Don't know what prices were back in the day, but when I was a kid going to movies with my parents, I recall times where we'd get there, get our tickets, and go in to see the movie, already (perhaps well) in process, sit through that showing and remain there for the next showing, which we'd watch until it got to the part where we had come in originally. It never seemed like anything unusual at the time, and no one seemed to mind.
This may be why I am sometimes prone to peek ahead to see how a book ends, or why I like movie (and tv) spoilers.
formerly JbaraFan1 8/14/04-2/14/16