Disabled Boy Thrown Out Of Movie Theater For Laughing Too Loud

WALLKILL, N.Y. -- The family of a disabled 7-year-old boy wants an apology from a movie theater after the manager threw him out for laughing too loudly.

The parents of Anthony Pratti say it happened Sunday in Wallkill, New York, when they took their son to see "March of the Penquins."

The boy has cerebral palsy and autism. The family says he was enjoying the movie from his wheelchair when a theater worker said he was laughing too loudly, and would have to leave.

Gina Pratti said they would try to have their son laugh more quietly, but the manager wanted him to leave.

She says she was dumbfounded when the manager told them the entire family didn't have to go, just the boy in the wheelchair.

The manager refunded everyone's money.

A representative of Loews Cineplex told a Middletown newspaper they are looking into the matter.

Originally posted by Mignon:
OMG That is BS. I've been in theater's and I would hear cell phones ringing and nothing was done. But they are going to make an example out of a 7 year old boy who was laughing a little loud.

Originally posted by Sicilian Babe:
My heart broke for that family. I thought it was awful, and very sad. I'm not sure how I feel about the manager's actions. I wasn't there. I don't know how disruptful he was being. However, and I know this is going to sound very, very cold, it costs me $40 to get into the movies, not to mention popcorn, soda, etc. How loud was this boy? Were other customers complaining? Does the manager owe more to this boy because he's in a wheelchair than he does to his other customers? I guess you would have to have been there to know the answer.

Originally posted by Sicilian Babe:
The only reason that the manager could have had for throwing them out would be if numerous other patrons were complaining. If that wasn't the case, then the manager is just a jackass.