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msluyter

I think Alamo Drafthouse in Austin is doing it right:

1. Food & beer/wine served with movie -- convenient and much preferable to overpriced popcorn.

2. Cellphones must be turned off.

3. They take talking seriously, and preface each film with a strongly (and amusingly) worded statement to that effect.

4. No babies allowed except on specified baby nights.

5. Creative and fun special events, such as quote-alongs, sing-alongs, live comedy (Master Pancake, which is sort of like live MST3K), movie/food pairings, etc...

I pretty much refuse to go to any other theater, and judging by their crowds, they seem to be doing quite well with this formula.

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Cineplex here in Canada is getting much better. They've started opening VIP theatres, which because of the drinking age here in Ontario means absolutely no-one under 19. People paying the extra couple bucks don't use their cellphones and don't talk during the movies.

In their main theatres they now have stroller screenings where the volume is reduced and the lights stay on low. They've done the sing-alongs. They also let you rent out the theatre to have xbox gaming with Halo or whatever you want to play.

Sadly the general theatres aren't great at policing the cellphones or no talking. Although I've heard several times that they're interested in the cellphone jamming, but it's illegal to jam 911. I have heard, and noticed, that in a lot of the newer theatres you get really poor reception in the general theatres. It could just be coincidence from them being out of the way and all the steel, but I do appreciate it nonetheless.

Instead of jamming, couldn't they cover the theater with foil?

The Cineplex VIP theatres I've seen are very, very, small, show what looks like a weird digital transfer rather than the original print, and have poor seating arrangement which combined with the small screen makes only the middle two seats in each row any good.

And I paid extra for this?

Also, there are a handful of VIP theatres. And when I've utilized them, they've always been packed. I'd welcome the price increase if it didn't feel like I was just trading a problem for another.

> Although I've heard several times that they're interested in the cellphone jamming

Doctors go to the movies, too.

Think about this: A doctor is on-call, meaning that at any moment they might be called in to come to the hospital to save your life.

They have a cell phone which is the only way they can be reached when they settle in to watch a film in the local multiplex. The same multiplex that jammed cell phones without telling anyone (because multiplexes hire idiots).

You come in to the hospital and need the doctor immediately. So they are called.

And the doctor's cell is dead.

And so are you.

(The ensuing lawsuit will totally bring you back to life.)

if instead of jamming they chose to build the theatre out of lead and posted a sign that said "cell phones don't work in here" then the result would be that people on call should not attend movies.

One would hope that a doctor on call would monitor their pager/cell phone to ensure they have service.

I know when I was on pager rotation, I was very aware of when I lost service, and governed my location accordingly.

Actually, I'm not on Internet Operations Pager Duty anymore, and I can _still_ tell you that the Old Spaghetti Factory in Redwood City results in my iPhone losing Data - I get very nervous while I'm there.

Net-Net - the doctor argument doesn't hold water, there are a ton of other reasons why you might lose service beyond a theater jamming - and you need to be aware of all of them and take appropriate measures.

your logic is flawed. there are plenty of activities that can make you unreachable. one example pops up ..if you are a hiker, professional or for leisure , you know you will hit spots that have no cell phone coverage.

I'm a fellow Austinite and will vouch for the Drafthouse as well.

The prices --while still obviously above raw cost-- are fair in comparison to the traditional competition. Four dollars for bottomless coke; six dollars for popcorn. They have a gigantic selection of brews and wines. There are various entrees available at the same price of a typical restaurant.

The pre-show entertainment isn't just a thinly veiled sequence of advertising. It can be hit or miss --apparently they're _all_ edited by two fellas in an office somewhere-- but it's nothing like the "LOOK AT THIS AWESOME PRODUCT!" strategy. Regal FirstLook, I'm looking at you and don't particularly care if the tablet survived a thousand foot drop from the sky or not.

Finally, they are able to cater to various crowds and match the atmosphere and the expected behaviour. Traditional movie-going? STFU and watch. "Quote-alongs" for the hits of the recent past? Feel free to revel in your shared heritage of Big Lebowski references, (polite and relevant) chatter welcome. Movie Marathons? Be prepared for Harry Potter supersaturation for the next 24 hours as you go from Sorcerer's Stone to Deathly Hallows. Don't have cable television but still want to enjoy The Walking Dead? There's a screening for that.

Oh, and regarding their no talking and texting rules. Think they don't take it seriously? Think again :)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs

#5 is what makes the Drafthouse for me.

Every time I sit down to see a Drafthouse movie, and I see the montage of that month's events, I inevitably find myself saying, "I want to come for that!" at least a few times.

This month's for the Austin area Drafthouses: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wBQNmmoEirc

If I just want to watch movies, I can sit at home and Netflix my brains out. The Drafthouse makes movies events again, and that's what gets me excited and wanting to come to the theater.

I'm a little fanboyish for the Drafthouse, I must admit. It was one of the things I was most looking forward to coming to regularly when I moved to Texas.

