No thrills in theatre chills

Press, 14 June 1984, Page 23

No thrills in theatre chills

With winter well upon us. the management of cinemas are well aware of the importance of good heating, but there are always those occasions when customers find themselves in a seemingly freezing theatre. The following letter, by K. Jacques of Christchurch 6. is about such a case:

"Having managed to shiver my way through an evening's entertainment at the 6 o'clock session in town recently. I wonder if you could ask the theatre's 'powers that be’ whether they expect moviegoers to bring their own blankets and hotties? "With the shadow of home video machines looming over the cinema owners, it seems to be a wonder that they can not manage to switch the heaters on in time to warm the theatres properly. "Some (I have enquired) are switched on at the ridiculous time of 6.45 p.m., during the 6 p.m. session so as io have very little, if any, effect on the early screening and then switched off again just after intermission at the later session.

“Time after time. I’ve spent the evening trying hard to enjoy a good movie with chattering teeth and frozen feet.

“If ‘The Thing' had been shewing, I could have gone home early as under those conditions, it never would have melted in the first place. “Surely, if one is left with the alternative choice of a warm living room and not having to leave home on winter evenings, the newrelease films should be shown in warm, comfortable surroundings. "The big screens and the latest movies are great. Let’s leave the ice skating those who choose it, and the chills to John Carpenter.”

The manager of the Midcity, Mr Stan Moodie. replies that it is certainly not his cinema’s policy to cut down on heating.

“We have a new electric plant which heats the theatre quickly," Mr Moodie said, "and moviegoers can rest assured that it is not our policy to save electricity by keeping the place cold.

“On occasion, of course, there is human error, when the heating may be forgot-

ten However, all anyone has to do is to inform an attendant of any discomfort or complaints.

"Inform us immediately. People should not suffer all the way through a show and then complain." Mr Moodie said

"There are times when a cinema's heating system may break down.” said the manager of the Avon. Mr Trevor King, "but it goes without saying that we always get it repaired as quickly as possible. "Our oil-heating system was only recently overhauled. and now works at maximum efficiency." Mr King said.

There have also been instances of low temperatures at cinemas because customers have played with the thermostats and turned them down.

However, the manager of the Savoy. Mr Dirk Steeman. says: "It is every manager's policy not to cut down heating. We all make sure our theatres are as comfortable and warm as possible."