June 8, 2011

"In USA Magnited States of America, where you are FREE to TEXT in a THE-A-TER!"

Funny, but bad language....

83 comments:

Andrew said...

haha. i love this. now if only theaters would also show movies at exactly the advertised time :)

Anonymous said...

I took my kid to his first movie the other day. I was so excited. It was Rio, a pretty lame animated feature. We went to a matinee. Got all manner of candy and beverages. Sat down. Wore our 3D glasses.

About an hour in, he looks at me, and he whispers, "Dad, can we go play the video games in the lobby?"

And so we did.

Synova said...

I took my kids to a movie once and got chewed out because my daughter had those shoes with lights that flash on impact and she was sitting in her seat knocking her feet together.

I hadn't noticed. I think being a mom means getting really good at ignoring the sorts of meaningless fidgets and noises your kids make. I think I put a coat over her feet because I never thought of just taking her shoes off.

This wasn't a grown-up movie, BTW. I never took my kids to the theater for adult shows past breastfeeding ages.

chickelit said...

Black and white text over a recorded voice message...it reminds me of this rant.
(strong language)

Synova said...

I have a little sympathy for her, poor thing. The voice mail is funny, and I always feel guilty when I laugh at someone.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

This video is begging to be tuned a la bed intruder song.

Blair said...

I'm on her side. Doesn't sound like she did anything that disruptive. I think it's even worse that they're proud of themselves and released this. I wouldn't go there on that basis.

Anonymous said...

Blair -- Was she using her phone as a flashlight or was she texting? You can't possibly tell from the narrative. My sense is that there are more facts than what she has chosen to disclose.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

My sense is that there are more facts than what she has chosen to disclose.

I like to her in front of Judge Judy.

victoria said...

I heard this a few days ago. I love it. There is nothing more disruptive in a theater than,1)People talking or 2) people texting. When it is totally dark in a theater and you hear the tap, tap, tap and see the light it is disruptive. Now, if I were at the $2.00 movie that would be one thing. But I like to go to the Arclight Theater, where you pay in advance, get assigned seats and the seats are biggy and comfy. You also pay a premium for that. $13.00 when everywhere else it is $10.50. I don't go to the movies often anymore, because of the price so, when I go, I expect that it will be dark, quiet and NO TEXTING.


Vicki from Pasadena

Chris Althouse Cohen said...

Keep in mind, the Alamo Drafthouse has a long-standing thing about this and before every movie (and after they trailers), they show a short clip like this one followed by an attention-getting description in big letters of their policy and how strict they are about enforcing it, including that you won't get a refund if you're kicked out and that texting counts as talking. If someone goes through all that and still doesn't understand, they're not very smart. A big part of why they do this is that it's a place that serves alcohol in the theater and is a "fun" place, and the risk of people thinking that they could talk there would be high if they didn't make it so clear. Even with them being strict I still often encounter people who talk during the movie there.

Karl said...

As a young person, my best movie experiences involved getting stoned and watching slasher flicks with a racially diverse audience.

Anonymous said...

Ken -- I remember when I lived in New York City and I would occasionally go to the movies. It's a rambunctious, talkative crowd. Lots of talking to the screen.

At first, this annoyed my polite Midwestern sensibilities. I realized, though, that it actually added a whole new, awesome element to the viewing experience.

Julie C said...

I heard this the other day on a local radio morning show. The hosts (Armstrong & Getty) were having lots of fun at this young woman's expense.

I love places that have standards and actually enforce them!

erictrimmer said...

My wife and I went to a drive-in theater last weekend. Double feature of X-Men and Thor. We set off our car alarm three times by accident. I felt like a total jerk. I didn't even know the car had an alarm. There's a panic button on the key fob, but, whatever...

The first time was my mistake. We were coming back to our car after a trip to the snack bar and I accidentally pressed the panic button. The car only honked once before I shut it off. Stupid, stupid... Got an angry yell from across the lot. Well deserved.

Turns out, if you open the car doors when the keys are in the ignition and the car is not running, the alarm will go off. That's what happened the second time. My wife had dropped something between her set and the door and opened the door to look for it.

The third time, during intermission, we wanted to get out of the car so I pulled the keys out of the ignition and used the driver's side door button to unlock the doors before opening (didn't want to accidentally press panic again). Alarm went off.

If you were there, consider this an apology.

windbag said...

Her story isn't very credible. If you're in a theater, there is generally enough light reflecting off the screen to find a seat. I love it when business owners don't give in to temper tantrums by whiny customers. It's high time we expect and demand adult behavior from people, instead of caving into their hissy fits. I love how the theater played the rant and put its logo on the tail end. A subtle way of saying, "Yeah? Shut the front door."

