Village of Floral Park, NY Admission of Children to Theatres

After such approvals, the Village Clerk, upon the payment of the fee of $2, shall issue to any such applicant a license to admit to such motion picture theatre children over the age of eight years and under the age of 16 years, unaccompanied by a parent or guardian or other adult person, upon compliance with the following conditions:

A separate section of seats shall be provided on the main or orchestra floor by the owner, operator or management of such theatre to be used exclusively for unaccompanied children, and adults shall in no event be admitted to such section during the time the children are there. The size of such section may vary at different periods of time but a sufficient number of seats for all unaccompanied children must at all times be available and such section as set aside shall be clearly marked or designated.

A seat in such section of the theatre shall be provided for every such unaccompanied child admitted to such licensed theatre and no such child shall be permitted to stand or to occupy any balcony or box or any other part of the theatre.

No such unaccompanied child shall be admitted to such licensed theatre except during the time when his school classes within the village are not in session, nor shall such unaccompanied child be admitted after 6:00 p.m. of any day.

One licensed matron shall be provided by the theatre, with such additional assistants as may be found necessary from time to time by the Police Chief, to afford proper oversight of such children at all times. It shall be the duty of the matron to see that the provisions of this ordinance and of all other laws, ordinances and regulations of the state and village applicable to theatres are enforced in such theatre during the presence therein of any such unaccompanied children, and she shall have charge of and direct the activities of her assistants. Each of such assistants shall be responsible to and comply with the directions of the matron in the performance of such duties.

The matron and the required number of assistants shall be in attendance and shall give their undivided attention to the supervision of such unaccompanied children during the entire time that such children are present in the theatre. No person shall be deemed a matron or an assistant to the matron within the meaning of this section unless such person is more than 21 years of age, of good moral character and has been licensed as such by the Board of Trustees. A badge or other appropriate identification shall be conspicuously worn at all times by each matron and assistant while on duty. A fee of $5 shall be charged for each matron's license to be paid by the owner, operator or management of such theatre.

[Amended 10-17-1961]

Any section of seats provided for unaccompanied children pursuant to this ordinance shall be easily accessible to exits, and the obstruction of any exit or any aisle leading thereto is prohibited. It shall be the duty of the matron in attendance to examine, at each performance attended by any such unaccompanied child, the doors of fire exits and to cause them to be kept unfastened and unobstructed at all times while any child under her supervision is in the theatre.

The name of each licensed matron and assistant or assistants on duty shall be posted in a conspicuous place near the front of the box office and shall be accessible to the public at all times.

Each unaccompanied child shall comply with the reasonable directions and requests of the matron in charge concerning his deportment while in the theatre, and for failure to do so, any such child may be removed from the theatre by direction of the matron.