Alamo Drafthouse, the famous Austin-based cinema chain, finally arrives in Boston.
By Tim Miller/Boston Movie News
BOSTON—Tim League looked like a proud father.
League, founder and executive director of Alamo Drafthouse Cinema, was at the big bash on Thursday, Nov. 16, to mark the opening of the chain’s new Seaport Theater in Boston.
He and his wife, Karrie, opened the first Alamo Drafthouse in Austin, Texas, in 1997. There are now 39 across the country. The Seaport Theater is the chain’s first in Massachusetts.
Touring the new venue, media folks and other guests were escorted to one of the venue’s 10 theaters, where several staffers took turns enthusiastically expounding on the Alamo Drafthouse experience.
League, casually attired in a sky-blue sweater, jeans, and black-and-white checkered shoes, leaned against a wall off to the side, his head tilted downward, a small smile on his face as he took it all in.
Months earlier, I met him at the Seaport Theater while it was still under construction. He showed me “The Press Room,” a mini-press shop where old newspaper movie ads are reproduced on slicks for patrons. He showed me the vintage movie posters—from his own collection—that lined the lobby’s walls.
“We just like to have fun,” he said, adding, “and I hope it shows.”
It does.
Across from The Press Room is a long bar serving local craft beers and (many) other beverages. (I knocked down a few Sour Face beers at the party; they were mighty tasty.)
You can order drinks and food off an extensive menu from your (heated) seat in the theater: Just jot down your order, press a button and an Alamo employee will magically appear to take care of it. (I ordered a buffalo chicken pizza, extra hot; highly recommended.)
There are no advertisements before screenings. Instead, it’s recommended that moviegoers arrive 30 minutes before a movie starts so they can view pre-show content specially chosen to accompany a film. (As part of the opening party, we could choose a movie to watch. I took in “Dream Scenario,” starring Nicolas Cage, which was preceded by a funny video of Cage reciting Edgar Allan Poe’s “The Tell-Tale Heart” in front of an Alamo theater audience.)
Another big plus: The Alamo folks say they won’t tolerate cell phone use or talking during screenings. Offenders get one warning, then the boot. To make the point, during the tour presentation, a hilarious, obviously real, recording was played of a disgruntled caller who complained about getting kicked out for such an offense. The more she complains, the funnier it gets. Need proof? Watch here. I give it four stars.
Alamo Drafthouse also holds curated screenings of festival films and other special events.
The theater is at 60 Seaport Blvd. Phone: 617-927-9560.
More information: www.drafthouse.com/boston.
Tim Miller is co-president of the Boston Society of Film Critics and a Tomatometer-approved critic. He teaches film and journalism at Cape Cod Community College in West Barnstable. You can contact Tim at timmillercritic@gmail.com, or you can ignore him completely.
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