My wife is leaning towards a back row made up of the "tall" chairs that companies such as continental are offering. Basically, these chairs are about 8" taller than regular chairs enabling the back row to see over the front without using a riser.

Anyone using these? Are they easy to get into/out of? Comfortable once in them?

Or should I go to bat for a riser?

Besides the continental "Gable", and another brand's "Tower" (don't know which brand it is) are there any other models of these out there that we should look at.

As always, thanks for your learned advice.

Haven't heard of them. You might want to post a link to them.

Guy

I did a quick google and what I found is a site that sells a shorter front row seat. The front of the seat is 13 inches off the ground 9 in back. My berkline is 20 inches off the ground in front before compression.

Here are a few links:
Continental (Look at Page 2 of the spec sheet for "Gable"):
http://continentalseating.com/pdf/gt_gable.pdf

Here's the "Tower"
http://www.premierehts.com/sublevel.cfm?template=lounger&sub=The%20Tower

Any thoughts?

A couple of thoughts:

First the gable chair from Continental has a seat 30 inches off of the ground. I've been doing some looking at bar stools for a 42 inch high bar (about standard) those stools are 30 inches tall. So sitting in that chair would be similiar to getting on a bar stool.

Having said that and not knowing the planned mix of familiy, friends and their ages. I think I would build a riser if this is going to be a dedicated theater space.
It's not very hard and it really makes a statement that this is a SERIOUS THEATER.