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Different era different problems – cinema etiquette from 1907 to 1912

Neil Patrick

During the era of silent film, recommendations for behavior were displayed on title cards before a screening, offering advice including “Ladies, kindly remove your hats”, “Loud talking or whistling not allowed”, and “Please applaud with hands only”. Modern cinemas often display a short reminder for patrons to turn off their cellphones, before the film begins.

Etiquette writers Debrett’s released a guide to correct cinema behavior in 2008, after research showed that 66% of moviegoers wanted to see an improvement in cinema etiquette. The most common objections from those polled were having their view blocked by a tall patron in front, or having their own seat kicked from behind. Debrett’s five recommendations were to arrive on time, to sit still, to refrain from whispering during the film, to wait for a loud scene before eating wrapped candy, and for couples to restrain from excessive displays of affection.

 

All photos by Library of Congress

3 minutes intermision
3 minutes intermission

 

Avertise your buisnes
Advertise your business

 

Gentelemen will please remove their hats..
Gentlemen will please remove their hats..

 

If anoyed when here, please tell the managment
If annoyed when here, please tell the management

 

Kindly remain seated
Kindly remain seated

 

Ladies and Children are cordinaly invited..
Ladies and Children are cordially invited..

 

Ladies kindy remove your hats
Ladies kindly remove your hats

 

Loud talking or wistling not aloud
Loud talking or whistling not allowed

 

Madam how would you like
Madam how would you like

 

Please applaud with hands only..
Please applaud with hands only..

In 2010, film critics Mark Kermode and Simon Mayo proposed a “Code of Conduct for Moviegoers”, suggesting among other things that cinema patrons should refrain from slurping drinks or eating “anything harder than a soft roll with no filling”, should not use cellphones even in flight mode, and should neither remove their shoes nor rest their feet on other seats. The Code criticizes “irresponsible” parents who take young children to 12A certificate films they have no interest in seeing, describing it as “using the cinema as a babysitter”. Film blog ScreenCrush later compiled a list entitled “Movie Manners: 10 Tips on How Not to Be a Jerk at the Movies”. In addition to some of the more obvious suggestions, they advise against spoiling the film for other patrons by discussing it on the way out, and recommend using the restroom prior to the film. A 2012 survey of British cinemagoers found that 66% of respondents could recall objecting to another patron’s poor etiquette, but had not objected to it for fear of causing a “scene”. 85% of those polled favored the adoption of an official cinema code of conduct

Neil Patrick

Neil Patrick is one of the authors writing for The Vintage News