Alamo Drafthouse was great last time I was there (crap...6 years ago?).

For those of you not fortunate enough to get to Austin, the seating was not regular theater seating, you had some space and a table area for your food and/or bucket of beers. They often showed silly movies like Halloween I, where people will yell out things like "Don't open the door!" There is also wait staff, so you placed an order and they brough it to you. And they had a mix of films, from current movies to niche films.

From their website looks like they have expanded and are showing more first-run movies, but maybe it's still similar. When I started going there, there was only 1 theater downtown on 4th street. Ah...the good old days.

So far, Portland has a couple of theaters I've been to that serve beer/pizza, but you buy it at a regular snack counter and take it with you to your seat. Just not the same.

The alamo ritz (the one downtown) has showings and events closer to the old alamo. The south lamar one has the larger events (film festivals, etc.) and the same feel. I only go there for movies now, especially since dinner+movie ends up about the same as dinner elsewhere and then a movie for a better atmosphere. They also care about film and use appropriate brightness and sound, unlike most other theaters.

A surprising number of the old Portland theaters serve beer and food. The one I've been to (haven't visited them all) that serves you at your seat is McMenamin's Mission Theater at 16th and Glisan. I haven't been to Living Room Theaters on 10th, but they serve you at your seat, just not while the show is in progress.

The only McMenamin's theater I've been to is Kennedy school, might have to try out the Mission Theater, will have to look into the Living Room. Also, the Hollywood Theater on Sandy now serves beer, but they only show indie films, so I haven't gotten my wife to go there yet.

I went to an Alamo in Houston and while I liked the concept, the theater was a bit dank (which I worry is an inevitable result of serving beer and food) and not a place I'd prefer taking my kids --- which is relevant because "family of four" seems to be the core market for blockbuster films.

I like Alamo, don't get me wrong, but there are downsides to the model.

I doubt it's inevitable. The Movie Tavern is a chain with a similar concept. Food, beer, etc. served with the movie. They've got a location here in Denver that I rather like. Not sure exactly how long it's been around but I've been going there several years and they've managed to keep it pretty clean and nice. I like taking my kids to movies there. They get shakes, I get beer. We all have a good time.

I don't think you could take your kids to Alamo unless it is a special event. It is 18+ only.

We saw "Ratatouille" there, at around 5 in the afternoon. It was a spur-of-the-moment thing. Maybe it's 18+ after 7:00PM? Maybe it used to be? I don't know.

But at any rate, you're making my point for me. :)

One of their household rules is that "Minors must be accompanied by a parent or guardian". http://edition.cnn.com/2011/SHOWBIZ/Movies/06/10/alamo.draft...

In Houston there's Studio Movie Grill in City Center which offers a similar concept but more targeted to families/a bit more "corporate".

I haven't been myself (since I like Alamo just fine and only go with friends) but you might want to check it out.

The Alamo Drafthouse in Houston was a franchise location and not run by the same owners. In the past year or two, however, the parent company purchased the franchise locations outright and shut down the franchisee concept.

My guess is Houston will be looking up...

Why is there nothing like like this in the SF Bay Area? It seems to me a theater that served beer and decent pub food would do well in SF and I'd pay a premium both for the movie tix and the food, but at the same time similar quirky places like the Red Vic shutdown.

There used to be one in Oakland.

That was Oakland's Parkway Speakeasy Theatre, now closed. :(

http://m.yelp.com/biz/the-parkway-speakeasy-theater-oakland

Good news! They've signed a lease at a new location.

http://www.eastbayexpress.com/92510/archives/2011/12/29/brea...

The Kabuki theatre in japantown does a decent approximation for this. Seeing a movie there is a quite enjoyable experience.

Kabuki theater At Geary and...Fillmore (japantown)? in SF has assigned seating (pick when you purchase), a bar/lounge, nice captains chairs, and beer/wine in some of the theaters in the evenings. They also have a good mix of movies.

The Rialto in El Cerrito serves beer and will bring food in to you.. It's quite a fun experience!

Never been but sounds awesome.

McMenamins in Oregon does similar things:

- Couches in some theaters

- Order food and beer from their restaurant

- special events (like Monday night football)

Oops, forgot about the McMenamins, but their beer/food isn't really very good imho. Also, I would like it if they had more table areas, I had to sit my beer on the floor. They do have awesome buildings, though.

Was just about to mention them! I have been there twice when visiting my sister in Bend and loved the experience and the campus-like layout (thanks to its history). If I wasn't planning to move out west already I would be considering opening up something like that in one of the counties north of NYC.

do they turn down the sound during commercials?

are there local announcers over a game-sound-only feed?

I have always thought having free announcers who could say whatever they want would be way better than ones who are restrained by having to keep relationships with the players coaches, and networks who pay their salaries.

I'm a big fan of Alamo Drafthouse as well. I think their model really brings back a sort of "event" feeling to going to the movies which helps differentiate away from going to an ordinary theater or watching at home.

