# Bad movie theater audience complaint letter **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Created:** [January 13, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222 "2003-01-13T01:17:34Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 1:17am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/1 "2003-01-13T01:17:34Z")
Here is a letter **DeathLlama** and I are sending off to our local theater. I’m sure it’s a drop in the bucket and nothing will come of it, but at least we’ll have said _some_thing. Has anyone else sent off a letter like this? Have you had any results? What has worked–if anything? The letter: > [@](#): > > Dear Sirs: > > Recently, we attended a screening of Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers at your theater. Unfortunately, our experience was hindered by the poor behavior of the audience, which went uncorrected and unnoticed by theater management. During the film: > > [ul][li] A young boy about four rows behind us belched, repeatedly and loudly, during the quiet portions of the film’s first 20 minutes [/li][li] This same boy LOUDLY asked questions throughout the film (at least they were about the movie), although he quieted down after about 30-40 minutes [/li][li] At least 5 cell phones rang, with two people huskily whispering their conversation[/li][li] Several other cell phone faces were visible—brightly illuminated—as people checked their voicemails and whatnot during the film[/li][li] Someone played with a laser pointer, which was at least directed at the walls and not the screen [/li][li] Three or so individuals, two rows in front and to the right of us, got into an argument loud enough for the entire theater to hear[/ul][/li]This aggravating behavior understandably compromised our enjoyment of the film. Unfortunately, it is not unusual and has become a deterrent for our attending the movie theater. It isn’t the theater’s seats, prices, or employees that inhibit our attendance; it’s the accepted behavior of the clientele. > > We spoke Mr. Manager after the film regarding this, and he apologized and offered us free tickets, which we refused. Although it is a kind gesture, it does not address, correct, or alter the problem. Had their been a technical difficulty, free tickets would have been appropriate as it suggests that next time, the theater would have the problem repaired. There is no guarantee that next time, our experience would be any better, or in fact any worse. > > There is, we were told, an employee who patrols the theaters for just such behavior, but this one person is covering 18 different screens, and it’s only random luck that s/he would stumble into a theater when such behavior is going on. We could get up and alert an usher, but then that again only further ruins our experience—and had that been the case, we would’ve been out of our seats a half dozen times during this screening (we considered just leaving early). > > It is not our desire to rant, rave, or “chew out;” we enjoy the quality of your theater in and of itself as well as its employees. We would simply like for this problem to be a greater focus area of improvement. > > Thank you for your time, patience, and hospitality. > Sincerely, > > DeathLlama and Ruffian It isn’t me at my most eloquent, but I just wanted to get the letter in the mail. Your thoughts/experiences/failures/successes with similar situations? ---
**Author:** ![monica](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/a183cd/32.png) [@monica](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/monica)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/2 "2003-01-13T01:35:42Z")
Hold on a second. I don’t mean to be picky, but I thought you might want to realize before you send the letter: > [@](#): > > Had their been a technical difficulty, You should have used “there” instead of “their.” ---
**Author:** ![Master\_Wang-Ka](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/master_wang-ka/32/3325_2.png) [@Master\_Wang-Ka](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Master_Wang-Ka)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 1:35am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/3 "2003-01-13T01:35:49Z")
Well, it’s polite. It’s appropriate. It’s truthful, I take it. I wouldn’t think it would work at MY local theatre, since the owner won’t hire anyone over eighteen, and won’t staff the twelve-theatre megaplex with more than four or five people under any circumstances. At least, if they do, I’ve never seen the extra employees. But I can hope that your local theatre would be more able and willing to take your criticism to heart, and do something about it. ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 1:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/4 "2003-01-13T01:46:04Z")
Whoop, thanks **monica**. I haven’t printed the letter yet as it’s still more or less a working draft, so it’s fixed. How embarrassing! :o ---
