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"They love cinema more than just about any theater that exists in the country," said Harry Knowles, creator of the "Ain't It Cool News" film Web site, who has used the Drafthouse to host events 1 It recently was used to show Michael Moore's Fahrenheit 9-11 in Crawford, near President Bush's Texas ranch
Austin-based Alamo Drafthouse Cinemas Ltd
The chain, which has three Austin locations and one in Houston, also has special promotions like showing a kung fu movie and offering a full Asian menu, or serving spaghetti with "spaghetti westerns It's an ambitious project for a small chain founded in 1996 with one screen that showed second-run films and hosted to eccentric events â€â€? like a showing of "Jaws" at a lake where moviegoers watched from inner tubes while underwater swimmers pinched their legs " Last December, Mel Gibson attended a screening of an unedited cut of "The Passion of The Christ" that Knowles hosted as part of his "Butt-Numb-A-Thon" film festival
"Rather than two irritations, two looking for seats, two bad services, you have one enjoyable, wonderful experience without irritation," Braley said "Or, for things like this, which is awesome
Drafthouse CEO Terrell Braley said most people who see movies go out to eat before the show, and the chain gives customers a place to do both "
One of the most popular events is Mr Customers can order beer, wine, burgers, sandwiches and pizza (with names such as "Porky's" pepperoni and "Poultrygeist" chicken pesto) at their seats as they watch new releases, independent or older films
A side project of the Drafthouse is a traveling giant inflatable movie screen
The original Drafthouse owners, Tim and Karrie League, sold the name and all franchise rights to a couple of Austin businessmen who want to expand the franchise com
The Rolling Roadshow, as it is known, aired "Caddyshack" on a golf course, "Deliverance" along the Guadalupe River and "Goonies" at Longhorn Caverns
Franchises will be based on a prototype Alamo Drafthouse theater in Austin that shows new releases, some with a twist, as well as offbeat viewings A giant scratching post was set up in the lobby and the theater hosted a fat cat contest Sinus Theater â€â€? three comedians sitting at the front of the theater with microphones, making quips and heckling movies such as "Dirty Dancing," "Pretty in Pink" and "Karate Kid
franchises
Michael Rivera, 29, brought his father to "Caddyshack" on the golf course "
Director Quentin Tarantino has hosted film festivals at the original downtown Austin location, and the Drafthouse showed a premiere of his "Kill Bill â€â€? Vol He said he would not see a new release at the Drafthouse because the waiters were distracting, even though they sort of slouch to stay out of the way "They have an independent spirit and an outside-the-norm sensibility that is quirky enough to fit with my own One recent example: Moviegoers who saw "Garfield" this summer were treated to the orange cat's favorite food, lasagna "
The company hopes to eventually grow to 200 U The Leagues will keep ownership of the Rolling Roadshow, Drafthouse president John Martin said "
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On the Net:
www S New Chain Offers Dinner and a Movie
Aug 6, 5:00 PM EST
A fledgling theater chain with national aspirations is giving "dinner and a movie" a whole new meaning is a movie house and restaurant under one roof alamodrafthou se
"But for something like a cult classic, or something I missed the first time, I'll definitely show up there," he said from a lawn chair on the back side of the driving range |