I would hate for them to scramble the signals in theaters so that the cellphones couldn't be used. There are times when it is urgent to get in touch with someone at home. I was at the Metropolitan Opera several years ago when a man threw himself off the balcony and commited suicide. Cellphones weren't in existence at that point but would have come in handy.
I would hate for them to scramble the signals in theaters so that the cellphones couldn't be used. There are times when it is urgent to get in touch with someone at home. I was at the Metropolitan Opera several years ago when a man threw himself off the balcony and commited suicide. Cellphones weren't in existence at that point but would have come in handy.
A courthouse and a theatre are two entirely different places. The cell phone law is not enforceable. Period. Theatre staff cannot confiscate nor can they force you to turn it off. The law also is very specific. It prohibits the USE of a phone (except for an emergency) in the building, and defines "use" as the act of listening or talking. Therefore, a ringing phone is still legal, playing games on your phone is legal, etc.
"When I went and saw a screening of Rent we were not allowed to bring in cell phones into the theatre. They made us take them back to the car. "
I can't imagine that is even legal. Just keep it in your pocket. They can't search you for cell phones.
BS, Fosse76. Cameras get confiscated in theatres, don't they? And there won't be any First Amendment issues if everybody is treated equally- that is, if everyone has to check their phone at the door and everyone gets informed by house staff if it rings. That's a "means" regulation rather than a "content" regulation.
The reason the law is so specific about "cell phone use" and doesn't allow signal blockers is because of FCC regulations on interfering with wave communications, I'm pretty sure.
Exactly Rath! If you're a doctor and are on-call, you shouldn't be at the theatre. If you're a patient who's THAT unstable, you shouldn't be at the theatre. If you're a parent who can't trust your baby-sitter at home for 3 hours, you shouldn't be at the theatre.
If you MUST, walk outside or to the lobby at intermission to make a call. But the phone should be OFF inside the theatre.
I think it's terrible that any actor should have to do that. People can be so disrespectful and rude. But I say GOOD FOR HIM and also, as a Harry Potter fan, "Yay Uncle Vernon!" Haha.
~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ I remember days Or at least I try But as years go by They're sort of haze And the bluest ink Isn't really sky And at times I think I would gladly die For a day of sky ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ And Starbucks will use the words 'large' and 'small', not pretentious crap like grande and tall. ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~ "You could get away with anything if you call it art and tell people who don't like it that it's cutting edge culture." --vmlinnie ~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~*~
Cell phones going off during the Second Act. I myself have used my phone during the interval and have forgotten to turn it back off. They need to make another announcement at intermission, as everyone is going back in. Ushers should do it when checking tix....gives them something new to do?
I think it's pathetic that people need to be reminded to shut their phone off. It should be plain common sense. People have become WAY too dependent on their cell phones for my taste. Can you tell? :)
"I was at the Metropolitan Opera several years ago when a man threw himself off the balcony and commited suicide. Cellphones weren't in existence at that point but would have come in handy."
Now I can understand "Opera" but I don't think there is anything that bad on Broadway usually!!! Updated On: 11/23/05 at 03:19 PM
Radioactiveduck, the "good old days" don't exist. As soon as cell phones appeared, they started ringing in theatres. The only "good old days" were when people didn't have the things, and that had nothing to do with their courtesy.