Have it on vibrate.  If you want to talk on the phone leave the theater.
If you can't do this go rent a DVD and enjoy it at home with cheaper snacks, the ability to relieve yourself (and pause the movie) at your convenience, and talk to people on the phone at your hearts content.

 

NO, Cell Phone jamming in theaters should be mandated !!!

What did the cell phoners do BEFORE they had a cell phone? How did Mom and Dad handle any emergency about their children ten years ago? What did Doctors do when they went to a theater in the PC days, (pre cell era)

Oh my god eldarSpirit, who did Jenny sleep with last night!?!?

Don't jam the control channel -- only the voice channels.  Phones will ring or vibrate, but the user won't be able to use them to talk until they clear the jammer.  That's a quality solution.
    But!  Currently active jammers are banned by the FCC.  There are construction materials (even paint) that blocks wireless communications.  In my opinion, every theater in America should use blocking construction materials, warn the customer, and only those adventurous enough to (gasp!) be detached from the world for ninety whole minutes will go to see the films.
    I mean, what do these people do if they have to visit grandma in the country?  Or go camping?  Or go into the basement for a beer? 
    Better yet, the wireless phone companies should develop a way for someone to leave a recorded message in the event that someone is unable to receive the phone call.

        Sag.

cell phones should be jammed in theaters as its disrepectful to the rest of us that are there to watch the movie. if life cant go on without you  for the time it takes to watch the movie I for one would apperiate it if you would stay in office,home or car .(WHEREVER YOU RUN THE WORLD FROM) and let us enjoy the $40.00 we just shelled out to escape  youre insistant babbiling .

I think it's rediculous to have legislation to keep people from being rude. Here's a high tech solution that I think will work. Theaters can hire people to keep an eye on the theater, perhaps they can carry a flashlight, and wear a funny looking hat.  When people are disruptive they can give the person/people a warning and eventually escort them out. We can call them "Ushers".  :-). Heck perhaps these "Ushers" can even keep an eye out for all of those people filming the movie with their Handycam to sell on the street. Then we can save the jobs of the set carpenters and costume makers that are being cast onto the street by piraters.

LV Geek+++

5hi+ man,,, you took the words right out of my mouth... THIS is where theaters are failing... this is where fast food is failing... this is where retail is failing... the entire service industry is run by disinterested (theoretical/wannabe) MBAs pushing around wage slaves who don't know/care/understand the Mission Statement, or the customer.

in NYC I often get rung up by a cashiers who are actively and animatedly talking on their cellphones. The self-righteous entitlement of the American consumer makes me want to puke. They are 'at work' but they are not 'working'

A nice dream, but the reality is probably that the same rude, self-centered people who would be talking on their phones would also become involved in loud, heated arguments with any "Usher" trying to eject them from a movie they "paid good money to see". 

Here's an experiment for multiplexes: have jammers active in only a couple of screens, advertise the fact, and charge more per ticket [to cover the "expense" of installing/maintaining the jammer], and see how many people pay a premium for less interruptions - while leaving Emergency Room Doctor's, and parents of routinely-injured children, free to take calls in the other theaters.

It could take-over like smoke-free restaurants & airlines, and "cell friendly" theaters may soon be the exception rather than the rule. 

    The restaurant at the Wilderness Lodge in Disney has really loud waiters that mess with the customers.  At one point during the meal one of them started scolding everyone for talking and told everybody to shut up.  When he finally managed to get all of us cowered into being quiet he pointed to this one guy at a table in the corner and said, "all of you keep it down for goodness sake -- he's on the phone" and then he stood there pointing at the guy and staring (along with the rest of us).  He kept shushing us until the man finally hung up the phone.  It was a complete riot.

        Sag.

Not only should cell phone jammers be placed in theaters (where our society has established a value of silence in theaters) but we should increase the places we put them. Key traffic chokepoints would be the first place. Hell let's put them in cars. Let's just shut them down for a day and see a return to humanity.

Talking on the phone seems to give people the right to be rude. As well as superhuman powers. Because they think they aren't going to get hurt from my car slamming into them when they pull out into traffic.

Did you all leave him a generous tip?

Do you have his address so I can send him a generous tip??   

Why couldn't I find the frequency and key to cellphones and jam them all in a 200 foot square area?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA.
Godamn that is some good customer service.
I only wish in every waiter/waitress/customer service rep there were balls as large as that (or breasts).

There you go, depending on big brother to protect you.  It's a lot more fun to carry your own jammer.  Watching the fun as the rude talker throws out their cell for poor performance is priceless.  Works in traffic as well!