SEAT-SNATCHING AT PICTURES.

New Zealand Herald, Volume LXIII, Issue 19216, 4 January 1926, Page 5

SEAT-SNATCHING AT PICTURES.

Hi Sir, —Cannot something bo dona to j scotch the pestiferous seat-snatcher in : picture theatres? The fact that darkness is essential to film-screening is flagrantly J exploited by the unprincipled. You reserve seats by telephone, say, and arrive a few | ' minutes ahead of the overture—only to ' find that some others, ladies (?) usually, 1 have made a choice of your seats for their own occupation, although they have re- ; served none. The attendant expostulates in vain. In a fow moments down go tho lights and your party is piloted to tho j most convenient refuge, but inferior as a ij location for enjoyment. l T ou go out in tho : interval to see a man about a dog, and j come back to find a seat-snatcher in your | place. It avails nothing that you have 1 your reserved seat-check in your hand. Tho attendant does his or her best, bnt. the seat-snatchcr smiles and sits tight, j knowing that the darkness will in a j minute or two Waco tho attendant, at a disadvantage. The practice is quite com- j mon. Perhaps a week of prosecutions 1 before a magistrate would do something to diminish it. It would bo a good thing if some peculiarly hardened sinners were I dealt with. Reserved. !