I wonder what people 100 years ago used to applaud with other than their hands…
The images you see here come from Peter Kobel’s book “Silent movies: the birth of film and the triumph of movie culture” courtesy of Old Hollywood where the following is said of their existence:
Glass slides (or lantern slides, as they were originally called) were used as pauses when reels were being worked on or changed. They were also known as “etiquette” slides because of the lighthearted instructions for patrons’ behavior when viewing the show.
Nowadays theaters have done their best to continue with the policy of trying to entertain while inform audiences to be quiet and courteous of those around them, but I can’t help but wonder if we are getting to the point where all niceties can be thrown out the window. Perhaps as the Alamo Drafthouse has done. Take for example, this “Don’t Talk” PSA from the Drafthouse by R. Lee Ermey:
Of course, if you can’t manage to shut up they kick your ass out, which can sometimes result in something like this:
And not everything the Drafthouse presents is vulgar. Take this PSA featuring the late Texas Governor, Ann Richards:
Now here are a few more of those old school etiquette slides followed by what larger theater chains are still using to supposedly try and keep their theaters quiet during movies. However, just so you know Regal and AMC… IT’S NOT WORKING!
These following videos kill me. As if a corporate sponsored “Please silence your cell phones” video is going to stop the knuckleheads from checking their text messages.
