Mayfair AMC is the worst theatre I've ever visited

I just walked out of a movie for the first time in my life. The movie was "The Mist". It was rotten--not the movie--the mall. Or rather, the AMC theatre at the Mayfair Mall. As a perfectly neutral visitor to Milwaukee, I have some perspective to shed on this matter. I understand, after searching for about 10 minutes online, that the Mayfair Mall is developing a contentious reputation for being a ghetto thug haven. This saddens me, because I don't think it's representative of Wauwatosa, which has always impressed me as being a nice neighborhood, similar to Grand Avenue in Saint Paul.

But this theatre has serious problems.

First of all, on Thanksgiving Day, there was a single usher on duty, and that usher apparently was taking in a movie somewhere in the theatre. The theatre did, on the other hand, have numerous security guards. I have never seen so many security guards at a movie theatre. Now, I'm an out-of-towner, but 6+ security guards to 1 usher is an odd ratio. Especially on Thanksgiving, which is one of the biggest movie watching days of the year.

The atmosphere inside of the actual theatre was awful. People were carrying on conversations at normal speaking volume, clearly not interested in the movie at all. They did not respond with any semblance of courtesy to a polite request to quiet down. Eventually we left, just as things were getting interesting in Castle Rock.

The main security guard and night manager asked us about things as we were leaving, and I did get my money back, but I was completely disappointed to learn that all of the ushers had gone home. The head security guard and the supervisor were both apologetic, and I really felt bad for them. I also learned that the Mayfair location was the only AMC theatre in the state. I was a little surprised. I will not be using my comp tickets until I get back to Minneapolis.

So, yes, the Mayfair AMC theatre has a very real problem. If you live in the neighborhood or work at the mall and suggest otherwise, take it from me--you've become hardened to a intimidating and completely useless environment for moviegoing. Theatres should be a place people can bring their families, and in most sensible places, they are. They certainly are in Minneapolis, and probably elsewhere in the Milwaukee area also. I won't be returning to the Mayfair AMC theatre during my next visits to Milwaukee.

Also, the problem is likely not coming just from minors. The problem is coming from adults who have never matured beyond an adolescent state. And last time I checked, it isn't a crime to talk in a movie, so citing arrest statistics doesn't really hold much water. This issue is about holding up customers to a higher standard, and forcing them to take personal responsibility. It's about real consequences, and strict enforcement of the rules on private property. If the Mayfair AMC wants to reduce crime and improve the atmosphere, they should hire more ushers, make sure that ushers rove constantly between theatres (it's not just a posh job for a highschooler to have so he or she can watch free movies) and ask your security guards to kick people out who cause trouble and are disrespectful. At the very least, check their tickets and flag the credit card numbers of offenders, then outright ban them from purchasing tickets after three strikes. Make sure that signs are posted warning people--adults and minors--of these policies, and enforce them.

If I were the manager of this theatre, I would consider it. It's better to make someone leave than to permanently lose a customer base.

And if it's just not worth the trouble, then admit it, pack up your shop, and leave Mayfair. You're going to earn the reputation of being a ghetto thug theatre in Wisconsin, if you haven't already.

For once, I can't wait until Monday. I'm taking the girl out to the lovely AMC 14 in Roseville and we're going to finish "The Mist".