This letter is in response to Barbara Richards' letter of March 23, "Don't bring babies to films." Let me be quick to say that if a child or baby is being loud or disruptive, a parent should take the baby to the lobby, so as not to disturb other movie-goers. However, to make a blanket statement that babies should be unwelcome at the theater is ridiculous. As a person who loves to go to the movies, I can say that my usually sleeping or snuggling babies have not inconvenienced anyone, and on the occasional times when my baby couldn't sit still I would either stand at the back of the theater holding her or I would take her for a little walk in the lobby.
If we are to try to remove every distraction that might shatter the "spell" of the film, may I suggest that we ban teenagers and young adults, who are frequently louder than the more mature moviegoer. We might also ban anyone was has an unusually loud or annoying laugh. Perhaps we should also ban anyone who cannot sit through an entire movie without getting up in front of someone else.There are many things that take place in a movie theater that could be considered a "distraction," especially if someone is looking for a reason to be annoyed. Unless a baby has been sitting practically on Ms. Richards' lap, it is hard for me to believe that a baby could be as disturbing to her as she indicates, given the decibel level of the sound in most movie theaters today.
Karey White
Bountiful