Ron Newman (![[personal profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
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davis_square2008-08-22 07:40 am
ron_newman) wrote in davis_square2008-08-22 07:40 am
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Somerville Theatre bans (young) kids from entering after 6 pm. Let's discuss it here
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.
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.
no subject
Oh, I'm well aware that the MPAA has no legal enforcement of its ratings.
Unfortunately some states have laws on the books stating that no one under the age of 18 is allowed into an R-rated movie. I can't remember the whole list (Tennessee is one), but this is unfortunately pretty commonplace. Even if there isn't a law on the books, the theaters card and won't let anyone under 18 in in some states thanks to conservative busybodies. When I was spending my summers down South, I always found it ridiculous I had to talk a parent into taking me into a movie, but could walk into a gun store unsupervised and nobody would bat an eye.