**Author:** ![interface2x](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/i/c0e974/32.png) [@interface2x](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/interface2x)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 1:52am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/5 "2003-01-13T01:52:42Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Ruffian \* > **We spoke Mr. Manager after the film regarding this** We spoke _to_ Mr. Manager after the film regarding this… 🙂 ---
**Author:** ![Scarlett67](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scarlett67/32/7387_2.png) [@Scarlett67](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Scarlett67)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 1:53am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/6 "2003-01-13T01:53:54Z")
You’ll also want to move the semicolon outside the quotes: > [@](#): > > It is not our desire to rant, rave, or “chew out”; we enjoy . . . As one who has written many such letters to various businesses, I say good job. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 2:02am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/7 "2003-01-13T02:02:40Z")
I had the misfortune of seeing Madonna in a stage play last year. While the quality of both the play itself and Mrs. Ritchie’s acting were somewhat less than stellar, the real aggravation of the evening was the crowd of yahoos who shouted “WOOOHOOO!! MADONNAAAAAA!! WE LOVE YOUUUUU!!!” every time she made an entrance. Yes, people, it’s Madonna. It said so in the newspapers, it said so on the posters outside the theatre, and it says so in the program. Congratulations on your ability to recognize a major pop star at twenty paces with prior notification. Now SHUT THE HELL UP! The theatre had a couple of bodyguard-types at the front of stage to prevent said yahoos from rushing the stage, but otherwise there was no attempt to enforce silence (although Madonna herself eventually broke character and asked them to shush, which they did – until the next entrance). ---
**Author:** ![Ruffian](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@Ruffian](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ruffian)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 3:09am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/8 "2003-01-13T03:09:52Z")
Thanks, **interface** –funny, you think it in your head…and neglect to type it on the computer! Meanwhile, **Scarlett** –how weird! The semicolon is in the correct place in the letter, but not here. I wonder if in my editing (for spaces, etc) for the post there was something incorrectly adjusted. Whatever, it’s taken care of. **jr8** , that’d drive me batty–at least Madonna shushed them! ---
**Author:** ![mnemosyne](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/c4cdca/32.png) [@mnemosyne](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/mnemosyne)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 3:28am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/9 "2003-01-13T03:28:37Z")
Hehehe I’m imagining the manager when he starts reading “Sincerely, _DeathLlama and Ruffian…???_ What kind of names are those?” LOL [sub]Yes, I know it was just written like that for the boards, but it would still be hilarious to actually send it like that![/sub] ---
**Author:** ![Lamar\_Mundane](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/85f322/32.png) [@Lamar\_Mundane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lamar_Mundane)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 3:44am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/10 "2003-01-13T03:44:50Z")
**BRAVO!** ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 2:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/11 "2003-01-13T14:45:10Z")
Don’t send it to the theatre. Send it to the home office of the circuit. If it was Regal or Manns or Loews find out the address of their home office and send it there. ---
**Author:** ![DeadlyAccurate](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/ac91a4/32.png) [@DeadlyAccurate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/DeadlyAccurate)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 4:51pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/12 "2003-01-13T16:51:28Z")
Great letter. Our LOTR: TTT experience was just perfect. Not a peep out of anyone during the entire movie. ---
**Author:** ![Legomancer](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/779978/32.png) [@Legomancer](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Legomancer)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 5:09pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/13 "2003-01-13T17:09:18Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by Zebra \* > \*\*Don’t send it to the theatre. Send it to the home office of the circuit. If it was Regal or Manns or Loews find out the address of their home office and send it there. \*\* Send it to both, and let each one know you’re sending to the other. This is part of why I hate going to the movie theater. It’s become a group of people who don’t care showing movies to a group of people who aren’t interested. ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 5:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/14 "2003-01-13T17:47:35Z")
I’m counfused. Why is it the theater’s fault that people are ill-bred and have no manners? What exactly were they supposed to do about it? ---
**Author:** ![voguevixen](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/v/b5ac83/32.png) [@voguevixen](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/voguevixen)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 5:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/15 "2003-01-13T17:48:42Z")
Not only that, I’m CONfused as well! ---
