This Caller Is Incredibly Unhappy With Movie Theater’s No-Texting Policy – Consumerist
The Founder/CEO of Alamo Drafthouse blogged about it on the official web site.
I’d just like to point out that this is the same theater that has waitresses come around several times during the movie asking if you want anything. They have a system where you are supposed to put up a card with your order on it to avoid this, but they are still always asking if I want anything or telling me it’s last call or discussing something about an order with the person two seats over loud enough that I can hear it. It’s nice that they are anti-texting, but for a distraction-free movie, the Alamo is the last place I would go.
I like the progression.
“I was using my phone to find my seat” - Okay, that’s understandable.
“I didn’t know texting wasn’t allowed.” Wait, so were you texting or finding your seat?
“I’ve texted in every the-a-ter in Austin.” I hate you.
God bless the MAGNITED States of Uh-Merika!
- Awesome for the place to have a standing policy of kicking texters out. That’s fantastic.
- I hate those goddamn Bar+Movie combo places. Everyone feels like it’s their living room, and are more than comfortable talking even more casually than they would at a regular the-a-ter.
Poor, poor thing. And to think, she could’ve avoided all this publicity at her expense had she only gone to a reglear the-a-ter in the first place.
It’s almost like they think they should be enjoying themselves!!
Seriously, isn’t this the precise and entire point of such establishments, to watch a movie in a relaxed, eating-drinking-conversation atmosphere? It’s like watching the game at a sports bar. If the other people there are bothering you, it’s probably you that’s doing it wrong.
Please watch the link in the OP - they kick out both texters *and *talkers. And maybe it is me that’s doing it wrong - it’s why I never go. And it’s probably why all the ones in Indianapolis went out of business a few years ago.
The owner says in The Alamo Blog was that she was give TWO WARNINGS to stop! How dense can you be? What I really like is that the video is shown to the patrons before the movie starts of all of the R rated movies.
You can’t mistake the Alamo auditoriums for anyone’s living room. Most folks have learned to get there early and to sit down and shut the fuck up. For the most part, food is delivered and consumed before the previews are done. And the PSA is right about it being dark, very dark. Alamo Drafthouse has spoiled me from trying to go to see a movie anywhere else.
I don’t really have a problem with people texting during a movie – I just don’t find it very distracting. I have a much bigger problem with people munching, crunching, and slurping all manner of popcorns and drinks. But do you think the movie theatre owners, who make most of their money off these high-priced concessions, are going to care about my complaints?
Not to mention people getting up to use the bathroom or whatever else, usually making me get up or scrunch in my seat to let them pass.
Another cool thing about The Drafthouse auditoriums is that the folks that do get up during main feature ( which oddly is rare because they serve beer by the bucket) are able to step out into the walkway between rows of seats and don’t need to disturb the rest of the row. In the auditoriums with stadium seating, a person waking between the rows is below the line of sight of the row they are walking in front of.
The big theater chain in my area has had this policy for about the last 3 years. You get caught texting, using your phone, etc. while the movie is playing, and they remove you from the theater escort you off the property without a refund. Very few violations since they instituted the policy.
They charge about $1.50 more for admission, than the other theaters in the area, and they are always packed. People are willing to pay to not be interrupted during their shows.
Unfortunately, you have to read their menu and write your orders on the slip with mini-golf pencils IN. THE. DARK. I always use my phone as a flashlight when I’m there, but I do at least try to be discreet and keep it at an angle that won’t bother the people around me.
I’d like for the Alamo Drafthouse to address this concern. Some soft, subtle (maybe even switchable) LED rope lighting under the tables would really help.
There are already lights under the tables. It’s not rope lighting but they are there.
Good for them! The next step should be impaling offenders and setting the lances into the wall above the front door as a warning to others. The we can turn to the people who talk on phones instead of driving…
How are these people texting so that you can tell what they are doing? Yeah, the theater is dark, but the screen produces substantially more light than the afterglow of a phone. Are these people holding it up in front of the screen or something? Are the seats somehow arranged where you can somehow see into the lap of the people in front of you?
I’m sure I’ve been in theaters where people text, but I’ve never in my life noticed. These people must be obnoxious assholes to get entire theaters where they are banned.
I don’t see how you can’t notice. Those things light up like vegas signs.
How could you possibly not see it? Do the theaters you go to not have stadium seating? It’s impossible to not see a bright blue light (it’s always blueish) flash on in the middle of a dark room.
Unless you’re staring directly at the projector instead of the screen, you dont need a huge light source to compete.