There is a theater in Columbus, Oh Called "Arena Grand Theater" it's a mix of a traditional thatre and something like Alamo... A few points about it.

1) Always been more upclass than competing theaters (and more expensive).

2) Far less seating.

3) Beer, Food, salads, wraps, and traditional snacks.

4)Located in the "Brewery District" or "Arena District" This means there were never any children there because the area doesn't lend itself to it.

They always stayed busy.

In the suburbs of Columbus in Upper Arlington there is the Movie Tavern, which is a chain with a few other locations around the country. They take a very similar approach, with tables in front of each seat.

Or there's the Wexner center which is the type of place that shows 'Satantango' (450 min. runtime) and often has double features for $7 (and less for students/members). I now regret having missed even a single film while I was nearby.

Don't forget Studio 35 just northeast of campus, where they have a HUGE beer selection, a great staff, and monthly productions/showings of Rocky Horror Picture Show.

The Prince Charles Cinema in London, UK [1] is also doing this kind of thing and is about the only place I can be bothered to go see a film these days.

[1] http://www.princecharlescinema.com/

There's quite a few independent cinemas in UK cities, all doing that sort of thing - many of them are non-profits as well. Fewer screens than multiplexes yet a more eclectic choice.

And like the Alamo Drafthouse, the Parkway and the Cerrito Speakeasy in the East Bay were doing something similar...though they closed in the economic downturn.

The Electric on Portobello Road[1] is nice too.

1. http://www.electriccinema.co.uk/experience.php

Might as well give a shoutout here to the Cleveland Cinematheque. It's a humble operation in some ways, but run by folks with an incredible amount of passion and devotion to film (film on film to be precise; none of this digital nonsense) and to the craft of showing and curating the art. I could probably go on and on about what they do, and how special it is, and how it changed my life. Cleveland is really one of the best cities to live in if you're a film buff.

Here's what's showing right now http://www.cia.edu/extended_film_schedule/

For the NYC crowd, there's a spot very much like this in Williamsburg: www.nitehawkcinema.com

Food is quite good, service is impeccable. It's a more intimate affair, only two people per booth - and there's only 30 or so seats per house. They do drink & entree specials themed with the films, which is pretty cool I guess. They helped get state law changed in order to serve cocktails and beer in the actual house.

In-between the featured presentations is curated from local (often quite good) film artists.

Exactly, a good night like that is awesome. We recently had a Horror Night in the back room of a pub, so we had pies and ale delivered to us (I literally ate two pies as they were fairly priced and goddamn awesome), and it was a lovely atmosphere, everyone sitting around on chairs, the odd technical hitch providing a smoking break. Absolutely awesome.

At the Alamo Drafthouse in San Antonio, they play a slightly modified version of this before every movie I've seen -

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xo9v_GIuDBk

Definitely a good place to watch a movie, and I think Ebert is spot on.

I wish their chairs were more comfortable but other than that I totally agree. I always check to see if movies are showing there first.

Reserving a seat (just like on airplanes, for those who haven't seen it) is so awesome.

Never been to the Alamo, but I imagine the process of kicking someone out who is using his/her cell phone during a movie must be quite distracting to everyone else, no?

Maybe, that one time. But if it gets the word out that the theatre /does not tolerate/ cell phone usage during a show, and that you really /will/ get kicked out if you do so, then it should make for less distractions overall for regular/repeat patrons in the future. I fucking hate people who use their goddamn phones during a movie, because of how insanely distracting their bright screen and bleepy feedback noises are in an otherwise most dark and sometimes quiet room. Heck, I would gladly sit through one of these fuckheads being noisily ejected from the theatre simply because they've /already/ ruined my enjoyment of the show, and deserve nothing less. That it will hopefully make phone use less likely in the future is just the cherry on top.

I love the Alamo for all of those reasons. Regarding #2, I have read on the Alamo site about some enforcements of that rule. Love it.

Nitehawk in Brooklyn and Living Room in Portland doing similar things.

TXJS was at the Drafthouse last year. Best conference venue ever.

This video Alamo posted to youtube of an angry customer bitching about getting kicked out for texting is amazing.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1L3eeC2lJZs

tl;dwatch:

customer: I was texting and you kicked me out; whine whine whine

alamo: gtfo and don't come back

Do you believe this is real?

If you've ever been there — which, if you have the chance, you should, it's great — then you would.

(So my answer is yes.)

Have been there. Like it. But this is a bit... "perfect".

I have a hard time imagining Tim League fabricating this. It would seem out of character from the way he runs the rest of his business, at least.

But the most important thing is, the enforcement of the rules behind the scenario in the voicemail is unflinchingly real. And given how much that clashes with the over-entitled brat crowd, I have little doubt that there have been voicemails like this left on the Alamo machines.

it's fun to imagine it is, and it's great advertising either way...

Agree! Wasn't complaining; genuinely curious.

KXAN Austin News believes it is real and interviewed the CEO about it. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PeMEr_vBzBk

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