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

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

I agree with this in terms of small children.. but plenty of 9-12 year olds are perfectly well behaved and able to stay up past 9pm. particularly in the summer.

[ellf.livejournal.com]

Agreed. And ultimately, turning away accompanied children will result in a drop in ticket sales, I suspect.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

agreed. (wow. this never happens)

[exsplusohs.livejournal.com]

Yeah, I was referring to really small children. Maybe I just don't go to movies enough, but I don't know as I've ever been watching an R-rated movie with a parent who had a child that was older than maybe 3-4. I figure parents bring the little ones if they can't get sitters, but I've never seen a kid with parents between the ages of 4-12.

[curiositykt.livejournal.com]

I'm also not suggesting parents bring children to movies that are rated above PG13. even PG13 I'm of the opinion that it depends a fair amount on the movie..

The only time I ever saw a little kid at a movie that he was way too young for was a father brought his 5 year old to see one of the new Star Wars films because he loved it and wanted his son to as well, and the kid kept asking a million questions, as expected for that age.. it would have been done better at home, but I can understand him wanting his kid to see it in the theater.