crowd searched for weapons at 9:30pm showing of Fahrenheit 9/11......

[Claire Beth]

in Nashville last night. First of all, we attended the 7:20 show and it was absolutely FANTASTIC! We went in without any incident...at the end, the movie received a STANDING OVATION.... The theatre (ALL SHOWS) were sold out.

We had no problem getting in but in leaving we noticed the crowd for the next show had been lined up by management single-file to be searched for weapons before entering the theatre. We know this for sure because an employee was announcing that everyone who wanted to go inside for the movie was going to be searched. No explanation was given as to the reason, but we suspect the *right wing* possibly called in threats trying to make it so difficult for theatre management that they would just pull the movie! Having to shake down over 300 people every show would have to be a pain. Did this happen to anyone else anywhere, or was this an isolated incident in Nashville? :shrug: ???

[asjr]

1. How ironic. "They hate us for

our freedom" you know. Bill Frist probably had a hand in it.

[dubyaD40web]

2. I don't know about searching for

weapons....but I'm sure they're looking for recording devices etc. Trying to stop people from pirating the movie on the web maybe?

[Claire Beth]

3. nope

If it were recording devices they would have searched the 7:20 pm crowd, too. Theatre management ANNOUNCED they were searching for weapons!

[eek]

4. My rhetorical question has been answered

F911 was on two screens at the lovely Deco movie palace where we'd just watched the Picture of the Year.
As our packed house emptied and the next packed house started to go in,
the energy and excitement felt like what you'd expect before a big, sold out concert event..not a lil ol documentary!

I heard several people make comments about the scene - one older guy said he hadn't seen anything like this for a movie since the original "Star Wars"

I said to my gang "gee...I wonder how long it'll be before they start trying scare tactics to keep people from the theatres?" :eyes:

The Tennessee story provided the answer.

[alittlelark]

5. I would ask the theatre management

it is possible that someone phoned a threat or something along those lines.

The cognitive dissonance that many RW wacko's have been going through for a few years now could certainly cause some to crack.:shrug:

[Mnemosyne]

6. I'm not surprised...

Drove thru Tenn in 1996 and was pulled over on I65 by DEA claiming saw us smoking joint, after following us for 15 miles!

It was a cig, finished good stuff outside Cleveland, thank God!

15 cop cars from varying areas showed up, searched car and male driver. only found rolling papers, which they confiscated, aren't papers legal? Checked my hair conditioner, I bought some {10} at home in Pa that couldn't get in Bama.

Anyway, we were 1 mile from Bama line and they said we could go. When we started to leave stopped us again to look under hood.

It was scary.

[Citizen Daryl]

8. Wow, if I didn't know better ...

... I'd have said you were on I-65 heading into Kentucky. The cops on I-65 at exits 104 and above are high-strung.

[NashVegas]

7. My Guess - Someone May Have Written or Called in a Threat

I'm going tomorrow; all of today's shows were sold out when I tried Fandango.

The killer is that Fandango tickets for Nashville didn't go on sale until the last minute. If they had, I'm sure it would have given Regal an idea of how many screens they should have prepared.

[Citizen Daryl]

9. I bought my tickets on Tuesday.

I think they should have been aware. It all came down to bad planning on Regal's part. I can't hate them, though, they're the only theatre in Nashville (apparently) with the balls to show the film on opening night. I'm actually surprised that the Belcourt wasn't showing it also.

[dbackjon]

10. I was searched

My partner and I attended the 9:30 showing (actually around 10) - and yes, they searched the crowd (bags, etc). Their stated reason was to look for weapons and flyers. I thought there was going to be a small riot over that.

Interestingly enough, I went back to the lobby before the movie started - when I re-entered, no one was being searched as they entered the theater.

[newyawker99]

11. Hi dbackjon!!

Welcome to DU!! :toast:

[Claire Beth]

12. my hubby hollered out ......

"Just search the republicans, they're the only ones who would have a problem with the movie." Everyone laughed and applauded him.

Welcome to DU!!! :hi: this is one terrific place for progressive minds.

[dbackjon]

14. That was him?

We all had a great laugh on that!

Thanks for the warm welcome from everyone - long-time lurker, but had not registered/posted til now.

It was great to see so many Dems/progressives in one place that night!

[Claire Beth]

15. yeah, that was him....

he used to be one of the liberals on talk radio here in the area before they replaced everyone with the conservatives.

[Mr Switters]

13. Looking for fliers?

So is printed literature now considered a dangerous weapon? I don't understand... if I would have been carrying Kerry campaign pamphlets would the theater management confiscate them? This seems a little ridiculous, even by our normal Tennessee conservative standards....

Searching for weapons I can understand (although this is kinda ridiculous as well). Theater management is probably only responding to a possible threat and was doing what was "required" to stave off liability (kinda like those kids that called in bomb threats the day of exams in college). Have there been reports of violence or disturbances at other theaters in the country that we are unaware of?

This movie definitely has people fired up, but it doesn't mean anything if it doesn't prompt or empower people to register to vote and cast their vote come election day.

dbackjon, welcome to DU!

[Claire Beth]

16. welcome to DU!

:hi: