Was Jerry Seinfeld Right -- Should We Drop Trash On Theater Floors?

As a theater usher I can tell you for a fact that the reason that it costs so much to go to movies now days is that the majority of people trash the theater and they have to hire additional staff to clean up behind the pigs.

This idea that anyone has the right to deface or trash someone else's property just because they paid to see a movie is ridiculous. You paid to see a movie. Period. You did not buy a right to leave your trash in your seat and over the floor. You did not purchase the right to complain about dirty bathrooms that were made that way by other movie goers, not by theater staff. And if you expect bus service, you should start leaving a tip in the cup holder.

I have a lot to say about people who leave their trash in theaters. Check out my blog at www.dirtymoviecritic.blogspot.com

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Honestly, I'm saying: No. You do not have a right to drop your trash. We (the theater employees that clean up after you) are *not,* I repeat, NOT the ones raising the ticket prices. We think the prices are ridiculous. We think the concession prices are absolutely insane. Please, pleeeeeaaaase don't punish us lowly theater sweepers by throwing popcorn on the floor, using ice cups for dip cups (even if they do cost money, which is ridiculous. I mean, come on. What happened to the free cup?), and dumping nachoes and coke on already-hard-to-clean floors.

It's ridiculous to leave theaters a mess and then complain about their uncleanliness. You start doing the easy task of toting the empty paper tub/bag/cup to the trash can, and we'll probably feel a bit better about doing our jobs as well, instead of expressing "Oh my God..." every time we see a new aisle, and a new nightmare.

Work together, folks. The employees aren't the enemy—the corporate bigwigs are.

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More and more I'm avoiding the theater. I've got about 50 AMC pre-bought tickets, so the cost is not the issue. Tonight we're supposed to see Zodiac but I look at that and think, "Eh, it'll be on DVD soon." Even at $7 a ticket (movie passes above) and the promise of free popcorn tonight for both of us...it doesn't seem worthwhile.

That's right, $14 for two movie tickets for a movie I kind of want to see and two popcorns seems...pricey. I can wait until July or so and see it through netflix for $1.

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Throwing trash on the floor would only punish the minimum wage teenager who has to clean the floors, the seat backs, the bathrooms and all the other places that movie patrons do disgusting things. It was a very stupid idea by Mr. Seinfeld.

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You're dealing with the "human element" here and if they can't turn off their cell phones or quiet their "precious darlings", whom they decided to take to a movie that is WAY above their head, they aren't going to refrain from dumping their trash on the floor because, again, THEY ARE HUMAN, and most likely do the same thing in their own environment, no check that, they are most likely "pristine" and this is their release mechanism. We are what we are, unfortunately!

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I managed an AMC for two years and cleaning up behind people in a theatre is no easy task. People complain that it takes too long to clean theatres but they're the main one's who are unwilling to drop their trash into a trash can that has been provided for them in the back of the theatre. Jerry should try being an usher on a Saturday night in July and see if he's so gung-ho about leaving his crap on the floor.

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I used to clean up movie theaters, and I still laughed at Seinfeld--he was the only funny thing on the Oscars. Of course, when I was pushing broom, they didn't have disgusting melted-rubber nachos, greasy pizza cartons and huge vats of soda with an eight-gallon capacity per customer. The rule of thumb: As long as it's not sticky--if it's a candy wrapper or an empty popcorn box--it's going on the floor.

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I don't think you can just cancel a lesser screening and run another in its place. A theater is contractually obligated to show a film a certain amount of times a day during its scheduled run.

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I am pretty sure that despite the technology, a theater can not just cancel a less popular show to run another in its place. Theaters are contractually obligated to show a film a certain amount of times during its run and special permission must be obtained to interlock over a less popular film. The new technology might make it easier to actually do this but at the same time distributors will be able to see exactly how many times a film has been shown and when thus making it harder for theaters to digitally interlock on the down low.

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I can't believe it. Another whining complaint about Seinfeld's jokes. First, the self-centred narcissistic director of IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS and now the poot pitiful cinema workers. GET OVER IT PEOPLE! IT WAS JOKE. You know, Seinfeld is a COMEDIAN! Grow a sense of humour!!!

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Yeah, I get that it's funny, but some people are idiots and take that seriously. He's kinda slyly pointing out something that's already a problem. Some people will go "haha, it's funny cuz it's true," but that's not what Seinfeld's saying at all.

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I don't think his jokes should be taken too seriously. He is joking after all. As someone who has worked at a movie theater for many years, I can tell you that the garbage people leave behind is obscene. People really should clean up after themselves. They shouldn't be reminded, they should just do it, and it’s common courtesy. There are visible trashcans EVERYHWERE in theaters, it is not difficult to throw your crap away, even if it is obscenely expensive. Maybe if people cleaned their trash up, it wouldn't take so long to clean theaters and they could show more, use less ushers and put more money into working out a better priced concession option.

It's funny; because a few years back Jerry Seinfeld came to the theater I was working at and rented out an entire theater to screen a movie for his own viewing, with one other person. This was at 8 A.M. before any other guests were there. So I really doubt he knows what movie going is really like.

I just thought it was odd that he chose the Oscars to berate the theater industry, when box office sales are already struggling.

