Posted on 08/18/2005 10:30:02 AM PDT by 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.
DAMN GOOD POST!!!
I think I am going to pass on this movie.
>> But since this guy is your fairly typical movie theater manager, this is not surprising.<<
Ahem! Please read post 35. My nephew would have done just what you stated.
Part of the joy going to 'Urban themed' movies like 'Booty Call' or 'Next Saturday' at the more urban movie theaters in NYC are the comments you get from the audience.
Sometimes the talking out loud sucks when it's not addiing much, but usually a good homey movie and a big ornage soda makes me smile.
Without commenting on whether the theater manager acted appropriately, the family was at an afternoon matinee for a movie marketed for the entire family.
Just a thought, could the kid have been laughing loudly during the "non-funny" portions of the film? Just as if somebody was talking loudly during the movie.
Some people may have complained of the disturbance. Only stupid thing was the manager saying the kid had to leave but the family could stay. that's just wrong.
They got their money back... move on, people.
>>I think I am going to pass on this movie.<<
Amen!
10.00 a person for the same thing I can get on the National Geographic Channel? Don't think so.
Now, if "Howl's Moving Castle" comes around again, we will drop the money to see it for the fourth time.
I watched a guy in a theater get up and *CLOCK* the guy behind him upside the head.
People can be great theater ;~D
The ADA has turned into a license to extort.
I would've thrown the kid out. I hate annyoing people in a theater.
And miss out on the global warming theme? C'mon.
My wife and I went to a late-ish (9, 10pm) showing of "The Passion of the Christ" when that was out.
A young couple across the aisle brought their baby. I don't know how old, but it wasn't walking yet and so far as I could tell, spent the whole show in its baby carrier thingy.
We were ticked at first, but the kid didn't make a sound so didn't get too irritated. We ended up more puzzled over why that show at that time had to be the one to see without getting a sitter.
There has to be more to this. He must have been doing this continually and not just during funny parts and other people complained.
Young babies usually sleep most of the time. Unless you have one that has colic or is just a cryer you can probably get by with it for awhile.
cryer = crier
Remember when "The Exorcist" was re-released a few years ago in the big chains? Wife and I caught it in a theater next city over from us- the city everyone with the means or luck to do so fled.
Anyway, the homegirlz in the back were cracking me up with some of their remarks...none of which I can repeat here, but they were awfully funny.
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