Famous Players Discontinues Companion Policy

Famous Players Theatres has announced that as of September, 2003, it will discontinue its “companion policy” for patrons who use wheelchairs, that has allowed free admission to the escort of a person using a wheelchair. For those people with disabilities who are on fixed incomes and who require assistance, such a policy can often make the difference between being able to afford a night at the movies – and having to stay home.

In defending its decision to cancel the policy, Famous Players claims that groups of people with disabilities who are not wheelchair users have argued that it was unfair. Many other groups, such as people with intellectual disabilities, also require companions at the theatre. Why, one might ask, has Famous Players not decided instead to broaden the companion policy, allowing for anyone with a disability and in need of support to bring an escort free of charge?

Famous Players’ guest relations department has also indicated that the policy was originally created because many of its theatres were not accessible – and now, since the accessibility of its theatres has been vastly improved over the years, it is not necessary to allow free admittance to a companion.

One wheelchair user posted this tongue-in-cheek response to Famous Players on a website message board: “Imagine how thrilled I am to have the knowledge that you have trained your employees in how to suction out tracheas, empty leg bags, deal with dysreflexia, oxygen machines and sundries other problems of the disabled.”