THX Tech Pages

III. Theatre Maintenace & Operations

Viewing Conditions and Image Quality:

2. Parking facility continued

Parking should be adequately lit for safety and so patrons can easily identify their vehicles at night. Parking facilities should be free of debris.

3. Boxoffice

Theatre boxofices should be located near the front entrance of a theatre complex where applicable. Boxoffices should have signs indicating the leature(s), showtime(s), ratingIs), and admission price(s). The conditions under Attraction panel/Exterior signs (see #1, Marquees/Attraction panels and exterior signs) should apply to boxoffice signs. Boxoffices for multiplexes should have signs that indicate where tickets are purchased for the different features.

The sidewalk in front of the boxoffice and theatre entrance should be free of obstructions, hazards of any type, and debris.

Lines of ticket holders should be supervised by a theatre employee, be clearly distinguished from the line to buy tickets, and not obstruct the boxoffice or theatre entrance.

4. lobby

Refreshment stands should be located in the theatre lobby, and the sale of all refreshments should take place here during presentation. Lobbies should provide easy access to the auditorium (s), the refreshment stand, and the restrooms. Lobbies should have the means to display promotional materials (standees, one-sheets, etc.). They should also have an adequate number of trash containers.

5. Restrooms

Theatre complexes should have restroom facilities for both men and women that are easily accessible from the lobby. Restrooms should be clean, well lit, and free of offensive odor. They should have running water and be supplied at all times with toilet paper, soap, and should also have some means for patrons to dry their hands. Restrooms should be monitored periodically by theatre management. Adhere to state and local health and sanitation codes.

6. Refreshment Stand (cleanliness, organization, efficiency)

Refreshment stands should be located in the theatre lobby. Refreshment stands should be designed and adequately staffed to minimize the wait of patrons. Patrons should be served as quickly as possible within live minutes of approaching the refreshment stand. All counters should be free of debris and not wet or sticky. Condiments, napkins, and straws should be easily accessible. All drinks served should have lids.

Where the National Association of Concessionaires (NAG) has set guidelines for service or quality of product, adhere to these guidelines.

7. Avditorium identification

Auditoriums in a multiplex should be identified at the entrance. It is recommended that they be identified with the feature title. All titles should be spelled correctly. The letter of titles should be coordinated and have a neat appearance.

8. Auditorium (maintenance, cleanlioess, temperature)

Many variables such as temperature, humidity, and draits affect tile comfort of motion picture audiences. The temperature in audiioriums should be comfortable; heat to a minimum of 68 degrees and cool to 76 degrees

(c) 1993 Lucasfilm Ltd. _TM TAP and Theatre Alignment Program are service marks of Lucasfilm Ltd. _TM

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The aisles should be free of obstructions, hazards of any type, and debris. The floor between the rows of seats should be clean and dry. It is recommended that all targe debris be picked up and spills be mopped up between shows.

Auditoriums should be monitored by theatre staff during all presentations. 9. Auditorium lighting

Auditoriums should have lights [wall, ceiling or both) that illuminate the interior. In addition, there should be lights (on the floor or on the aisle seats of the rows) that it luminate the aisles.

The interior lighting of an auditorium (house tights) should be sufficiently reduced during feature presentation so as not to interfere (cast a glare, cause loss of contrast, etc.) with the projected image on the screen. (See page 2, #3.) House lights should be dimmed before the image is projected onto the screen, and may be raised to an acceptable level during the end credits for the safety of exiting patrons. Aisle lights should remain on during the presentation to assist patrons entering and exiting the auditorium.

10. Seats

Auditorium seats should be arranged in parallel rows facing the screen and follow the conditions detailed under Screen image size and viewing angle distortion. (See page 3, #9.) Seats should be in good condition with no broken arm rests, seat backs, or bottom cushions. Seats shoutd have a minimum width of 20 inches. Space between rows of seats should be as great as possible but not less than 36 inches for fixed-back seats, and no less than 38 inches for rocker seats.

For auditoriums with more than 250 seats, prime seating should not be sacrificed for aisles (i.e.: aisles in the center of the seating area).

11. Theatre staff

Theatre employees should be courteous, efficient, knowledgeable, and clean and neat in their appearance. They should also be easily identifiable as theatre employees. There should be an adequate number at both the refreshment stand so that patrons do not wait more than five minutes for service. There should be employees in the lobby to direct patrons to the correct auditoriums and to assist with questions. Theatre managers should be easily identifiable and accessible.

12. Showtimes

Theatres should begin the presentation Iwhen the first moving image is projected onto the screen) no earlier than the advertised showtime and no later than five minutes after the advertised showtime. Showtimes advertised in newspaper ads should be correct and match those on a theatre's recorded phone message.

A theatre's recorded phone message should give correct information, be clear and easily understood, and contain a number to carl for further information (by-pass number).

13. Emergencies

All theatres should have an established and documented method for paging patrons in life-threatening emergencies as well as estabtished and documented procedures for handling any incident which potentially threatens the safety of the audience and/or staff. This should include a proper program for the safe evacuation of the theatre as worked out between management and local safety officials.

(c) 1993 Lucasfilm Ltd. _TM TAP and Theatre Alignment Program are service marks of Lucasfilm Ltd. _TM

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