Our local movie theater, Cinemark, started a new policy last week that has some cheering and others jeering.
For decades, film fans have purchased tickets, maybe stopped by the concession stand for a soft drink, popcorn or hot dog, and then made their way to the theater to pick their seats. It was on a first come, first served basis. You made your choice based on whatever seats were open in the area you wanted to sit and view the movie.
No longer. Now you must choose your seat from an onscreen chart when you buy a ticket, either at the door or online.
Now, there's nothing new about this. It's common in movie theaters in larger cities. But it's new to the Twin Cities and it's thrown more than a few folks for a curve. You can see that in several Facebook threads where the comments number into the hundreds.
Some are all for it and accuse those who aren't of being backward and provincial, resistant to all change and responsible for a decline that will surely condemn Texarkana to ruin and oblivion.
Others can see no reason for the new system and foresee disaster in the making, possibly another mark of the end times.
My big question is simply why? Why change what wasn't broken? What's the advantage of picking seats ahead of time over simply taking your chances when you actually enter the theater?
Someone on Facebook suggested it had to do with the theater's bottom line. Reserved seating was a way to keep track of customers and help prevent them from seeing one film and then sneaking next door to see another without paying.
I can see that. Like any business, movie theaters have to watch their pennies.
Another said it ensured that large groups can all sit together. That makes sense, too.
But what about the rest of us? How will this affect the movie-going experience?
First off, I wonder if it will make the line to buy tickets move a lot slower. After all, couples can barely decide where to eat dinner.
"Where do you want to go?"
"I don't know. Where do you want to go?"
I can just see it in play at the box office.
"Where do you want to sit?"
"I don't know. Where do you want to sit?"
"I don't care."
"I don't care either. Just pick the seats."
"How about these two?"
"Too close to the screen."
"How about these, then?"
"No, I don't want to sit on that side."
"Well where do you want to sit?"
"I don't care "
And so on.
There's another issue with picking seats before entering the theater - you can't see who will be sitting near you.
Some folks prefer to avoid families with kids or teens in large groups. There are patrons who use too much cologne or too little soap and water. And there are those who have no concept of personal space or crucial armrest etiquette.
With the old way of choosing seats, it's easy to keep your distance or move if the need arises. Now it seems you're stuck with the seating choice you made before you ever set foot into the theater.
And, of course, I can see arguments when patrons find their reserved seats occupied by others who aren't inclined to move.
Yes, there will be some problems. At least for a while.
But time will take care of them all. There will be some grumbling now, but people are amazingly adaptable - even here in Texarkana. Many readers can recall the days when going to the movies meant a cartoon or two, maybe a serial, newsreel or travelogue, even a double feature.
All that's changed. Now you just pay and sit through a few trailers then straight to the feature. It happened over time. Older folks remember the good old days but they have gotten used to the new. Younger folks don't know any other theater experience.
And so a few years down the road the old way we chose our theater seats will be a dim memory. And every moviegoer will be happy.
At least until Cinemark makes some other change.