Anonymous said...

Even though it would be a challenge in these days of online porn, my ultimate fantasy would be to open a porno movie theater that only shows movies featuring full-flavor women. Hey, I can dream, can't I?

Peter

Phil 314 said...

A briefer, in person, profanity eliminated complaint using the flashlight excuse (assuming it was plausible at the time) might have gotten her a couple of free passes.

But instead she's been nominated for Internet/Youtube hall of shame.

She chose poorly

edutcher said...

There was a time when the patrons would have told her to knock it off and management might have had to rescue her.

As it were.

NotWhoIUsedtoBe said...

Enforcing social norms as marketing strategy. I guess if no one else will do it...

Peter V. Bella said...

I like the fact they do not allow texting. Nothing is that important that it cannot wait until the movie is over.

Too many idiots think there life will end if they cannot text every two minutes. We are a society that is devolving instead of evolving.

Trooper York said...

I have been to the movies in about thirty years until we recently went to the Kaufman Astoria movie house which was a total eyeopener for me. It was a great experiance. Comfortable staduim seating. Not too crowded. And no loud and rambuctious crowds. Of course we went at off times which was good and we had a wonderful time.

I really enjoyed Thor and look forward to the new Xmen and Captain America movies that are coming out soon.

Trooper York said...

I am currently reading a book of essays about the role of Captain America in our society and what he represents to us from the 1940's to the present.

It is called "Captain America and the Struggle of the Superhero."

And it was edited by Robert G. Weiner.

I kid you not.

Trooper York said...

The trailer looks great for Captain America. They went back to the old origin story and went totally retro.

I mean Nick Fury is white. How do you like dem apples.

Gene said...
This comment has been removed by the author.
Gene said...

Karl: As a young person, my best movie experiences involved getting stoned and watching slasher flicks with a racially diverse audience.

"Racially diverse?" You don't mean blacks, do you? Of course not, you would have said that if that's what you meant.

So what did you mean?

Quaestor said...

ET1492 wrote: My wife and I went to a drive-in theater last weekend.

What do you drive, a TARDIS?

Fred4Pres said...

That is pretty funny.

Fred4Pres said...

I go to the movies all the time.I like the big screen.

Justin said...

I am extremely embarrassed that this individual is a part of my generation. I tend to leave my cell phone in the damn car when I head to the movies, but I suppose that's simply too difficult for most of my ever connected peers.

Gahrie said...

I mean Nick Fury is white. How do you like dem apples.

Nick Fury is supposed to be White.

http://marvel.com/universe/Fury,_Nick

The film version played by Samuel Jackson is the aberration.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

Oh, did I tell you how the Sox beat the Yanks last night and tonight?

Yeah the Sox are unbeaten at Yankee Stadium this year.

Revenant said...

Why can't you text in a theater? I don't get it.

Does the glare from the screen bother people or something?

Revenant said...

The film version played by Samuel Jackson is the aberration.

Not really. The Ultimate Marvel line (the parallel, more "adult" Marvel continuity launched in preparation for the X-Men and Spider-Man movies) introduced its version of Nick Fury over a decade ago. He's a black guy who looks like Samuel L. Jackson.

So let's just say it wasn't a surprise when he got the part in Iron Man. :)

el polacko said...

can't blame this chick for being pissed off about being tossed out..doesn't sound like she did anything THAT offensive...and if snarky "thanks for not coming to our theater" is the way they treat paying customers, then i'm on her side. that said, i don't go to movie theaters anymore because of the audiences. a big screen tv, surround sound, and a netflix subscription fulfills all my movie needs without the distractions and disruptions from people who no longer know how to act in public.

Robert Cook said...

For the two or three people here who defend this young woman--I'm glad so few do--yes, texting in a theater is distracting to others...as is any activity other than doing what everyone there paid to do--to sit and watch the movie.

If one absolutely must call or text someone or respond to a received call or text while the feature is showing, get up and walk out to the lobby to do so.

TWM said...

They need to do one on parents with crying babies or kids who are way to young to be in a drama/slasher/sex/violence-filled movie and squirm and talk during it. That's equally annoying.

Get a babysitter people.

Ignorance is Bliss said...

ET1492 said...

My wife and I went to a drive-in theater last weekend. Double feature of X-Men and Thor. We set off our car alarm three times by accident.

Just admit it. Your car alarm has a tilt sensor just like the pinball machines. The car gets a-rockin' and the alarm goes off.

