONE MAN BAND short. Very rude.

CARS is the most adult of all the Pixar films. It is not really a kids film. At any rate, this child was far to young to attend this film or any other.

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Brad Allen
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 688
From: Evansville, IN, USA
Registered: May 2000

posted 06-20-2006 02:52 PM

I know of theatres that have a policy of "No children under two admitted at any time." It runs in their ads all the time.

I know of another theatre that only offers child price tickets on G,PG and PG13, if you bring Junior to an R, it's an adult ticket for him.

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-20-2006 05:16 PM

quote: Brad Allen
I know of another theatre that only offers child price tickets on G,PG and PG13, if you bring Junior to an R, it's an adult ticket for him.

That's our policy, and another single-screener 80 miles from here has the same policy.

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Ron Curran
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 504
From: Springwood NSW Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 06-20-2006 06:12 PM

Is that legal?

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Mike Blakesley
Film God

Posts: 12767
From: Forsyth, Montana
Registered: Jun 99

posted 06-20-2006 06:32 PM

Of course. There's no rule against adjusting ticket prices, up or down, as often as you want.

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Ron Curran
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 504
From: Springwood NSW Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 06-20-2006 07:13 PM

Sorry Mike, I skipped a post. I meant: Is it legal to refuse admission to a person because of age? We have to be extremely careful with discrimination laws.

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John Koutsoumis
Master Film Handler

Posts: 261
From: Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
Registered: Aug 2003

posted 06-20-2006 09:31 PM

I can't confirm this as correct but I think that when Village Cinemas opened their Crown Casino multiplex in Melbourne they screened movies 24 hours around the clock. Sessions past midnight or so were 18+ only to all films regardless of classification.
The 24 hour thing didn't last long although they still have
late starting times right up to 1am+ on weekends.

quote: Ron Curran
We have to be extremely careful with discrimination laws.

I don't think not allowing admission to minors is discriminating.

I remember seeing an MA15+ film where a group of Adults brought their younger than 5 year old kids with them to a film that was not appropriate for them. The kids were noisy at the start and ran up and down the aisles. The parents laughed at it. The film had very disturbing scenes which made me disturbed and upset and I just wanting to smack hard all the faces of the adults who brought their noisy show-off kids along.
It's one of the reasons I now just stay home with DVD.
And if someone is on their phone during the film and you kindly ask them to keep it down or turn it off you get the "What you want, i'll f@#*k!^n smash ya mate"
And I don't bother contacting the staff. Most of them are just as dumb as the disrupting patrons with the: "huh...ummm...oh...umm yeah...ahhhh...right....ok"
[Roll Eyes]

At least at home i'm left in peace to enjoy the films [beer]

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Dave Williams
Wet nipple scene

Posts: 1836
From: Salt Lake City, UT, USA
Registered: Jan 2000

posted 06-22-2006 03:49 PM

Age discrimination only refers to refusing to hire, train, promote, sell, and so on, based on a persons age not being old enough or young enough.... Age descrimination does not apply to those of legal minor status. Keep in mind that we also do not sell booze to those under 21, rent cars to those under 25, let someone run for the presidency until they are... and so on... So you can bar anyone under the age of 18 from any show you want...

quote: Mike Blakesley
Most people without kids are smart enough to know that you don't go to a weekend early show if you want to actually hear the movie.

Here in Utah, where we have twice as many children per capita than anywhere else in the United States, it is nearly impossible to escape crying babies from any show period. My wife and I were in a midnight showing of Return of the King when a crying baby who was being held first by mom than by dad directly behind us... well.. this bozo put a blanket over the baby's head to quiet it..

WHAT THE FREAKING HELL... child abuse in a movie theater!!! I turned around and said "tend to your kid moron and take it out, don't kill it because you don't want to miss the movie.. it comes out on DVD in a month anyway.."

Got a nice "yeah" from the surrounding crowd"

Ciao

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Ron Curran
Jedi Master Film Handler

Posts: 504
From: Springwood NSW Australia
Registered: Feb 2006

posted 06-22-2006 10:27 PM

I agree with your actions. But how would you stand telling parents of a 2 year old that the tot is not permitted into an evening session of a G-rated film? The press would have a field day.

In this age of spin, authorities can give you a dozen reasons why you can't do something. The greedy, child-hating cinema manager will always come off worst.

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