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

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

As the parent of a couple of former infants who lives in a particularly noisy spot (LOTS and LOTS of rowdy and loud foot traffic from Davis to Tufts, especially when the bars close) I'd say yes, I'd prefer that people were quiet after say 7:30 pm so my kids could sleep. Oh, except nights when I have a baby sitter and want to go out. Then I want some of the street life which makes Davis Square so much fun, but only when I can make use of it. Seriously, we chose where to live and enjoy being in the heart of Davis Square, so we deal with the noise or, after 10, call the cops. If you don't like living near Lexington Park, don't, but you can't live near the park and expect it to be quiet at 9:30.

[pierceheart.livejournal.com]

If you don't like living near Lexington Park, don't

I don't anymore. I moved.

But just because it no longer affects me, doesn't mean it affects no one.

There are places one expects to be rowdy - the main thoroughfare between Davis and Tufts is one, but a side street in a residential neighborhood, not so much.

[wallacestreet.livejournal.com]

Sorry, but the "main thoroughfare" between Davis and Tufts is a very residential street, we're not talking College Ave. here. They walk from the square, down Wallace St., across Broadway, and down Leonard. It's shorter than going through Powderhouse but totally 100% residential. By the way, a park is one of those places I wouldn't expect to be quiet before its closing time.

Aha, you no longer live near the park. May I suggest that those who do live there do so by choice and have found something attractive about the neighborhood to counterbalance the noise.

I only suggested Malden because you seem to admire its park policies so much. If you don't like an activity that is legal and city sanctioned (i.e. playing basketball in the park at 9:45pm), you have essentially two choices. The first is to move away from the problem. The second is to rally community support to change the rules. Sometimes the latter is the right way to go, and sometimes the former. If trying to change the policy, the immediate neighbors' concerns certainly ought to be taken into consideration, but not so much more than the rest of the community. As Matt points out somewhere here, Somerville is small and the parks few in number so their usability affects us all.