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.
He was singing to the best of his ability, and enjoying praising God.
You hit the nail right on the head! I think of these things every time I see a handicapped child knowing that I have a beautiful son at home. There but for the Grace of God.....we have far less to deal with than these people. Perhaps the theater should have offered a private screening. How hard is it to be kind? Think of the good pub they would have received.
>>Thanks for pointing out what others seem to miss. If I'm in the theatre, I and the other patrons also have the right to enjoy it. If the boy was disruptive to the enjoyment of the film he should have been removed.<<
It's not what you say but the way it is said. See post #35.
This family is going to end up with a year's supply of free movie passes...at the very least.
Exactly. Seems tactless on the face of it, and maybe it was - but maybe it was perfectly appropriate.
A few years ago, I was at a showing of "My Dog Skip" - the small theater was totally full. Right behind us were two solid rows of retarded kids on a daytrip to see the movie.
Throughout the entire movie, almost without a moment's letup, they were screeching, yelling, laughing very loudly and shouting "dog!dog!dog!dog!dog!" over and over.
I asked their handlers to get them to quiet down a bit, several times - it was impossible to even hear, much less enjoy, the film.
The (leftist, hippy-type) handlers immediately started dressing me down for objecting to the racket. I asked them how they'd like it if a dozen babies were crying during a movie they came to see, and they asked if I was comparing the retarded kids to babies. "Of course" said I.
They were absolutely incensed that anyone might object to the public nuisance they'd inflicted on all the other patrons in the theater.
Now, they had options. This was the very last showing after a 2-3 week run, including matinees. In our town, mid-showing screenings, especially matinees, are often near empty - and they have special "babies" showings for films that kids would enjoy - eveyone is warned that moms with babies and little kids will be there in great numbers, making noise.
So, it seems to me that this kid was also a public nuisance to some degree and needed restraint.
Good for you! You did & are doing the right thing. Although, I am sure it would be much easier to go to that same theatre rather than travel farther to another.
A fine suggestion! It would solve the problem all around, and the manager wouldn't have a lawyer breathing down his neck for violating the ADA. (He could throw in free popcorn, too.)
Ping - thought you'd enjoy this thread.
I'd throw out the morons constantly twisting candy wrappers, and chewing pop corn with their mouths open... I stopped going to the silver screen 15 years ago. Too many slobs. Besides DVDs on a 60" screen at home is more entertaining than enduring the unwashed in a theatre. Besides that, I can get a pizza and a cold brew at my convenience.
Put that into The New Websters Dictionary under the definition of: LIBERAL POLITICIAN
Hey it's not like he was gonna run away......
THAT'S SICK. THAT'S JUST PURE EVIL.
Extremely funny, though. But SICK..
Hadn't laughed so hard in years..
Hm, good thing I'm not in a theater..
You know, we had kids too. And our cardinal rule was if they were disturbing other people we left. Be it movie, reataurant, musuem or whatever. I guess the idea of common courtesy to others is a dead issue in America.
We have the RIGHT to be obnoxious./sarcasm
Me, too. My hearing is very good and I can't stand the dimwits.
We bought a projector a few years ago and now have a six foot by eight foot screen-- it works out to about the same relative size (vs. distance away, its as big as a theater) as being in a real theater, and I can hit 'pause' at any time.
That's terrible. What Bible does that preacher use?
In my church a family used to bring their daughter (institutionalized during the week) to Sunday service. The girl had severe autism and hooted and otherwise made noises during the service. The mom was embarrassed but the priest and other congregants went out of their way to assure that it was all right and the whole family was welcome.
To me, it was a reminder of what Jesus is all about. Given the love Our Lord has for the broken the sounds that girl made were more fitting for church than the most professional singer.
Was it the loudmouth part or the blackness that was the biggest offense? Or do they go hand in hand for you?
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