Three times in two movies? Way to go!

Toad Trend said...

Ignorance of the law is not a defense.

I don't believe this person only used her cell phone as a flashlight.

That was a bad example of righteous indignation.

wv - difor

KCFleming said...

She's class president of Leno's Jaywalking.

Clearly, the teacher's union needs more money.

Shanna said...

It was Rio, a pretty lame animated feature.

No good? My nephew plays that on my phone all the time and I had thought about taking him but was waiting for reviews...

KCFleming said...

Ladies and gentlemen.. of the G.E.D. class of 2009
I have one piece of advice for you

No matter what your friend tells you
There's no texting in the Alamo Drafthouse...
NONE!

Oh there's FILM in the Alamo Drafthouse
But you don't want movies.. you want to text

And there's NO text...

...in the Alamo Drafthouse

Shanna said...

As a young person, my best movie experiences involved getting stoned and watching slasher flicks with a racially diverse audience.

We used to purposefully go to Union Station in college for any horror type movies because I think it's fun when people talk back at the screen. But then, if the movie is not serious I would be happy talking through it, so none of this stuff really bothers me. I couldn't care less if people text and talk, as long as the movie isn't Schindler's List or something. (although I don't want to hear anyone's ring tone)

rhhardin said...

Sue them for a refund.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

The people dancing at the Jefferson memorial, the protesters upstaging a Madison Special Olympics Ceremony and this Alamo Drafthouse texting girl should all get together and trow an Afghan wedding ;)

I'm just saying.

Erik Robert Nelson said...

"Ken -- I remember when I lived in New York City and I would occasionally go to the movies. It's a rambunctious, talkative crowd. Lots of talking to the screen."

This reminds me of going to see The Matrix back when I lived in DC. The audience was mostly urban (read, black), and there was clearly a cultural difference concerning audience behavior. They were loud, boisterous, jumping up and high-fiving at the good parts, talking to the screen. I had the same experience: at first I was like, "What the heck are they doing?" and then found that it didn't actually bother me. It did actually add something interesting to the experience. And strangely enough, they were sort of polite about it. I can't quite describe it.

Now, I'd already seen the movie once, so maybe I'd be irritated if I didn't already know what happened. If you go into the movie knowing that's how the locals behave, it's fine. It's far more distracting when everyone is being quiet except one person with their incredibly bright phone turned on in a dark room.

Alan said...

Here's the blog post from the Alamo Drafthouse that gives more background:

She texted. We kicked her out.

As Chris said above, there's a PSA like this before *every* film shown there. Usually, they're funny. And, if the feature is R-rated, then the PSA may be also.

I love the Alamo, and I love that they enforce the rules. And I also take my kids there, but they can actually behave in public, so I've never had a problem with the ushers.

Roger J. said...

re the texting phenomena--my lady friend and I are always amazed when we see couples on dates who spend most of their time looking at the cell phones and texting and not paying any attention to their dates.
As Mr Spock would say: fascinating.

jacksonjay said...

Keep Austin Weird

Chip S. said...

it's a place that serves alcohol

Based on the clip I'd say that she was there long enough to enjoy this feature.

The Dude said...

It sounds as if her alcoholism is coming along nicely.

Beldar said...

Yes, as CAC notes, the Alamo Drafthouse promotes itself as offering "cold beer [and] hot movies."

Lots of places in Austin that serve cold beer permit texting, but when they throw you out it's a 6'6" 375# defensive-tackle wanna-walk-on named "Bubba" who throws you out. This is one of Austin's features, though, not a bug.

Places that serve alcohol have special interests in maintaining decorum because their atmospheric tipping point, and their patrons' tippling points, are so often at the far margins anyway.

Shanna said...

re the texting phenomena--my lady friend and I are always amazed when we see couples on dates who spend most of their time looking at the cell phones and texting and not paying any attention to their dates.

I do think it's rude to the people you are with. I went to visit a friend a few months back and she is kind of obsessed with her phone. She spent half the time scrolling through some sort of "we love Palin" website. Rude. A date would be worse.

Roy Lofquist said...

Are you folks sure this isn't a clever commercial for an orderly movie experience?

Fred4Pres said...

I like those movie houses that serve beer. I enjoy a good burger and fries with the movie too. One time we were watching The Usual Suspects and the sound went out. So we just yelled out lines, roughtly what they would have said and some ad libs. It was a lot of fun. It was like Mystery Science Theater.

When they were talking about Kaiser Soze, I yelled out, "Oh shit! Kaiser Permenente!"

Good times. Good times.

Fred4Pres said...

