People sat behind desks whose job is solely to sell tickets?
One-time essentials such as projectionists, ushers and screens being actively policed have long fallen by the wayside.
By way of compensation, a few technological innovations have taken their place.
Some of these are useful.
Economising is the clear agenda in big modern mainstream picturehouses.
Who needs human beings, right?
In particular, whats coming to mind is the growing phenomena of the box office-less cinema.
In their place, more of those aforementioned Daleks are springing up.
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A local multiplex to me has become the latest to adopt this new approach.
I should note here: for a good number of people, using the self-service machines isnt a problem.
But nothing that cant be negotiated reasonably easily by most people.
Again, I understand the importance of this to cinemas.
94-ish tubs of popcorn, though, suddenly makes the model work.
Assorted problems, though.
At least for me.
Thats understandable though, as its a queue dealing with people who often want very different things.
I love coffee, but even I inwardly groan when the person in front asks for three lattes.
Yet cinemas are funnelling us all through the same queue.
Im sure that somewhere deep behind this decision are words such as synergy, and consolidation, and optimisation.
But I do think human beings matter.
Just one person, with a dedicated counter.
Sit them next to as many Daleks as you like, but make their sole job to sell tickets.
Not that weird, but strangely delicious, multi-coloured slush muck.
Not even Pringles (although why a cinema is selling you crisps is a matter for another piece).
Lots of cinemas still do this.
Independent cinemas, in my experience, all but insist on it.
There are few sights more dispiriting than a queue and a half when you walk through the doors.
A queue of people wanting a mix of different things, not all of which are best digested.
How about bringing the humans back, and not letting the Daleks invade the Earth?