Disabled Boy, 7, Thrown Out Of Penguin Movie For Laughing Too Loud

WNBC Television ^ | 8/18/2005 | Puppage

[Puppage]

WALLKILL, N.Y. -- The family of a disabled 7-year-old boy want an apology from a Middletown movie theater, because the manager of the theater threw out their boy for laughing too loudly while watching "March of the Penguins."

The parents of Anthony Pratti said the incident happened at the Loew's cineplex at the Galleria Mall at Crystal Run on Sunday afternoon. Their son has cerebral palsy and autism and was enjoying the movie from his wheelchair when a theater worker said he was laughing too loudly and would have to leave.

Gina Pratti said they would try to have their son laugh more quietly, but the manager wanted him to leave.

The manager said the entire family didn't have to go; just the boy in the wheelchair.

Gina Pratti said they were dumbfounded to think the manager suggested leaving their son outside while they all went back into the movie.

The manager refunded everyone's money.

Gina Pratti and her husband have spent the past three days making phone calls and sending e-mails, trying to get someone from Loews to give them an explanation. She said no one has called back.

A representative of the company told the Times Herald-Record in Middletown on Wednesday that they were looking into the situation.

[atomicpossum]

Of all the times to worry about people making noise in a theater...

[End Times Sentinel]

The manager said the entire family didn't have to go; just the boy in the wheelchair.

I'm sorry, but that's the funniest thing I've read all day!

Owl_Eagle

(If what I just wrote makes you sad or angry,

 it was probably sarcasm)

[msnimje]

Another example of someone without the ability to reason being given a position of authority.

[Borges]

[r9etb]

Hmmmm. It's entirely possible that the kid was highly annoying to the other patrons, so the request isn't a priori unreasonable.

Sounds like it was not handled well, however. Sheesh -- "Leave your wheelchair-bound kid outside, and enjoy the show!!!" (/winningest smile)

[Nov3]

I have a sneaking suspicion he wouldn't run a couple of gang bangers making cell calls out.

[SouthernBoyupNorth]

Ya know thats just sad....The kid is impaired and From what I have heard on the news autistic... He was enjoying a movies and got thrown out for LAUGHING TO LOUD!?!?!?!?!?!?!
What about the idiots with cell phones? or the moron who talks through the entire movie? They don't get tossed but the wheelchair bound kid is.... WTF?

[Jersey Republican Biker Chick]

I heard this on the radio this morning while driving in to work. How sad for this family.

[theDentist]

Or, as Barbara Steisand stated in one of her movies, "Just another a**hole with power."

[Question_Assumptions]

Autism Ping.

[JustAnAmerican]

Depending on how severe the autism is, he could very well have been making way too much noise for the other patrons to hear. While folks with disabilities should not be shunned, nor should the rest of us have to change our lives to accomodate them. To put this in a better light, ever been to a Movie were the parents decided it was ok to bring in their 1 year old?

Folks need to start taking responsibilty for their own lives, and gaining a little common courtesy.

[Who dat?]

That's probably because someone complained.

Gotta fight for the right to disrupt and aggravate and annoy everyone around you.

There was a time that mommy would have apologized to the other patrons. Now she gets a bug up her butt and feels she's owed an apology.

[ConorMacNessa]

Under the ADA, they're supposed to provide suitable accomodations for the handicapped. I guess they figured a ramp was all they needed to do.

Autistic kids are people too.

[PLMerite]

"I have a sneaking suspicion he wouldn't run a couple of gang bangers making cell calls out."

The manager probably isn't allowed to pack enough "authority" to handle gang bangers.

[Manic_Episode]

Someone could've stood up and asked the crowd who they would rather have leave, the kid or the manager.

Back when my 12 yo was about 4, I brought him to see Toy Story, and when Buzz Lightyear fell out the window my kid says real loud "HEY! WHAT HAPPENED TO THE SPACEMAN?" much to the audiences delight.

Sometimes little kids can add to the enjoyment.

[Willie Green]

I suppose it depends on how many people are in "the entire family".
This article really doesn't tell us that.
It's pretty silly if only 2 parents and the one kid were there.
But if there were other children there as well, it's understandable that one parent might want to stay with them while the other would leave with the disruptive child.

It's sad to have to eject a poor kid with this kind of handicap,
but other paying theater patrons have a right to enjoy the movie without the disturbance.

[Fester Chugabrew]

Must be a truly funny movie.

[elfman2]

"Ya know thats just sad....The kid is impaired and From what I have heard on the news autistic... He was enjoying a movies and got thrown out for LAUGHING TO LOUD!?!?!?!?!?!?!"

Should a mentally impaired boy be allowed to post crap on Free Republic without getting zotted?

I think the way it is reported to have been handled is absurd, but I support the theaters decision to do something about him, throwing the family out if necessary.

[Feiny]

That didn't happen to Max Cady.....