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

[myselftheliar.livejournal.com]

I could not have said it better. I agree completely. I feel like people just expect it to be ok to take children absolutely anywhere these days at any time (eight yearolds at a 12am showing of dark knight? excuse me?), and it is unfair to those who do not necessarily choose to spend their leisure time in their company.

I think it's great that there are still some places that are adult only and I hope they don't change it. Yes.

[perspicuity.livejournal.com]

perhaps people are bristling because of "taking away" *rights* and perceived class issues...

mmm, seniors get discounts, children are free any many places under a certain age, and/or also discounted.

while regular adults get to pay full price for that seat. of course they want to enjoy it with some quiet. there are a couple adults only theatres in the area, and they are popular (and a hike)... a nearby one would rock.

everyone wants to enjoy what they want. 6pm might seem early, but on a school night? not so much. 7-8pm might seem more appropriate.

it would be a great start if they could enforce cell, texting, etc in the theatres first though :)

#

[ruthling.livejournal.com]

the Somerville theater's policy has been like this for a while, a year, maybe even a couple of years. I wonder if its a problem now just because it's summer and kids have a lot more free time, or are there a few people who just can't stand the idea?

Getting people to stop talking, texting kicking, and otherwise being annoying in theaters would be lovely.

[myselftheliar.livejournal.com]

And as its been mentioned, it really is more like 7 or 8, because children already in films at 6pm aren't ejected from the theater, and most screenings at that point start at 7:30 or 8:00pm.

When I was 12 or under I was absolutely not taken to movies that late in the evening. I can't imagine children have changed so so much that suddenly it is alright to see an R rated movie that gets out well after 9pm.

It's because parents are thinking "But *I* want to see Movie X at 8pm, and now I can't because I have to take my kid with me." But should that child really be in the theater at that hour anyway? Im not even getting into ratings, just fidgety kids who indeed make noise. Even the most well-behaved child would have difficulty sitting through a two hour movie that is beyond their grasp.

[sparkgrrl658.livejournal.com]

UGH YES.

hire a fucking babysitter people, jesus. at this point it would be cheaper anyway, and your kid won't have nightmares later and annoy the hell out of everyone else around them in the meantime.

i can't tell you how many people i see in theaters with really little kids at inappropriate movies late at night. the movie theater isn't a daycare center and kids can't be expected to sit still for that long, it's just a fact.

besides, this is one out of how many movie theaters who don't have any restrictions and the ones they do have aren't enforced.