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

[thebiggestroom.livejournal.com]

I don't think anyone is relating this to a human rights violation, but you can certainly think this policy is ridiculous and still also feel the same about genocide. I'm not sure why you're trying to relate these things, or why you think there can't be different levels of "outrage."

And how often do Somerville and Fresh Pond show the same movies? Harvard might have one or two of the same, but usually they are showing different things also. So I'm not understanding why you even bothered with your third point.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I've read WAAAAAAAY too many comments saying that this is "discrimination". Which I suppose it is under the technical definition of the term, but we're talking about the associations here.

And how often do Somerville and Fresh Pond show the same movies?

For wide openings? Pretty consistently, actually. The Fresh Pond shows pretty much exclusively Hollywood, and I don't think too many families have this overwhelming desire to see the recent indie offerings, like "Hamlet 2" or "The Visitor" (that last is a pretty good film, but children would probably be bored to tears). Generally, though, when the Somerville gets Hollywood films, they're getting it second-run for most of the year.

[thebiggestroom.livejournal.com]

If some kid wants to go to see an independent movie, that is something we should be encouraging.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

And he can. He just has to go before 6pm.

[thebiggestroom.livejournal.com]

And my point, is that doesn't make any sense.

[ron_newman]

I think the studios have a policy that excludes the same movies from opening at both Fresh Pond and Somerville, but sometimes they allow the same movie at both Harvard Square and Somerville.

[thetathx1138.livejournal.com]

I think it depends on the deal they strike with both theaters. Generally, there's an agreement that they won't open the same movie in a theater within a preset distance, which depends on population density. But that can go out the window in the case of something like "The Dark Knight" or other very wide openings.

It's worth noting that the Somerville often gets major Hollywood releases as a second run. I think the Fresh Pond is a mix of first and second run. Honestly, I'm surprised they haven't become a dollar theater by now.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

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