Teesside Park is a retail superstore and leisure development that was built on the former Stockton Racecourse back in 1988.
Part of this development was one of the first multi screen cinemas built in the North of England where you have a choice of around 20 different movies on any one day.
Back in 1988 it was an exciting and brand new introduction to the entertainment scene, and my wife and I have often traveled over 20 miles to Stockton to catch the film of our choice.
We paid our latest visit today to see a film called “Hampstead” starring Diane Keaton and Brendon Gleeson.
It is not what anyone would describe as a Blockbuster but it sounded like the kind of film that appeals to management and me, but, I guess not many others!
A film critic recently described it as follows:
“ This slight and modestly sweet, and mildly charming affair, squarely aimed at the older cinema- goer, is just the bill for those senior matinees where the ticket comes with a cuppa and a biscuit.”
There is no point in me wasting my time and yours in describing this “multiplex cinema” because if you’ve seen one, you’ve seen them all. They are all Butterkist, very expensive Pick n Mix and Hot Dogs. There has been one recent change however, and in my opinion one for the worst.
Since the multi screen cinema was introduced there was a price for kids, a price for adults and a price for seniors. You were advised which screen to go to and you sat wherever you wanted.
Today, for the first time in nearly 60 years of going to the pictures, we were allocated specific seats.
I kid you not. Row K Seats 108/109 to be precise.
I estimate that this particular auditorium seats about 300, but there were only 12 of us older cinema-goers watching it!!!
Can someone explain what this daft idea is meant to achieve?
We all had a good laugh about it, as people walked into the screen searching for their seats in the semi darkness when so many seats were empty.
Has anyone else experienced this madness? Because madness it is!
