The Alamo Drafthouse - An Austin Original

Not many new businesses open their doors andcommunity with their patrons by letting them
become an immediate Austin success, but theactually partake in the fun and creativity. Putting
Alamo Drafthouse is an exception to the rule. Intheir own twist on the Karaoke craze, the Alamo
1997, Tim and Karrie League opened the Alamocreated "Movieoke" letting fans choose clips from
Drafthouse in a downtown Austin warehousetheir favorite movies to "perform" live up on
building that was being used as a parking garage,stage, with the movie playing behind. They also
playing mostly second run movies. Their twist tohost a "Make a Movie in 48 Hours" challenge for
the movie-going experience was to offer foodbudding filmmakers to show what they can do in
and drinks brought to the viewers by black-clada limited amount of time, with the winner chosen
servers.by a panel of celebrity filmmakers. The Alamo
The Alamo Drafthouse caught on quickly, andDrafthouse is also home of the Air Guitar
soon changed their programming to includeChampionships for those with the best air guitar
creative lineups of movies and complimentarychops in the land.
cuisine, such as Spaghetti Westerns withStepping outside of the box a little further, the
Spaghetti Feasts, drawing Austinites looking for aLeagues purchased a giant inflatable movie screen
dinner and movie experience out of the norm.for film screenings in remote locations. Deemed
In 2001, the Leagues purchased and renovated athe Rolling Roadshow, moviegoers could paddle a
4 screen art house theater on Anderson Lane,canoe down a river, and eat dinner on its banks
and the Alamo Drafthouse Village was born. Thewhile watching Deliverance, or spend the day at
Village location provided first run movies, whichCamp Hack-n-Slash before watching horror camp
freed up the original Drafthouse to concentrate onmovies all night long. This past summer, the Rolling
unique programming 100% of the time. It's thisRoadshow headed across America screening
programming that has transformed the Alamofamous movies in famous places, like North By
into one of the most innovative movie theaters inNorthwest at Mount Rushmore.
the country.In 2004, Tim and Karrie League sold the
Along with pairing food and movies together, thecompany, the intellectual rights, and brand to
Alamo Drafthouse hosts Sing-A-Longs to packedTerrell Braly and John Martin. The new owners of
Musical-loving houses, and Quote-A-Longs thatthe Drafthouse are expanding the theaters, with
serve up quote-worthy movies, such as Blazingan eventual goal of 200 nationwide. The Leagues
Saddles. Every Wednesday at midnight, the Alamodid retain the rights to the original Drafthouse, the
provides a bizarre gem completely free, pleasingVillage, and the South Lamar location that opened
the broke college crowd who can be entertainedin 2005. With skyrocketing costs in the warehouse
while enjoying a couple beers for a small amountdistrict, the Leagues recently renovated the 1929
of money. Possibly the most popular event heldRitz Theater on 6th Street, and it serves as the
at the original Alamo location was Mr. Sinusnew heart for the Alamo Drafthouse. It opened
Theater, Austin's own take on the popularNovember 2nd, with the Leagues coming full
Mystery Science Theater 3000 television show,force, screening a Triple Feature of Attack of the
with live comedians poking fun at poorly madeMushroom People, including a Mushroom Feast, a
films, and popular classics alike. Though Mr. Sinussneak peek of the Coen brothers newest release,
has gone by the wayside, a faction of the originalNo Country for Old Men, and Quentin Tarantino
comedy troupe has formed Master Pancakeflying in for a Terror Thursday screening of War
Theater with a similar theme.of the Gargantuas.
The Alamo Drafthouse also builds a sense of