Wednesday, December 13, 2006

why is the Majestic so noisy?

I just wanted to riff on this ridiculously long discussion on Silver Spring, Singular about noisy theatre patrons at the Majestic:

Says the 2000 U.S. Census and 2005 Census Update:

- The combined Black/Latino population in Silver Spring has been stagnant for the past five years, at roughly 50% of the population. Thus: the increase of noisy movies cannot be blamed on an increase in the minority population.

- The median family income has gone up from $60,631 in 2000 to $64,973 in 2005. The median home value has increased from $187,300 to $425,100. Thus: low-income people cannot be blamed, but the yuppies can.

- The median age in Silver Spring has gone down from 34.2 years in 2000 to 33.3 years in 2005. Perhaps it is the kids' fault. (I'm sorry.)

What is true, but less scientific: The Olney 9 sucks. The Loews Cineplex 11 at Wheaton Plaza sucks. The Loews Centerpark 8 in Calverton sucks. The ticket prices are high. Only one of them is Metro-accessible. Olney is predominantly-white; Calverton and Wheaton are not. But all of them are poor movie-going experiences.

The Majestic 20 is new. It's in a nice shopping complex and Metro- and bus-accessible. The screens are big, sound amazing, seating superb, and people will gladly pay $9.50 for a ticket. Most weekend showings sell out.

The fact that lots of people go to the Majestic alone suggests it's going to be louder. That's just what happens when a lot of people are in the same room, even at a movie. I saw Fahrenheit 9/11 in a sold-out show at the AFI. People were yelling at the screen! Does it make a difference if they're yelling at President Bush or at Johnny Knoxville (from Jackass)?

If there's a problem, it's the staff. They're hard to find at the Majestic, and those you can find have different interests. I recall going there a couple of summers ago and the ticket-taker, who was white, demanded that some black teenagers in line empty their bags in front of him. Intimidating kids: that's the way to keep noisy people out of the theatre.

It's not a race or a class or an age issue. Some people just make noise at the movies, and if it bothers you, you can either go home or tell them to be quiet. There is no need to take prejudice to the movies with you, especially not in a place like Silver Spring. We're supposed to know better.

12 comments:

Anonymous said...

Dan said: It's not a race or a class or an age issue. Some people just make noise at the movies, and if it bothers you, you can either go home or tell them to be quiet. There is no need to take prejudice to the movies with you, especially not in a place like Silver Spring. We're supposed to know better.


I usually agree with what you have to say, but in this case you are displaying a naivete with your "we should all just know how to get along" approach. No one ever said that all blacks are noisy and yell at the screen and show disrespect. What was said was that at the Majestic, that a significant majority of the noise and innapropriate behavior comes from the black kids. In spite of all the statistics you present (which have no bearing on who actually attends movies), this is what happens in that cinema. Over and over and over again.

Anonymous said...

very well-said.

I Love Sacramento said...

amen.

its completely true. if you want to call this racism, then you must have your head in the sand.

groups of black youth act extremely rudely at the majestic. so much so that i choose not to go there on thurs/fri/sat.

the management is unable/unwilling to stop these thugs, so they can have them.

Anonymous said...

Brian said...
amen.

its completely true. if you want to call this racism, then you must have your head in the sand.

groups of black youth act extremely rudely at the majestic. so much so that i choose not to go there on thurs/fri/sat.

the management is unable/unwilling to stop these thugs, so they can have them.

12/13/2006 11:48 PM

RE: Why don't you take your anti-Black Maryland hating troll behind back to Northern Virginia and enjoy the movies there if you want to be around stuck up bougie folx.

SAL said...

honestly? I love the Majestic. I love that people talk about the film and react to it--ie laugh, clap, shout at the characters. I love it. That's why I go there. I'm there alone a lot, with nobody to talk to, and I love that it's a group experience. I saw Borat there last week and it was awesome the way people were interacting with the film--would have been so much less funny in my living room.

Anonymous said...

For quiet movies, try the following:

a. go to the earliest showing at the Majestic 20.

b. see a movie at oh-so-unhip P&G Old Greenbelt. It's a depression-era movie house, tickets are $5, it's accessible via public transpo, and parking is free.

c. Join Netflix or Potomac Video and view your films in the comfort of your own domicile.

Anonymous said...

It's not about a race of people. It's about age. Youths are generally disrespectful these days and crave attention. Kids enjoy being the center of attention. Especially around their own peers. So, if they can get a laugh at a theater, they'll certainly try.

I recently went to the movies in a small town in Indiana. Same noise, but the kids were white.

Personally, I hate crowds, so I enjoy going to the movies on weeknights when the kiddies are home doing homework. I hardly ever go to the movies anywhere on the weekends if I don't have to. You're just asking to be disturbed if you go on the weekends. :-)

Sligo said...

Yes, Borat is a movie where crowd reaction makes it more entertaining, but when you are in a "serious" movie and the guy in your row is on his two-way, that's a bit different.

Anonymous said...

Sligo said...
Yes, Borat is a movie where crowd reaction makes it more entertaining, but when you are in a "serious" movie and the guy in your row is on his two-way, that's a bit different.

12/14/2006 3:05 PM

RE: If you were a real fan of freedom of speech you wouldn't have act like a sore loser by placing a block on the other Blog Thread.

Sligo said...

I guess the discussion can continue here, then.

Dan Reed said...

Keep the comments coming. I like where it's going . . .

Anonymous said...

I think it's safe to say movie theater noise is inversely proportional to SES...

I go to the Majestic and the AFI all the time. The AFI is MUCH nicer/quiter, plus they sell EtOH. Unfortunately, most of the movies suck.