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Reinstate a Policy on Theater Behavior, Wehrenberg
Posted Tue June 10, 2008 12:00 pm, by Jessica P. written to Wehrenberg Theaters
Write a Letter to this Company
Not too long ago I was visiting the Wehrenberg Ronnies 20 Theater. There has been a noticeable decline in my enjoyment of going to see shows at this particular site. We were watching a new release of 27 Dresses at an evening show. There was much activity in the theater during the movie: cell phones out, loud conversations, etc.
A person down the row from me was on her cell phone. She was quite audible on it. I asked her to put it away. Eventually she did, but took it out again and her friend flashed it in my eyes during a dark and quiet scene to aggravate me. I said, "I'm trying to watch a movie," and she said, "Watch it then!" Then she was talking on it again and a theater usher walked up the aisle, the rude patron was 2 seats from the aisle. The usher did nothing. The usher said nothing. I was exasperated.
My friends and I went to complain and management gave us emergency refund passes. We explained to the manager that this is a recurring problem in their theater. That there is no policing from the ushers. They do not do their job to ensure that everyone has an enjoyable experience.
The manager told us we should have left the theater to go get someone to help. We told him that someone walked in and still didn't do anything about it. We told him that leaving the theater makes us miss the movie we're already paying for and there should be some accountability on behalf of the staff and the management of the theater to keep the experience as enjoyable as possible.
We pointed out the theater behavior posted right next to the management/help desk. It said that people not following the policy of no cell phones, no loud conversations could be removed from the theater.
Since our initial complaint, the theater has removed their policy off the wall completely and my experience has not improved.
I have been a frequent patron of Wehrenberg since I was a kid; I see at least 5-10 movies a month. I really don't want to take my business to AMC, St. Louis and Landmark Cinemas. My friends and I have already stopped going to Ronnies, the theater we grew up with, since as far back as it was Ronnies 8.
AMC has a reminder on screen before every movie to ask patrons for some courtesy. Years ago you did too, why not bring something like that back?
Reinstate a policy on theater behavior. Train your employees to check the theaters at regular intervals for unsavory behavior.
Sincerely,
Ms. Jessica
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by shoe girl Posted Fri January 29, 2010 @ 8:46 PM
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I agree. Som many rude people noise phones talking and running around. I rarely go anymore. I choose to stay home and watch a movie on tv. I would love to go to the movies again, I really enjoyed the experience before things just got out of hand. Maybe open a theater for grown up respectible individuals only. charge a little more if you need and keep those not really wanting to watch the show out.Or possibly have a sign that say's "if you really just want to sit and socialize, talk on your phone or run around the theater. Theater # 5 is not playing a movie tonight we are selling entry tickets for half price you can sit in one of the seats and all enjoy annoying each other
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by Mike Z. Posted Wed June 18, 2008 @ 1:00 PM
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When I was in college, me and some friends of mine went to see Shrek. There were these very annoying high-school aged kids sitting directly behind us who would not stop talking very loudly. One of my friends had asked them 2 or 3 times to be quiet. They didnt listen. His next warning was his drink being thrown at the loudest talker. We didnt hear a peep the rest of the movie. Maybe you should try something like that.
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maybe
by SuzieCat Thu June 19, 2008 @ 6:32 PM
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by DB25 Posted Wed June 18, 2008 @ 12:24 PM
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I understand where you are coming from. I've only had to speak to a few people about using phones and talking in the theater in the past, and they generally comply (maybe because I'm a very tall guy and I can be intimidating.) However, if I ever have a problem in the theater and the manager doesn't do anything about it, I always leave and dispute the charge on my credit card. I rarely ever pay cash for movie tickets and such, because I never know when a problem is going to arise.
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by blondie615 Posted Wed June 18, 2008 @ 4:23 AM
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~~~~A BIGGER SIGN MAYBE~~~~ GET OFF YOUR PHONE AND ENJOY THE MOVIE.....HELL....YOU ARE PAYING FOR THIS CRAP.......ALSO STOP BY THE CONCESSION STAND AND BLOW SOME MORE MONEY$$$ ~~~~ENJOY~~~
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by Anonymous A. Posted Sun June 15, 2008 @ 5:23 AM
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Jessica I totally understand how you feel.But these days, people are so disrespectful that even if an usher asks them to be respectful, most likely they wont listen.Asking them to leave the movie theater would give almost a guaranteed probability that the disrespectful patron would argue and cause a bigger/noise and scene and then ruin everyone's enjoyment. Its basically a lose situation in most cases,unless the disruptive patron is willing to oblige.To them, ushers aren't cops so they don't think they have to listen. No matter how many signs a theater will post, still there's ignorant people like them who ruin it.
