From: fontana@cis.ohio-state.edu (Mark Fontana)
Newsgroups: rec.arts.movies
Subject: Re: PEEVES at MOVIE THEATERS !
Followup-To: rec.arts.movies
Date: 24 Jan 1993 17:16:46 -0500
Organization: The Ohio State University Dept. of Computer and Info. Science
Distribution: usa
NNTP-Posting-Host: apache.cis.ohio-state.edu


bd%fluent@dartmouth.EDU, spencer@der.Princeton.EDU (S. Spencer Sun),
and fontana@cis.ohio-state.edu (Mark Fontana) write:

MF >>>>... later on, I'll be out in the hall doing usher stuff, and some
MF >>>>patrons will walk up to the booth door and start tugging on it,
MF >>>>completely missing the swinging doors right beside it.

BD >>>How can you say with a straight face that the entrance dorrs
BD >>>are unmistakable when it's clear that patron after patron
BD >>>are mistaking them?

Would you argue that a closed and locked beige, industrial-type metal door
with a round steel doorknob could be mistaken for the entrance to a theater,
when located less than five feet away from two sea-green colored swinging
doors with friendly maroon pull-handles, directly under an illuminated sign
showing the name of the movie?  I don't think so.

I think people just get caught up in the Entspannung of going to the movies
and put their brains in standby mode.  (In contrast to Spencer's comment:

   SS >>I hate to break this to you, but there *ARE* an incredible number of
   SS >>stupid people in the world.

...I'm not deeming some people inherently 'stupid'.  But sometimes people
act really spaced.  It doesn't bother me in the least... it's actually
quite funny... all in a day's work.

   This past weekend, a couple came out of "Body of Evidence" (about
45 minutes into the feature) and complained that we had run the wrong
movie, that it was filthy, and asked for a refund.  They were there
for "The Bodyguard" and had walked into the wrong theatre.

1) We did not have the theatres labeled "BODY" and "BODY" as you might
   suspect, BD, but using the full titles, in the same typefaces as in
   the promotional materials for these movies.

2) We did not misdirect the patrons.  The Bodyguard and Body of Evidence
   were playing in two adjacent theaters on the same side of the building.
   (We have two wings with 7 screens each... when we tear tickets, we
   direct patrons to one wing or the other.  From there, illuminated
   signs are above each of the entrances.  If people get lost, there
   is usually an usher or manager in sight in both wings)

3) It seems like anyone with half a brain could tell that they were in
   the wrong movie, even if they did miss the opening titles.  And 
   you'd think people wouldn't stay in the wrong movie for 45 minutes!

SS (When there is a line to enter the auditorium, and people go
    ahead and enter while we are cleaning, while others wait outside)

SS >>It ought to piss off
SS >>other patrons, because for some reason this particular patron or group
SS >of patrons thinks that he/she/they are for some reason exempt from
SS >>whatever is holding back everyone else.

BD >Condescension again.  I think you're mis-reading the
BD >situation.

No, I don't think so.  Where do you see condescension in this?
Do you think we feel superior for having the remarkable ability to
shut a door and hold back 300 people?  It's done out of necessity.

How about an example we're all familiar with.  What about when you're
sitting in heavy traffic on the expressway, and cars are stopped as far
as you can see.  Then some guy decides he's going to whiz by along the
shoulder and cut in somewhere ahead.  Apparently the usual traffic laws
don't apply to this person.  When I see this happen, it gets me pissed,
and I bet it irritates other motorists as well.

I think this parallels the theater situation fairly well.

BD >Sorry to go on for so long, but your attitude *really*
BD >bothers me.  I got out of retail because I found my
BD >attitude beginning to approach yours, and I felt that
BD >both the customers and I deserved better than that.

I've noticed that most of my postings fall flat, with no responses
or followups.  I don't think I have that disagreeable an attitude
(though BD's comments were directed at S. Sun).  I enjoy working in
the theater, but am there mostly out of a technical interest, 
and as part time employment while I'm in college.


Mark Fontana
-- 
 "IF YOU SEE ONLY ONE MOVIE THIS YEAR..."  |  Mark A. Fontana
        ...you should get out more often!  |  Computer and Info. Science
     Projectionist, AMC Dublin Village 14  |  THE Ohio State University