Theater apologizes for booting family
By Dave Richardson
Times Herald-Record
[email protected]
Disabled 7-year-old ejected from theater
Middletown - Young Anthony Pratti just wanted to see a movie, but today, his story has turned into a kind of firestorm.
The happy 7-year-old, who spends much of his time in a wheelchair dealing
with cerebral palsy and autism, was ejected from the Loews Cineplex theaters in the Galleria at Crystal Run Sunday.
As Anthony was busy laughing and having a good time watching the film "March of the Penguins," a theater manager told his shocked family Anthony was laughing too loud, and that he had to get out.
Anthony's story, which made the cover of today's Times Herald-Record, has sparked a tsunami of supportive phone calls, Internet chat room postings and e-mails from around the region and the nation, along with a minor media frenzy.
Gina Pratti, Anthony's mother, spent most of today chasing hordes of television reporters off her front lawn.
At least seven New York City television stations, plus MSNBC, descended on Pratti seeking interviews. The story was carried on radio stations around the tri-state region, and was even picked up by the Drudge Report Web site.
" My phone hasn't stopped ringing," Pratti said.
For its part, Loews corporate office has apologized to Pratti for what happened to Anthony, and says it's taking steps to ensure it won't happen again.
"We may not have exercised the best sensitivity in handling this situation," said John McCauley, senior vice president of marketing for Loews Cineplex Entertainment.
McCauley said the company would offer more training to employees in how to better deal with touchy situations.
"We welcome the Pratti family back to our theaters, and we hope they'll give us a second chance," McCauley added.
Anthony's story prompted a deluge of messages of solidarity, sympathy and support - and some generous offers.
Location of the theater
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Keith Lipsey, a Washingtonville police officer and martial arts teacher who works with autistic children, said he was incensed by Anthony's story.
He said he's trying to arrange a special night out at the Destina Theaters in New Windsor for Anthony, his family, friends.
"We should see who can laugh the loudest," Lipsey said. "I'll have bunch of cops around them, I'll bring the whole autistic society in. We'll make it a laughing matter in a positive sense."
Another woman offered to start a petition drive, and more than one person offered to boycott Loews theaters in response. Mark Zurlo, president of Middletown Discount Cinemas, said Loews should have known better, and that the Prattis are welcome to come to his theater anytime as his guest.
"It's a shame that happened," Zurlo said. "It makes us all look bad. There are ways to handle situations - that was not the way to handle it."
Pratti said her family is very, very grateful to everyone for the support.
She said she didn't go into this wanting anything but an apology. "I thought this was just a simple thing, but obviously it's touched a nerve for a lot of people," Pratti said.
