A Typical Day at the Movies

WAYNE, N.J. -- Zachary Pellegrini wisely wore his track pants to the movies. At a recent screening of "Alvin and the Chipmunks: The Squeakquel," the 7-year-old from Totowa popped up from his seat and squeezed past his dad's legs, to freedom — the theater's ramped aisles. Up and down he ran, pumping his arms, as his light-brown mop of hair bounced as the picture flickered.
No one in the audience complained or even paid much notice as Zachary burned off his popcorn.
Across the room, Owen Rogers, 6, wandered near the movie screen. His mom ran over to retrieve him — only after he had poked his head behind the curtains.
If this sounds like a moviegoing disaster, it's not.
It's a typical Saturday morning at AMC Loews in Wayne, which once a month has a sensory-friendly showing for autistic children. The sound levels are down and the lights are turned up, making the scene friendly for children who frequently experience sensitivity to loud noises, flashing lights and even certain smells.