I adore the Alamo Drafthouse.  Run by Tim and Karrie League, this chain of theaters is the preferred venue for most Austinites.  You can sit down, order a burger and a beer, and enjoy a movie.  How do they do this?  Imagine a theater that has every other row of seats ripped-out.  In that empty space a row is allocated to a small tabletop and walking space for a server to take your order (written on paper) and serve your food.  There’s a full kitchen and an army of hard-working wait staff who make sure that everyone is served quickly and quietly.  What makes this extra specials? There is a strict talking loudly is grounds for getting tossed-out, and texting is also grounds for getting tossed.  This means that the audience gets the benefit of a great movie without the distractions that plague less well moderated movie theaters.

I remember going to a theater in Rochester, NY watching The Ghost and the Darkness.  Halfway though the movie some kids started screaming and running down the isles.  At first I was wondering what foolish parents would let their little kids into an R-rated movie, and then after a few minutes without a rebuke, I realized that there were no parents.  Apparently some folks were using the movie theater to babysit their kids while they went to the mall.  These kids didn’t really know any better, but I’ve been to some movies where adults are being similarly disrespectful.

Ann Richards

R. Lee Ermey

George Romero

Patton Oswalt and Jason Reitman recreating the famous voicemail PSA.

Nowadays I turn my phone completely off whenever I go into a movie.  I can enjoy the movie completely, and I don’t worry about being distracted or distracting those in the theater. I hope you do the same.

Here’s a quick shot of Uwe Boll vs Tim League in the FF09 Debates

Tim League and Uwe Boll Boxing at Fantastic Fest 2009