I wanted to update every one on my earlier post about young children being allowed to watch very extreme violence and gore at the new Bricktown Harkin Theatre.

It’s been a very popular post not only with the discussion it’s received on this website but also off site and offline as well.

I received a really nice reply from Mike Bowers, Vice President of Harkins who has taken the time to address our concerns and the issues we have raised.

Here is his message:

Hello everyone,

my name is Mike Bowers and I am Vice President of Harkins Theatres. A manager at one of our theatres stumbled across this blog and brought it to MariJo (our guest services administrator), who then brought it to my attention. I appreciate the opportunity to address the concerns raised. I have read with great interest the spirited discussion, and I see that everyone is struggling with the same issues with which we as theatre operators struggle.

Harkins Theatres is a family owned company and has been since 1933. We take very seriously our mission to deliver the best movie-going experience at all times. We believe that we are entertaining our families, friends and neighbors; and approach our business with this in mind.

Harkins Theatres subscribes to the voluntary film rating system administered by the Motion Picture Association of America (as does AMC, Cinemark, Regal, and 99% of the theatres in America). We believe that it is our responsibility, to ensure to the best of our ability, that the rating restrictions are enforced at all times. The film rating board is comprised of volunteers, including parents, who rate films and provide guidance to movie-goers as to their content (information on the MPAA can be found at www.MPAA.org).

In order for a movie-goer under the age of 17 to purchase a ticket to an R-rated film at a Harkins' theatre, he/she must be accompanied by a parent or adult guardian. Our team members and managers are trained thoroughly on these procedures. Box office personnel are instructed to check ID, and our ticket-takers are trained to verify as the tickets come through. In addition, Harkins Theatres has created special ticket types (GC Guardian Child, GA Guardian Adult) to enable us to quickly identify a movie-goer under 17 attending an R-rated film without parent or adult accompaniment. When a parent buys a ticket for their child to an R-rated film, the child is give a ticket that reads "GC". This assists the managers when they approach a movie-goer under 17 attending an R-rated performance unescorted. This is important as many times children of a certain age attending a movie with their parent will sit separately.

Occasionally, we will hear from guests that are disturbed by seeing movie-goers under 17 in R-rated films under any circumstance. Unfortunately, not all parents are as concerned or involved in the development of their children as any of us would like them to be. I have at times marveled at the selfishness of some parents who would subject their young children to what I believe to be completely inappropriate content because they themselves wanted to see the movie. Harkins Theatres however cannot take on the role of parent for them. What I believe as a father of three (ages 9, 9, and 11), to be appropriate violent or sexual content for my children, may differ greatly from what another parent would approve of for their children. This specific concern is what lead me to create an alternative for parents wanting to view a R-rated movie, the Harkins PlayCenter. This is an on-site playcenter for children ages approximately 3 to 8. Children are checked in to our facility where there are games, books, popcorn, crafts, and of course movies. The parent and the child are given matching numbered wristbands, the parent is also given a local vibrating pager; and the child is supervised by our specially trained staff in a safe, secure, fun environment under constant video surveillance. At only $6 per 3 to 4 hour movie period, we lose money on this effort, but we believe it is worth the investment.

We can also make our best efforts to provide information and enforce our stated policies. We cannot always stop a determined 15 year old from circumventing our systems by sneaking around in to the wrong auditorium; however, we should be expected to not sell him or her a ticket. With a young work force of typically high school age employees, I cannot say that we never fall short, but I can say that we make every effort to ensure that any shortcomings will be addressed swiftly.

I had our staff research the specific circumstances in the original posting. As it happens, this performance was an advance private screening held by New Line Pictures. These types of screenings occur when a movie studio rents our auditorium and distributes the tickets through direct mail, radio stations, newspaper contests or other means. With the state of film pirating these days, the studios are very vigilant in their efforts to keep copies of their films from appearing on the web. This is why it was noticed that New Line had hired so much extra security for their event. These screenings are booked by the studio and usually managed by a local agency. The studio then is responsible to determine and manage their invited guests. Although the agency and radio stations have assured us that they did make the age restriction clear, It appears from the first hand reports in the above post that they did not properly follow these guidelines. Regardless of whether or not this was a Harkins Theatres event, we recognize that it will perceived as our responsibility. We accept this and have had communication with the agency and the studio to make them aware of the reported lapse. We have also discussed this with our local management team. I would also like to extend our apologies and ensure everyone that we will make every effort to see that this reported problem is not repeated.

The Harkins Bricktown 16 is the first Harkins' theatre to open outside our home state of Arizona. We are extremely committed to ensuring that the core philosophies that have brought us so much success for the last 71 years, are consistently evident in this location. If every you feel that we are falling short of our mission, please do not hesitate to contact us directly. Matt Foss is the theatre’s General Manager and can be reached at 405-231-4747, or feel free to contact MariJo Perez at 480-627-7777. Thank you again for the opportunity to address your concerns, and I hope to see you at the movies soon.

-Mike Bowers

Mike I very much appreciate you taking the time to respond to us. My view of Harkin Theatres is much better than it was and this response shows a level of concern and integrity that earns my respect as well I am sure of others.

I do think Terry Jones’s follow up comment did bring up a good point about whose responsibility it was to take the tickets and check for ID. I think that Mike tried to address that in explaining what they try to do and that they are aware it didn’t happen. All blame certainly cannot be placed in the direction of New Line or the sponsors without placing Harkins right up in there with them. Harkins clearly sponsored and sanctioned the event and holds responsibility for how that event was handled. I do think that Mike has been clear that not only are they aware but have the same concerns about this happening.

My friends and I are huge moviegoers, well beyond the average, and haven’t been to Harkins since because of what we saw. Knowing they care about what happened, and the willingness to apologize and address our concerns means a lot and I hope to again enjoy Harkins Theatre.

Follow up comment from my wife:

Thank you, Mr. Bowers for addressing this issue! I am relieved to know that your theater has such good policies. I have 2 boys, age 4 & 2. I personally would not let my child see The Passion of Christ or Blade until they are at least 17 (hopefully older).

I was very disturbed to see young children in the theater that night and when I say young I mean 2 to 8 years old. The 2 yr. old girl sat behind us and cried at all the scary, bloody parts of the movie. Her mother never took her out of the theater or tried to soothe her. I felt sorry for the little girl and was amazed that someone could be that selfish. It is the fault of the parent for taking a child that young (it shows their values).

But I think that society has specific rules because of people like that and when a parent isn’t doing a good job, then it is society’s job to help that parent. A graphic movie affects a child in more ways than we can understand. I for one don’t want that to be OK .