**Author:** ![Zebra](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/c0e974/32.png) [@Zebra](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Zebra)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/16 "2003-01-13T20:21:12Z")
Theroitcally the theatre ushers are supposed to check auditoriums occasionally. They should check that the presentation of the film is ok and that audience members are not breaking rules (like smoking or sitting in the asiles) and that they are not disturbing other audience members with their behavior. That said most people who show movies are not paid very well and are not trained on how to throw someone out. It can be very risky to tell one guy to get up and leave and then 20 of his friends stand up with him. ---
**Author:** ![RAWDuke](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/r/71e660/32.png) [@RAWDuke](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RAWDuke)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/17 "2003-01-13T20:23:45Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by voguevixen \* > \*\*I’m counfused. Why is it the theater’s fault that people are ill-bred and have no manners? What exactly were they supposed to do about it? \*\* It’s not the theater’s fault that people are ill-bred, but they are trying to sell me their product. The managment should do something about it, in the interest of not chasing away their business. ---
**Author:** ![minor7flat5](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/minor7flat5/32/258_2.png) [@minor7flat5](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/minor7flat5)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 10:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/18 "2003-01-13T22:50:04Z")
Send the letter. It’s a well-written description of your situation, and the theater’s manager/regional manager/home office should know that this is an issue so that they can address the immediate problem of your satisfaction and hopefully address the chronic problem of future annoyances. That said, I did my time in theaters, and I must say that there is only so much that the management can do. Imagine yourself at eighteen, with a manager telling you that there’s a problem in theater 7, please take care of it. Better yet, imagine yourself as a theater manager at 25 trying to take care of an unruly group. Theaters trust that patrons will behave with some degree of restraint; note the lack of bouncers. Nevertheless, cellphones should be dealt with swiftly by a firmly-speaking usher. You will have to track down an usher since there may be only a couple of ushers patrolling a dozen theaters, but most people will quit their offensive behavior when asked politely by an usher. Unfortunately, some folks just go beyond the abilities of the staff. My most memorable occasion was when we were showing _Child’s Play_. We had what was referred to as a “riot” in the theater. An exchange of blows between two people turned into a brawl. Several ambulances and police cars had to come to the scene, and I found myself giving a deposition regarding the manner several months later as the lawsuits began to roll in (didn’t see a thing…). In my mind, there is nothing we could have done to prevent this. This is an extreme example, but for each situation such as this, there are many less-violent situations where the offenders are still pretty scary. I suspect that a couple of bouncers would be pretty effective. ---
**Author:** ![little\_bit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/258eb7/32.png) [@little\_bit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/little_bit)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 11:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/19 "2003-01-13T23:32:40Z")
This is why I attend the movies at the latest showing possible. No kids, hardly any patrons & if anyone misbehaves I tell them to shut up myself. ---
**Author:** ![KneadToKnow](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/kneadtoknow/32/3999_2.png) [@KneadToKnow](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/KneadToKnow)\ **Post date:** [January 13, 2003, 11:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222/20 "2003-01-13T23:48:21Z")
I was sorely tempted not long ago to write a letter of complaint to the theater I frequent. While standing in the concession line, I overheard an underage patron telling one of the staff, “Yeah, my mom told the manager that if he didn’t let me in [to see _XXX_], we’d never come back.” My letter would have included photocopies of the 100 or so ticket stubs I have from that theater covering the last year and a half or so, copied one month per page and with the amounts paid highlighted, a printout from Quicken adding up those amounts, and a paragraph to the effect of: “I will leave it to you to decide who you feel more worried about keeping as a customer, an idiot parent trying by the purchase of one ticket to appease her bloodthirsty imbecile child or an established customer with a considerable amount of disposable income to spend on entertainment and snacks.” [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/bad-movie-theater-audience-complaint-letter/148222.md?page=2)