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.

[Hand em their arse]

DAMN GOOD POST!!!

[JIM O]

PLOT: One year in the life cycle of an Antarctic colony of emperor penguins: Facing the most terrifying winters on Planet Earth.

I think I am going to pass on this movie.

[netmilsmom]

>> 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.

[finnman69]

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.

[writmeister]

The parents of Anthony Pratti said the incident happened at the Loew's cineplex at the Galleria Mall at Crystal Run on Sunday afternoon.

Without commenting on whether the theater manager acted appropriately, the family was at an afternoon matinee for a movie marketed for the entire family.

[hattend]

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

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.

[netmilsmom]

>>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.

[HairOfTheDog]

I watched a guy in a theater get up and *CLOCK* the guy behind him upside the head.

People can be great theater ;~D

[Hand em their arse]

granted........

[Old Professer]

The ADA has turned into a license to extort.

[billybudd]

I would've thrown the kid out. I hate annyoing people in a theater.

[Fester Chugabrew]

I think I am going to pass on this movie.

And miss out on the global warming theme? C'mon.

[hemogoblin]

[Gefreiter]

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.

[RDTF]

There has to be more to this. He must have been doing this continually and not just during funny parts and other people complained.

[HEY4QDEMS]

A sad story for sure, I also do feel bad for other patrons who were distracted by the laughing as well.

In just about every business, procedures are more or less developed to deal with the norm.

Unique situations such as this one are not anticipated and therefore there is no protocol for dealing with it.

I agree that the theater personnel were unreasonably rigid in their enforcement of rules. No doubt, the publicity will encourage them to come up with a kinder, gentler policy for cases of exceptional circumstance.


On another note, I was at a local AMC theater a little over a year ago and had the misfortune of having some loud inconsiderate punks sitting behind me. My wife complained to the usher who simply requested that they "keep it down". About halfway through the movie we left the auditorium and asked the manager for a refund, he gave us two tickets for the same movie for the following night which we accepted.

I'm not suggesting that the other patrons in this instance receive refunds, I'm simply pointing out that I can appreciate the theater's position that loud laughter is distracting to the other movie goers.

My thoughts and prayers are with the boys family.

[TXBubba]

My guess would be 1)they were new to you area and didn't know a sitter; 2) Had enough for the movie but not movie + sitter and 3)Probably knew their kid would sleep through it anyway so why pay the sitter.

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.

[HEY4QDEMS]

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.

What do you suggest? A sound proof room?

[TXBubba]

cryer = crier

[Gefreiter]

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.