Fight the Houston-forication of Austin.

Curious George said...

el polacko said...
can't blame this chick for being pissed off about being tossed out..doesn't sound like she did anything THAT offensive...and if snarky "thanks for not coming to our theater" is the way they treat paying customers, then i'm on her side. that said, i don't go to movie theaters anymore because of the audiences. a big screen tv, surround sound, and a netflix subscription fulfills all my movie needs without the distractions and disruptions from people who no longer know how to act in public.


So you feel strongly...both ways.

MadisonMan said...

I find the brightness of an open phone in a dark theater incredibly distracting. I have little sympathy for Miss Texter.

Fr Martin Fox said...

At the Alamo Drafthouse blog, management says she was texting, and was warned...twice. That may be false, but I rather doubt it.

It seems apparent the theater runs announcements before the film about the policy, so she had that warning too.

She says she needed her cell as flashlight. The theater has table service throughout the film, so if she showed up at any point, someone could have assisted her to her seat.

Although she seems not bright enough to articulate it, she seems to claim that everyone else who goes to theaters should accept her standards--a little disruption, so what? She isn't alone in this expectation, as witnessed by folks who bring infants to a movie, or who talk, etc.

For such folks, it would not be enough if someone said, "Theater 1 is for texters; theater 2 is for crying babies, and theater 3 is for everyone who wants absolute dark and silence." No, Miss Texter insists that she has a right to enter any theater, anywhere, and disrupt--because it isn't a disruption to her. That mindset is what is rude, not the theater management that stands by its policy--which (a) defends the interests of other patrons and (b) must be popular, or else they'd have thrown in the towel awhile ago.

She claims she can text all she wants at any other theater in town? So what's her beef?

Known Unknown said...

If only we really were Magnited.

caplight said...

"If one absolutely must call or text someone or respond to a received call or text while the feature is showing, get up and walk out to the lobby to do so."

People Getting up and walking out and comi9ng back in is less distracting?

"I remember when I lived in New York City and I would occasionally go to the movies. It's a rambunctious, talkative crowd. Lots of talking to the screen."

Kind of like the difference between white bread church and African American church.

Shanna said...

No, Miss Texter insists that she has a right to enter any theater, anywhere, and disrupt--because it isn't a disruption to her. That mindset is what is rude

Not to defend her in particular, since the theater itself has a very strict policy and that's totally fine, but as to the rest some people don't find things distracting and honestly just don't necessarily even realize others might. Because you find everything distracting, you focus on it but some people don't even notice.

Like the little girl clicking her blinky light shoes. Are you rude if you don't even notice, and thus don't correct it? Or is the other person rude for not being able to ignore one tiny thing and insisting on utter and complete darkness and silence in a public place because they enjoy it.

Would it be rude of you to go into a theater with a more urban setting where people enjoy shouting at the movie, where that is part of the atmosphere, and insisting on your own standards of absolute peace and quiet, or is it rude that they are not conforming to yours?

Trooper York said...

Of course Nick Fury is supposed to be white. That is the whole point of the joke.

Marvel Comics has always been at the cutting edge of douchenozzle politcal correctness. Witness the fact that Captain America got assinated.

Almost every comic book writer is to the left of Robert Cook. Especailly Stan Lee who has a deal with Satan. How else can you explain him going strong at 103

Johanna Lapp said...

Wait... they gave Casey Anthony a pre-trial furlough from jail and she spent that time going to the movies in Texas?

Or maybe this is just her twin in spirit.

Trooper York said...

The retro aspect of the Captain America trailer is that they seem to be showing the original Sgt Nick Fury and his Howling Comandos.
Those were the books we grew up on not the new politically correct ones with Samuel L Jackson.

Trooper York said...

The advent of computerized graphics and special effects has allowed the comic book movie to explode and make some really fun movies.

The political correctness does dissappoint though. In Thor they even made Hemidall a black dude since there were so many black people in Norse mythology.

I just count us lucky that Odin wasn't played by Will Smith.

erictrimmer said...

Trooper, have you seen The Green Hornet?

I love Michel Gondry and I like superhero movies, but I avoided this one in the theater because I heard it wasn't very good.

The Missus and I watched it this week on Blu ray and loved it. It's pretty much a dumb superhero/buddy comedy with amazing creative flair. It's subtly weird and very violent.

We laughed out loud often and cheered at some of the action. I regret not seeing it in 3D at the theater.

Anonymous said...

I think being a mom means getting really good at ignoring the sorts of meaningless fidgets and noises your kids make.

