OK, so I am a little bit late on getting this blog entry done (I have a job and stuff, people), but Chad and I were invited to the press event for the soon-to-open Alamo Drafthouse that is in Richardson, Texas last weekend, and I thought I would share some of our findings with you all:
- This is a theater chain that handles first-run, retro, and independent films.
- It has a built-in pub called the Glass Half Full Pub, which can seat up to 100 people. Outside, it has a neon that fills up a mug of beer, old school style.
- There will be seven auditoriums, seating anywhere from 45 to 247 (the largest auditorium in the 15 locations they have opened so far, which also has a 60-foot wall-to-wall screen). Each auditorium features 4K digital projectors, and one of the auditoriums has 35mm capability as well, so if you are an old school film nut, this is the joint for you... ON MULTIPLE LEVELS!!!!!
- Each auditorium has leather seats with retractable arms. The location also features a 3,000 square foot kitchen with a full-service menu, where everything is made by hand from scratch every day. There is also a bar within the kitchen that mirrors the one in the Glass Half Full Pub, so the bartender outside will not have to handle the drinks for the theaters. This makes things more efficient all around.
- The servers are trained basically to be ninjas. The goal of the Alamo is an "unobtrusive movie watching experience". The way this is achieved is with ample space between the table and where the server moves, so as not to block the view of the moviegoer. There is also no light you turn on for service or flashlight to see what is going on. You simply write what you need on a piece of paper and clip it to the table. The server will come and grab it from you and handle business from there.
- Do you like to run your yap or let everybody that is not there know where you are via your phone? Then take it up the street, Jack. The Alamo has a STRICT no talking/no texting policy. You get one warning, and after that it's, "Hit the bricks, Junior!" Also, any child under the age of 18 MUST be accompanied by an adult, and if you have a baby, you can only see films on the designated Baby Day, which is for shows before 2 PM on Tuesday.
- Hate that half-hour of advertisements you have to sit through before the trailers? They have that covered as well. There is a 30-minute pre-show that is custom made to work with the film you are seeing. Trust me: from what I have been told by some pretty well-versed people in the Alamo Drafthouse culture, you WANT to get there early.
- Seating is 100% reserved, so you don't have to fight with someone's Aunt Brunhilde for a particular seat. It's already there.
Now, if that wasn't cool enough, it's about to get REAL.
- Each Alamo has its own theme. The theme for the Richardson location will be technology gone wrong via robots. To go along with this theme, for the Alamo's soft opening (August 6th - 8th), there will be the following films shown for an admission price of $2.00 and half-price food:
- Robocop
- The Iron Giant
- Weird Science
- The Transformers Movie (1986... where "You Got The Touch" CAME FROM)
- Short Circuit
- *batteries not included
- Jimmy Neutron
- The Grand Opening will be August 9th.
- From time to time, there will be special events like:
- Sing-A-Longs: where there is a music theme and everyone sings along. Think of it as a cross between karaoke and group therapy.
- Quote-A-Longs: where the movie plays with its famous quotes for you to work with. It's one of the only times you CAN talk during the film.
- Afternoon Tea: have you ever thought, "This Ivory-Merchant film could use some atmosphere?" Watch a movie, have tea and crumpets (seriously... that's a thing) during these screenings
- Sports Events? Chad and I got to spend some time with the COO Bill DiGaetano, who told us that yes, they do major sports events. For instance, during the last World Cup, they were open 24 HOURS A DAY to get all of the games. Chad's wife, Jules (who is of British descent) was VERY interested.
So, what happens before then? So glad you asked:
- In the Saturday nights leading up to the opening, you can watch a movie in their parking lot. Last Saturday night, they screened "Dazed And Confused," with a muscle car show, pinball arcade, and DJ playing '70s tunes. This week, it's "The Lost Boys," and next Saturday night, it is the greatness of "The Goonies"!
- And mark your calendar for July 25th, because after they have their advance screening of "At World's End" WITH SIMON PEGG, EDGAR WRIGHT, AND NICK FROST, they will show the other two parts of the "Blood & Ice Cream Trilogy" in the parking lot, consisting of "Shaun of the Dead" and "Hot Fuzz".
In summation, it's simple kids: CINEPHILES, YOUR BOAT HAS COME IN!!!! We will be definitely making repeat trips there for movies and more!
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