Dear editor,
I am glad the Rialto Theatre has pulled a Disney-like advertisement about Enbridge and how wonderful they are.
I took my family to see the Spider-Man movie at the Rialto the other night and after spending a fortune on admissions and popcorn, was flabbergasted to discover I paid to be subjected to the Enbridge ad.
Cue the rainbows and cartoon birdies. Oils well that ends well. It’s a tar world after all.
My young son was with me, which helped reinforce my feelings on being brainwashed and abused. I felt sucker punched. I explained to him the reason for this advertisement and how distasteful I thought it was to be taken advantage of that way.
I feel, regardless of which side of the pump you stand on, this is a bad business move. A brief Facebook comment showed me I wasn’t the only one feeling this way.
I don’t mind paying the extra bucks for 3D, even though I see at this point only as an excuse for the theatres to charge more. I understand your numbers are down and you need to make money however you can and I love the movies. (Remember the extra-charge-seat-shaking-surround-sound when Earthquake came out in the ’70s? — same idea.)
I didn’t like it, but even understood the reason for some of the other ads we were forced to endure even after coughing up for the movies.
But … really, Rialto?
Where do you draw the line on who you sell your ad space to? Don’t you realize what a hot potato this is? Does Enbridge own stock in your chain?
I will be phoning in advance to see what advertisements I will be subjecting my children to at your theatre before I make the decision to spend money with you.
Doug Cox,
Comox Valley