But, like I said, it shouldn't be taken too seriously...

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Wow you guys are a bunch of whiny little b**ches. Next time i go to the theater I'm gonna take EXTRA trash in with me just to drop all over the floor...just out of spite for whiny bastards like you. jeez.

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I have worked in every position possible in theaters and I do admit that being an usher is not the greatest job there is, but it is a job. People are going to leave their empty cups behind and someone is going to have to clean it up, that is all there is to it. You might as well try and tell customers not to spill any popcorn on the floor on the way to the movie. There is a reason why it is a teenage kid being the usher, it's a job you have while in high school and shouldn't be a glamorus or easy thing. I think theatre people should stop complaining about what they do and put more effort into doing it. Cleaning a theatre isnt that difficult. The last thing you should do is complain about the people who are signing your paycheck. So, should we start busing our own tables in resturaunts now? If you don't like your job then do something else, or suck it up, work extra hard, and move up the chain. Complaining about something you signed up for is a waste of energy.

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Marty --

Sorry to break this to you -- but John Sinno, who wrote the letter you are refering to, is not the "director of IRAQ IN FRAGMENTS" -- I am the director.

John Sinno is one of the producers, and his views and the way he expresses them are entirely his own. So before you call me "self-centered and narcissistic," please confirm the identity of the person you are dissing.

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James, I completely agree with you. And Christopher, sorry, but cleaning the aisles is part of the job NOW. I'm sorry that Ushers have to clean the aisles, but this is a minimum wage job, which translates into a need to do crap during the workday. If not for cleaning the aisles, what else needs to be done- ripping the ticket in half, dishing out sodas, and watching movies for free in the back of the theater? I had an usher job when I was in high school, and yeah, it sucked, but thats what minimum wage jobs are. If you want more than bust your butt to get a better job. Lastly, don't come whining to me about how its our fault that concessions are so expensive. Theater owners are going to jack up prices because they know that people like eating popcorn and drinking soda in the theaters, regardless of price. They can get away with charging 5 bucks a soda, so they do, not specifically to offset the cost of the (again) MINIMUM WAGE worker thats cleaning up the mess.

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Although Mr. Seinfeld is a funny man, and the bit was funny, it would of been a Lot funnier if he was kidding. But alas, he wasn't. And the audience were nodding their heads with him. We put these movie stars' movies on the big screen, run them, give them a chance at box-office success, and are then bombarded by those who we help rise up to stardom and get exposure to the public. It's ridiculous.
And don't get me started with the Public. I sell the food, I Do NOT make the prices. I can't tell you how often I hear people screaming at me, freaking out, biting my head off when I ask them if they'd like an upsize or a deal on their food. I Understand that it costs a lot of hard-earned dollars to come to the theatre, but I am Not to blame, and am working for MINIMUM wage, while in school, 25 hours a week, only to be bombarded by hollering customers who can't understand that while they're working, I'm going through school, and while they have recreational time at MY place of business, I am WORKING also. Get it through your heads, we are Teenagers making money so we can get independence, we are not part of some scheming corporation and don't individually decide the prices of the food we sell you. Leave us alone. If you don't like the prices, don't get in our line, we have crowds of people who Won't scream at us to serve.
And Now, for the biggest piss off in Seinfeld's bit. The mess and TRASH you leave in theatres. Do I come to your corporate office, department store, law firm or newspaper building and throw popcorn, large cokes, and nachos on your floor? Do I spill something and not pick it up? Do I stop to get a coffee from Tim Hortons, and put it on your desk, and leave it? No, I do not. So how about you respect MY place of business. Once again, I Don't make the prices. So don't create your public outcry by being a child and throwing your things on the floor. Grow up. If you have an issue, stay home, or see management. Do Not put the burden on teenagers. I get it, life is hard, but that's no excuse for you all to be bloody pigs. I clean theatres 4 times a day. 304 person theatres, by myself. I spill your infested pop on me, find your gum under the seats, and I do all of this AFTER you have already scolded me for selling this overpriced food TO you. We're taught manners as children. To pick up after ourselves, to stay clean. Are you children? I think not. It's a bit hypocritical to teach your kids cleanliness at home, then let them toss their kids packs with slushies on MY floor. Believe me, the last thing I like to do at 12:00 AM is pick up your garbage, so how about being a Little considerate?
Seinfeld, you are a jerk, and know NOTHING whatsoever about what I have to deal with Every time I work. People, I have no problem serving you, but I am Not the antichrist, so don't treat me like a demon. I am a human being, and think about that next time you want to holler at a helpless kid over the prices, or about asking PROCEDURALLY if you want butter, a special, or an upsize, and when you're done watching the movie We set up for you, pick up your stuff, it's only the courteous, humanitarian thing to do.
Thank you,

JD

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Like most of you, I also work at a theater. I wasn't really angry at Seinfeld's comment, but his joke still amazed me due to the plain and simple fact that people feel that they are entitled to leave their trash anywhere they please. I know it's my job, but it really shouldn't have to be. So, next time you go to the movies, make the extra effort, grab your garbage, and throw it out in the trash can you HAVE to pass (come on you pass it anyway!) on the way out. It's simple.

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