Hope for theaters

I read Patrick Goldstein’s piece on the future of motion pictures [“Film Projection,” March 28] with interest. I have been an avid moviegoer from the late ‘40s and still am. There is nothing quite like the anticipation one feels sitting in a darkened theater when the feature is about to start.

Today, there are many things that interfere with that anticipation: commercials, yakkers, long previews, etc. But all is not lost. There are many things the theater owners could do -- have ushers control the yakkers, escort latecomers to their seats, ban commercials.

Instead the theater chains stick their heads in the sand and hope the competition goes away. That is playing right into the competition’s hands. The movie experience is a great product. It has to be marketed the right way.

DAVE PETITTO

Palm Springs