Should Ushers/Usherettes return to cinemas?

ciderwithrosie_2

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Isn't that part of the experience? I always get a tub of popcorn, DH gets some revels (or something of that ilk) and we usually share a large drink. The majority of people treat themselves to some snacks, or at least a drink surely?

Well I suppose it has become that way in recent years - the American influence again. But I can remember a time when you might be lucky to buy a choc ice from the usherette in the interval. Anyway, everyone was too busy puffing away on fags!

whodathunkit

The more jobs we can create, the better.

catkins

Valli wrote: »

This. Kids cannot, apparently, be allowed to be bored anymore. They have to be entertained (stimulated) all the time. So they are given things to do and they just do NOT learn to sit still.

I find a lot of the adults far worse than the kids. If me and OH go to see a kids film (we saw Frozen and Despicable Me at the cinema) then we accept there will be some noise and children may well need the toilet. It's teenagers or even adults on phones or talking (not quietly either) through the whole film. Why bother going?

Georgiegirl256 wrote: »

Isn't that part of the experience? I always get a tub of popcorn, DH gets some revels (or something of that ilk) and we usually share a large drink. The majority of people treat themselves to some snacks, or at least a drink surely?

No, I don't see why people feel the need to eat in the cinema. I go to see a film. If I wanted food I would go to a caf! or restaurant or pub. If people really need to eat or drink they could at least do so quietly

Buzzybee90 wrote: »

I always chose the aisle seats because I can't sit for 2 hours + without need to use the facilities! :rotfl:

You obviously have consideration for others. Shame so many other cinema goings don't. It seems as though over the years people's bladders have got weaker. 30 years ago people sat and watched the film. There was no constant in and out, no talking etc. Now I really cannot remember a single time when no one has gone out, even when there have not been many people in there. Sometimes the same person goes out more than once and they always seem to be on the inside of a row so they make quite a few people have to stand up for them to get out.


Another poster said about sitting as close to the screen as possible but I can't do that as it makes me feel sick or brings on a migraine. I have to sit as far back as possible so then see all the people moving about

onlyroz

Considering that you need a bank loan these days to afford a trip to the cinema I'm amazed that you would find anything other than hushed silence and rapt attention. I can't say that I've experienced any of the problems described here but then again I tend to go to the cinema once in a blue moon and it's usually late at night. I've taken the kids a few times (the last time was to see the Lego Movie) but I think if you go to a day-time viewing of a PG rated film during the school holidays then you're asking too much if you expect silence.

Georgiegirl256

ciderwithrosie wrote: »

Anyway, everyone was too busy puffing away on fags!

I can actually remember that!

Georgiegirl256

catkins wrote: »

No, I don't see why people feel the need to eat in the cinema. I go to see a film. If I wanted food I would go to a caf! or restaurant or pub. If people really need to eat or drink they could at least do so quietly

I agree with the last sentence, I can't stand it when people eat noisily. But for me personally, and possibly for a lot of other people, it's a rare occurence that we go to the cinema nowadays, so when we do go, we like to treat ourselves and get popcorn, drinks, sweets etc.

Hasn't it always been the case that people ate treats at the cinema? I remember when I was little (in my 30's) the ice-cream lady coming round.

BritAbroad

OH and I used to go to the cinema regularly, but always midweek and usually a slightly earlier showing not the way home from work when it was quieter, and never had any problems. However, since moving abroad I have been genuinely horrified at the rude behaviour of other people at cinemas - children screaming and running around while their parents laughed, people talking loudly and playing games on their phone, teenagers throwing food around, etc. OH now refuses to go to the cinema, we'll wait for the DVD or Netflix instead. We have a media room set up in the basement so we can have the cinema experience in more comfort anyway!

Anatidaephobia

We don't go to the cinema very often, partially because of prices, but when we do go, we always choose a time when it is likely to be quiet. Sometimes during school hours, sometimes late at night on a week day, and always once the film has been out for a few weeks so that the majority of people who wanted to see it will hopefully have already been. Our Odeon card also gets us the odd free ticket.

I can't really see how ushers would solve the problem of disruption. If the usher was anything like the staff at our local cinema, it would be a 17 yr old boy who would be sidling around the edges of the cinema hall, avoiding confrontation. In my experience, the majority of staff either don't care or aren't capable of dealing with difficult situations. They are minimum wage and have had very little training and they don't know what to do if there's ten kids running around playing or a hall full of teens texting. Cinema halls no longer have that atmosphere or expectation where you're supposed to be quiet. People just seem to do what they want (which rarely involves watching the film).

vodkachick68

I rarely go to the cinema as it's just too expensive. Saying that I did take my son to watch Spider-Man 3 on Saturday at a 12.15am showing and there were 10 of us in total watching the film,it was absolute bliss! It cost £18 for us both and £2 for 3d glasses. It's too expensive to be doing on a regular basis. We got some sweets and popcorn from the 99p shop in town beforehand. During the film we did see a member of staff tell off a lad for using his mobile phone which i can't for the life of me understand why u would pay the extortionate prices to watch a film to be then glued to a mobile phone :eek:

ska_lover

We stopped going a couple of years ago, after me and my husband went to see an 18 rated film starting at 10pm on a saturday night - where a couple had been permitted to bring a baby into the auditorium.

Many people in the audience (including us) complained to the staff as the small baby was crying - pretty much non stop, and felt that it was inappropriate to be bringing a child into what would be exclusively an adult event late on a saturday night.

The staff refused to do anything, and after about an hour we walked out and asked for a refund - we were about the 20th set of people to leave.

Its so expensive these days to go to the cinema - regardless of if you get to see the film in peace, just so expensive especially if there are a large family of you, so much cheaper to get the film on DVD and have a family night at home these days, its really not the affordable treat it used to be