Yes, the line is very oddly phrased. I think it was meant to reflect that thing we've heard -- that, very generally speaking, people back in the day tended to be a little smaller in terms of both height and girth. So those people didn't require wider seats -- but that meaning is very poorly conveyed in the line in question
As for whether modern theaters are more tightly packed, with narrower seats, to maximize profits, than in the past, that again may be generally true, but of course it depends on the venue. I have heard of specific cases where all new, narrower seats were installed in certain theaters to gain one or two more seats per row, which can add up to make a significant difference in terms of box office receipts for a hit. |
