300 Movie Predicted To Be Largest "Seat In Between" Movie Ever
Frazer, Pennsylvania
Theater owners nationally have agreed that the movie 300, opening in theaters Friday, will be the largest "seat in between" movie ever. In movie theater lingo, "seat in between", or SID refers to the empty movie seat that movie goers leave between themselves and their friend's.
The phenomenon, although used by parents and children, is usually a tactic employed by males in the 15 - 37 age group.
The phenomenon, although used by parents and children, is usually a tactic employed by males in the 15 - 37 age group.
Mike Simpson (age 19), explains the purpose behind the "seat in between",
"I don't want ANYONE thinking just because I came to the theater with a dude - that I'm a gay. I'm not. I'm TOTALLY STRAIGHT. Don't believe me ladies? Come on down and I'll prove it to you. That's what the 'seat in between' does.'"
Theater owner Bill Nikes of East Whiteland, PA has observed the evolution of the practice,
"I don't want ANYONE thinking just because I came to the theater with a dude - that I'm a gay. I'm not. I'm TOTALLY STRAIGHT. Don't believe me ladies? Come on down and I'll prove it to you. That's what the 'seat in between' does.'"
Theater owner Bill Nikes of East Whiteland, PA has observed the evolution of the practice,
" Before the seat in between, the usual thing for claiming heterosexuality in theaters was turning around and declaring, 'Yo - we ain't gay - Does anyone got a problem with that'? I started to see the SID around 1979. Then in 1999, they started doing two and sometimes three seats in between."
Each seat that is "left between" is in essence an empty seat. Ticket holder behavior, whether etiquette or driven by fear dictates that you don't sit in a 'seat in between'.
Theater owners have reason to be concerned. 300, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae could prove to be a doozie. The story details the battle of 300 Spartans in a last stand battle against the invading Persian army. The movie, with it's number of shirtless muscle men clad is leather-bikini and-cape ensembles could be the 'perfect storm' for the 'seat in between'. You put together the violence of the movie, the blatant homo eroticism and the 2 and 3 'seat in between' trend, and we could have 300 seat theaters declared "full' with 12 guys in it.
Each seat that is "left between" is in essence an empty seat. Ticket holder behavior, whether etiquette or driven by fear dictates that you don't sit in a 'seat in between'.
Theater owners have reason to be concerned. 300, based on Frank Miller's graphic novel about the Battle of Thermopylae could prove to be a doozie. The story details the battle of 300 Spartans in a last stand battle against the invading Persian army. The movie, with it's number of shirtless muscle men clad is leather-bikini and-cape ensembles could be the 'perfect storm' for the 'seat in between'. You put together the violence of the movie, the blatant homo eroticism and the 2 and 3 'seat in between' trend, and we could have 300 seat theaters declared "full' with 12 guys in it.
"All I know, those punks better be planning on buying a lot of God damned popcorn!"
