Paying for the Movie, Not Ads, in Theaters

What irritates me about having to sit through commercials at the movie theater [“Coming Distractions,” March 24] is precisely what marketers love. Although I might pay money for cable television or a newspaper that is filled with advertising, I have the option of tuning out, switching channels, going to the kitchen, turning the page or even looking at an interesting ad if I care to.

But when I pay nearly $30 for the two of us to go to a movie and enjoy an overpriced snack, I don’t expect to be bombarded with three or four minutes of inescapable commercials.

We could stay home, rent a video and microwave a bag of popcorn for less than $5.

Howard Schlossberg

Woodland Hills

*

In 1996 my wife and I, on a trip to South Africa, had several hours to kill before our plane left Johannesburg for home. Across the street from our hotel was a mall with a movie theater, so off we went.

What a surprise to find the theater almost empty when we went in and the lights went down. For what seemed like the next 20 minutes, while we watched commercials, other theater goers trickled in until there was almost a full house.

Local knowledge is a wonderful thing.

John L. Putman

Sun City

*

I despise the idea that one of the last refuges from advertising, the movies, is looked on as fair game for advertisers. Movies make plenty of money to cover costs. We pay hundreds of dollars in TV cable fees and get endless advertising and infomercials. We pay hundreds of dollars in Internet access fees and get Web pages blocked out by ads.

Enough is enough. I hope every audience boos and hisses until theaters realize people have paid good money to see the movie and trailers and that is all!

Kurt Sipolski

Palm Desert