DEAR MISS MANNERS: My friend and I arrived about 20 minutes early for a movie and were chatting quietly during the (advertising-heavy) digital pre-show. About five minutes later, an older couple came in and sat in front of us, and about five minutes after that, the man turned around and admonished us to be quiet.
We complied, but I was startled, as I thought it was acceptable to talk until the trailers began. Is there now an expectation of silence for the half-hour presentation before the trailers?
GENTLE READER: There is not -- a theater is not a library. But Miss Manners suggests that rather than attempting to school an elderly couple, you apologize: "I'm so sorry. We thought the show had not yet begun. We'll try to keep our voices down during the advertisements."