Yeah, but the rest of us aren't so good at ignoring these things. :)

Your blinking shoes reminded me of the time I was at the drive-in when I was in high school. I was tapping the brake to the music on the screen. After a few minutes, there was a knock on the window - the guy in the car behind us. He politely asked me to quit flashing my brake lights. I was mortified because I had no intention of bothering anyone else and hadn't thought through what I was doing.

Trooper York said...

I haven't seen the Green Hornet because I was always a Marvel guy. I have this discussion with blake all the time as he was a DC Comics guy. So he is not as familiar with the Marvel universe as I am and I don't know as much about DC.

It is getting interesting that some of the more obscure titles are getting movies. I mean Superman, Batman,Wonder Woman, The Hulk, The Fantastic Four, Iron Man and Thor were all big time titles.

They get into trouble when they make movies about minor superheros or villians like the Green Lantern, Daredevil and Catwoman.

You know who they should make a movie about? The Flash.

They can get Anthony Weiner to star.

Tim the Shrubber said...

No problem with the Drafthouse kicking the chic out, but it is really lame for them to make fun of her considering they probably served the beer that made her so stupid and belligerent.

I have to wonder if this is more about creating buzz for the company since they are in expansion mode. (Anyone else seen the ads for investors in the WSJ?)

Trooper York said...

If any comic character should be a conservative I would think it should be Captain America. I mean he is based on an over whelming sense of patriotism born of the life and death struggle against Nazi's and the Japanese. But the ultra-liberal writers like Stan Lee and Roy Thomas and later douchenozzles always have him conflicted and a spokesman for the latest liberal cant and trendy concerns of the Jon Stewart crowd.

Where's the old Captain America who smashed evil doers and fought for our way of life?

I remember a series where the "real" Captain America fought the "1950's" replacement Captain America and Bucky who were created by the government after Steve Rogers was frozen in the block of ice that he was later rescued by the Avengers. The "real" Captain America was disgusted by the "1950's" Capt because he was an anti-communist crusader and as we all know that was all so overblown.

Then in the "Civil War" series Captain America fights the Superhero Registration Act which is a thinly veiled stand in for the Patriot Act. He is assinated although he later comes back to life in various typical comic book shenanigans. He is depicted as standing agianst those evil rascally Republicans and gets his pardon later when the Democrats are back in office.

What a load of horseshit.

erictrimmer said...

The Punisher: War Zone.

There's a right-wing Marvel superhero movie. I loved it.

Known Unknown said...

Then in the "Civil War" series Captain America fights the Superhero Registration Act which is a thinly veiled stand in for the Patriot Act. He is assinated although he later comes back to life in various typical comic book shenanigans. He is depicted as standing agianst those evil rascally Republicans and gets his pardon later when the Democrats are back in office.

What a load of horseshit.


Just watch The Incredibles.

Known Unknown said...

Kind of like the difference between white bread church and African American church.

Gives "make a joyful noise" a whole new meaning.

(Predominantly) white churches are dire places.

Ann Althouse said...

My iPhone has replaced my watch, and I often want to check the time when I'm at the movies. Now, I feel like that's wrong. I get so antsy at the movies sometimes, and I want to know is this thing anywhere near over. What to do?

MikeinAppalachia said...

Doesn't Amanduh live in Austin? The vocabulary appears similiar....?

jamboree said...

Hah.

Gotta say that I use my ipod for a flashlight all the time if the power goes out...

It'd brighter than any other flashlight I own - even the rubberized weatherproof one from REI.

Julie C said...

The Alamo Drafthouse is now selling Magnited States of America t-shirts! Too funny. I just ordered one for the husband for his birthday. I love America - even the Magnited states ...

Chip S. said...

What's the copyright law on this? It's her word, left on their phone. Is she entitled to royalties?

ken in tx said...

I love Texas. This is one of the reasons why. I used to live in San Antonio and Wichita Falls--two totally different places. Texas is the most American state. It's a microcosm of the US.

ken in tx said...

I also love those German/Mex-tex Umpah bands and the pretty girls in their frilly dresses, and Shiner Bock beer.

Deborah M. said...

I only go to movies before noon on Sundays.

wv: any other time, it soics.

Keith said...

Awesome!! The world does not revolve around her like her mommy and daddy have made her believe. Other theaters in Austin will tell you not to text either if they catch you....so her argument there is false. Its not cause Alamo doesn't allow it....its called common courtesy. Your life doesn't require you to text someone every 5 mins. If you goto a movie, then WATCH the movie, not what Buffy has to say about how Kip treated her in bed the night before. This girl got what she deserved