Teh One Who Knocks
08-18-2011, 01:30 PM
Written by Mike Penprase - The Springfield News-Leader
http://i.imgur.com/me9QU.png
Reminders flashed before movies start asking patrons to turn off cellphones don't go far enough, the company that owns the Campbell 16 has decided.
Starting in early September, patrons of the movie complex owned by Wehrenberg Theatres caught using cellphones during movies could be asked to leave --without getting a refund.
The St. Louis theater chain that operates in Missouri and three other states has decided to do something about what's become the No. 1 gripe of movie patrons, Wehrenberg marketing director Kelly Hoskins said.
As of last Friday, patrons were asked to put their cellphones on vibrate and to leave theater auditoriums if they need to talk on their cellphones, Hoskins said.
"We're taking it to a different level," Hoskins said of the new policy that will be enforced after a 30-day grace period.
The noise created by ringing cellphones and people talking while a movie is playing isn't the only concern, Hoskins said.
Newer cellphones have screens that are so large they can be distracting when lighted, she said.
Movie staff will watch for patrons violating the new policy, Hoskins said.
"If, in fact, they don't comply with our policies, they will be asked to leave without a refund," she said.
The policy isn't aimed at any particular group, other than people who use cellphones during movies, Hoskins said.
Contrary to what some people might think, teens aren't the biggest offenders, she said.
Plenty of older adults ignore the common courtesy of keeping their cellphones off during movies, she said.
Reaction to the new policy has been positive, Hoskins said.
"A couple of times over the weekend, we got standing ovations," she said of the reaction among moviegoers when they saw an on-screen announcement.
Efforts to contact Walker Theaters of Wichita, which operates the Palace, Springfield 8 owner Showplex Cinemas of Overland Park, Kan., and Hollywood Theaters of Portland, Ore., which operates the Hollywood Theaters, to get information on their policies were not successful Tuesday.
http://i.imgur.com/me9QU.png
Reminders flashed before movies start asking patrons to turn off cellphones don't go far enough, the company that owns the Campbell 16 has decided.
Starting in early September, patrons of the movie complex owned by Wehrenberg Theatres caught using cellphones during movies could be asked to leave --without getting a refund.
The St. Louis theater chain that operates in Missouri and three other states has decided to do something about what's become the No. 1 gripe of movie patrons, Wehrenberg marketing director Kelly Hoskins said.
As of last Friday, patrons were asked to put their cellphones on vibrate and to leave theater auditoriums if they need to talk on their cellphones, Hoskins said.
"We're taking it to a different level," Hoskins said of the new policy that will be enforced after a 30-day grace period.
The noise created by ringing cellphones and people talking while a movie is playing isn't the only concern, Hoskins said.
Newer cellphones have screens that are so large they can be distracting when lighted, she said.
Movie staff will watch for patrons violating the new policy, Hoskins said.
"If, in fact, they don't comply with our policies, they will be asked to leave without a refund," she said.
The policy isn't aimed at any particular group, other than people who use cellphones during movies, Hoskins said.
Contrary to what some people might think, teens aren't the biggest offenders, she said.
Plenty of older adults ignore the common courtesy of keeping their cellphones off during movies, she said.
Reaction to the new policy has been positive, Hoskins said.
"A couple of times over the weekend, we got standing ovations," she said of the reaction among moviegoers when they saw an on-screen announcement.
Efforts to contact Walker Theaters of Wichita, which operates the Palace, Springfield 8 owner Showplex Cinemas of Overland Park, Kan., and Hollywood Theaters of Portland, Ore., which operates the Hollywood Theaters, to get information on their policies were not successful Tuesday.