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Movie Theater Etiquette Posters From 1912
By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 5, 2014
Modified Nov 5, 2014
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Courtesy of the Library of Congress
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By
Jen Carlson
Published Nov 5, 2014
Modified Nov 5, 2014
Share
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Movie theater noise has been a problem since the first ever picture show, and in 1912 lantern slides were created by the New York firm of John D. Scott and Edward Van Altena instructing patrons of theaters on simple etiquette.
"If annoyed when here, please tell the management," reads one, while others instruct viewers of the film not to talk, whistle, or wear view-blocking hats. We found one letter to the editor in the NY Times from 1916 (PDF) regarding theater noise (both plays and movies), which reads like it could have been written today:
"It's really a shame... so much time, thought, and money on these splendid productions of our New York theatres to have the whole effect spoiled by the untutored 'enemies' of their own house staff. The average usher from the movie house to the most exclusive temple of the drama seems to feel that the theatre is his private palace and we of the audience his ladies-in-waiting and his humble retainers and pensioners."
This guy would have hated cell phones! Of course, the complaints these days are pretty much solely directed at the audience-goers. New Yorkers: not shutting up in theaters for over a century. [Backstory via The Vault]
Tagged
etiquette
flashback
movie theater
Jen Carlson
Jen Carlson is a former WNYC and Gothamist editor.
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Gothamist is funded by sponsors and member donations
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