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by SuzieCat Posted Thu June 19, 2008 @ 6:50 PM
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Jessica, please come back and tell us what, if anything you hear. I am VERY interested in the response. thanx!!
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I haven't heard anything yet. I'm tempted to hand deliver the letter to the corporate offices, located not far at all from where I live.
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by C A. Posted Wed June 11, 2008 @ 11:30 AM
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for the same reason. People are rude, people bring children too small to enjoy the show, cell phones, chair kicking, talking, etc.
Movies come to dvd and pay per view so quickly now, it isn't that long to wait and watch when I can really enjoy the movie.
Plus I can make real popcorn at home. Movie popcorn ain't what it used to be, that's for sure!
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by helmickr Posted Wed June 11, 2008 @ 7:10 AM
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It's for these reasons the movie theater is dead. We've had 3 theaters in our area close in as many years.
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by YouAreKiddingMe Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 10:25 PM
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I agree entirely. Theaters in general need to wake up that they are falling down on their responsibilities.
Cell phones should be put away. Not flashing people.
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by DeeM Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 5:40 PM
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I could not agree with you more! I used to love to go to the movies and went 1-2 times a week depending on what movies were out. More and more I find myself watching On Demand TV and video. I wish certain places, theaters among them would be allowed to jam cell phone transmissions.
When I build my new home in 2-3 years I will be putting in a home theater/library room in my house with a top of the line theater system installed. At that point I will never again go to a theater and be forced to endure the boors and feral children that seems to have taken over.
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by ~Fiƒi-la-ƒlea~ Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 2:11 PM
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I completely agree with you on this. I cannot believe they removed the policy. I am hoping they will put it back up, or in a more visible area too. Many people know to turn off the phone or at least take it outside.
Doesnt sound like it's going to get any better. Hopefully they see this letter and address the situation so the theater can be enjoyed again.
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by Mike H. Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 2:11 PM
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I suggest you wait until the movie comes out on DVD then you can watch it in the privacy of your home where you won't have to worry about rude people talking on cell phones.
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really?
by SuzieCat Tue June 10, 2008 @ 3:07 PM
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I'll admit
by ♪♪Venice♪♪ Thu June 12, 2008 @ 4:23 AM
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by Donno Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 1:43 PM
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I find it increasingly difficult to be in public as the years go by. There are far too many self absorbed people who think nothing of yacking away on the phone glued to their head in the most inappropriate situations. In addition, there are the people who, in a darkened theatre, think nothing of lighting up their phones, shoving them in their friend's faces and talking.
There should be ordinances/laws restricting cell phone use in so many public situations. The theatre is one of them. Who the heck needs to talk on the phone or text while watching a movie? I agree with RedHeadWithGlasses - warn the person, kick them out and then ban them for life.
By the way, you should have said something to the usher or gone and found a manager. Why be miserable and be in your seat when it takes a few minutes to go tell someone? That person could follow you back into the theatre, see where you sit and thus figure out where the offending jackass is sitting.
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Try going to matinees, they are cheaper, and usually less crowded. And there is always room to move around.
Good Day
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by SuzieCat Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 1:04 PM
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UGH< I agree with many of the other posters. this place seems to be a lost cause.
Personally, I would choose a different theatre.
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I agree completely. First time someone is caught with a cell phone, they should be warned. Second time, KICKED OUT OF THE THEATRE. Third time, banned for life from the theatre.
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by Steve-OH Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 10:20 AM
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in a movie theater probably won't follow it anyway.
I hope this letter prompts the owners to review their policy and possibly decide to enforce it. Maybe they should hire security guards. Most people view them as having more authority than a teenager or old person in a vest.
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by Zan Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 8:58 AM
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It's a shame that management either doesn't care or doesn't have the nerve to do anything about this. I know the usual response on PF is much the same as the manager said to you, "you should have come to tell someone about it", but you're right - you'd be missing the movie that way. Not sure what kind of response they'll give you - maybe free movie passes, but why would you want to go back if you're just going to have the same experience? Unfortunately, my only suggestion is to patronize a different theater.
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by All About the Branding Posted Tue June 10, 2008 @ 8:23 AM
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They took down the policy poster? Sounds like this place is looking to cater to folks that want to talk, use the phone, and so all manner of things during the movie. Except watch.
It sounds like the manager doesn't care.
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I'm a total movie freak and even I have refrained from going to the theater as much as I used to because of things like this.
I've witnessed people carry on an entire conversation during the full length of a movie and I'm left wondering why they're even there.
I've had cell phones flashed in my eyes in every movie I've seen as far back as I can remember.
I've endured teenage girls who thought it was funny to fake scream during every 'scary' scene in the remake of THE FOG (which totally sucked, but it would have been nice to enjoy it's suckage in peace).
So, I'm in agreement with you on this.
Sounds like the staff is timid about approaching those who disrupt and offend.
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