Somerville Theatre bans (young) kids from entering after 6 pm. Let's discuss it here

[ron_newman]

This week's Somerville News has an article about the Somerville Theatre's policy of banning children under 12 8* from entering the theatre after 6 pm, even if they are accompanied by adults.

Is the theatre's policy a service to its customers who want a peaceful movie experience, or is it unfair discrimination against families with young children?

I'm posting this because we can have a more civilized discussion here than on the Somerville News blog comments. Ian Judge, the theatre's manager, reads this community, so we may be able to provide useful feedback to him here.

* Edited 11:55 am to add: I have a serious factual issue with this article. It says the policy applies to children under 12, but the theatre's website and exterior signs say it's for children under 8. That's a significant difference -- maybe significant enough to change people's opinions.

Second edit, 3 pm: Ian Judge has clarified that the theatre's policy is to exclude children under 8, not 12, from entering after 6 pm. He had made an erroneous statement to the News reporter which very unfortunately made it into the published article. Also, here is Ian's response to the specific incident detailed in the News article.

Comments

concerts too?

[kalimba21.livejournal.com]

I have been aware of this policy for a while, so I haven't been in. Somerville Theater is off my radar, since I never go to the movies without my son, who is now 7. He's a total movie buff and has been since he could walk and talk. He's not the kind of child that anyone would complain about at the movies.

That said, the owner can do whatever he wants. We go to the other independent theaters around town. Not really a problem.
I assume the policy doesn't apply to music? We've seen some great shows over the years in the big room.

This has probably been beat to death, but...

[tequilamckngbrd.livejournal.com]

I would definitely have hated this policy when growing up, but I don't really care one way or another. Yes, there are some people that ruin the movie experience, but many of them have been adults as well as minors. My worst movie experience was watching a sold out "Dragonheart" movie while sitting next to a big fella with the worst body odor I ever smelt. I almost passed out. Had I known the movie was going to be so horrible, I would have walked out right when I sat down, instead I had my nose under the cuff of my t-shirt's neckline. Now, if you had a policy for preventing stinky people from entering at any time, I would definitely be for it.

However, the logic behind this 6:00PM move for children under 12 is a bit confusing.

If this policy is in place to provide a better movie experience after 6:00PM, then provide ushers to monitor laud behavior in the theatre. Adults can misbehave just as much as kids, especially with a few "light" beers in them. Plus, if you think about it, this affects movie goers in two ways that affect business.

1. Before 6:00PM, people who love this policy will try to avoid those shows, because it will be full of kids.

2. After 6:00PM, people who hate this policy, will watch movies at a different theater with their family. For a movie theatre, having a family with kids watching a movie is a bonus, as they'll buy the popcorn, the candy, the fountain soda, etc.

If the policy is to restrict minors from watching Rated R movies, it really doesn't. Shows before 6:00PM, they can tag along with an adult, or buy a PG or PG-13 movie ticket and then just sneak into a Rated R movie.

As a business move, I don't believe it's a good one the more people know about it. For adults who don't have children and want a slightly better movie experience, I'm sure they'll appreciate it, but I doubt they're thinking about seeing a movie full of people drinking beer.

[koloratur.livejournal.com]

That was the first thing I thought when people started mentioning that kids had nowhere to go. When I was under 15 (the approximate age when I started hanging around at live music shows and coffee shops), we hung out at each others houses, mainly, and played outside in peoples yards. It seems the problem is that there is just no place for the 13 year olds with absentee parents who want to be rowdy little shits and smoke in the park at 10:30. Which is an issue, but a different one, I think.

Re: People who demand a refund

[nvidia99999.livejournal.com]

Wrong. The price of the ticket includes being able to LISTEN to the dialogs. If people in the theater talk and one cannot understand what people are saying in the movie, then anybody would have the right to a refund. Reversing your argument, with the availability of DVD and all that, there is little validation for families with brats to go watch a movie in a theater. In any case, as I said, market will dictate. Eventually, kids under 8 will be banned from all theaters that are not making a ton of profit from selling them huge piles of junk food.

[amethystmoon.livejournal.com]

Just because Jim Bob Worcester throws 30 pounds of fireworks
Hey, what are you saying about Worcester?!?! ;)

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

I'd tell you, but I'd probably get another "mod note".

get over yourself

[truesomerville.livejournal.com]

i find it very amusing that people think they have the authority to put an age limit on who can attend a somerville theatre movie...just because you moved here doesn't mean you have ANY right to decide who can see a movie and who can't....i went to see the movie Wanted a couple of weeks ago and was so aggravated at the NINE YUPPIES in front of me laughing hysterically at serious parts of the movie...talk about immature they were AT LEAST over thirty and acted like they owned the movie theatre. so whose the 12 year old now? YUPPIES IN SOMERVILLE ARE TAKING THE FUN OUT OF EVERYTHING FOR KIDS!!!!!! i'm so sick of the yuppies in this city who think they are superior to us locals, if you don't like it MOVE...what do you think the somerville theatre is such a cool spot to hang out at cause you can buy a cup of beer one at a time now?? get over your selves and realize its not all about you....you're going have to deal with punks at a movie theatre once in your life so stop writing letters and complaints about it... what do you think you have over us besides COMPLAINTS about everything....i feel bad for your kids when you have them i really do...and i hope my kids will beat the living crap out of them...

[two-stabs.livejournal.com]

That's called living in a community. Go put up some foam on the backboard, close the window, or gently move the infant during the odd hour of basketball.