What would Austin be like without the Alamo?

By Matthew Odam
AMERICAN-STATESMAN STAFF
Wednesday, June 20, 2007

Tim League, Alamo Drafthouse

What brought you from Bakersfield, Calif., to Austin?

We knew we wanted to move from Bakersfield, so we targeted about four cities that we thought were interesting prospects: Pittsburgh, Penn.; Eugene, Ore.; Seattle, Wash.; Austin.

We both went to school at Rice (University) and I grew up in Houston, so Austin was pretty familiar to us. I also have a family support network in this town, so that was another factor. The biggest reason though, is that it just felt right when we came to scout. We met up with a great real estate broker, Danny Roth from Southwest Strategies Group, and he was able to show us four to five properties that we thought might work. Fourth and Colorado streets was actually our fourth choice.

What was your mission statement or concept going into the creation and development of the Alamo Drafthouse in Austin?

When we first opened, we were to some extent modeled after the McMenamins Theater Pub in Portland, (Ore.). We went up there to check out their operation and were totally inspired. We put our own twist on the concept and refined our vision of the theater. When we first started, we wanted to offer simple, but fresh, quality pub food (we were even baking our own bread back then), cold beer and fun movies. We showed mainly second-run movies for $1-$2 and then did midnight movies on the weekends and select themed special events. That's as close to a mission statement as we got. I think at the core of it all, even though it was never stated in a formal "mission," we always wanted to make sure that coming to the Alamo was a fun time.

How long had the idea been percolating before you finally took the leap?

Before we opened our first theater in Bakersfield, the idea had been percolating for about one week. I was pretty impulsive back then. An abandoned theater was on my way to work at Shell Oil. One day there was a for lease sign on the marquee, and one week later I had signed on the dotted line.

Was there ever a point where you thought, "This isn't going to work. We have to pull the plug."?

We got lucky. We didn't have nearly enough working capital to ride for the first few months, so if it didn't work right away, we might have sunk. Opening night we were sold out. On night No. 2 there were three people in the theater. At that point I realized that I should probably take out some newspaper ads. The radio stations started talking about it, and we got some great support from the papers and in particular Ann Hornaday who was with the Statesman at the time. Within a month, we had found our footing and were stable.

At what point did you realize that it would be a success?

Once we stabilized after a month in business, it really has never slowed up, so from that point on, we were able to breathe easy and know that we weren't going to have to pack it in.

Is there any moment that gave you an indication of the impact the theater has had on Austin's cultural landscape?

Not until the Entertainment Weekly article came out in 2005 naming us the "Best Theater in America doing it right" did I fully grasp that we had any significance as a company. We're often times just plowing forward, trying to brainstorm and execute shows, that we don't pop up and get a larger perspective.

What is your most enduring memory from the theater?

We've had lots and lots of good times and special events at Fourth and Colorado. Taking a few moments to think about it, though, I think my favorite thing of all is going to the theater on Wednesday nights at midnight for Weird Wednesday.

The audience is a diehard group of fans who converge at a ridiculous hour in the middle of the week to communally experience a somewhat lost era of film.

I've been to other knock-off types of events around the country, and I've never seen anything remotely like what we have. In other cities, the audiences are all drunk, unruly, loud and goofing on the movie. It drives me up a wall. The Weird Wednesday crowd is a group of almost scholastic researchers, excited to go on a new journey every Wednesday night. ... More than any of the huge celebrities and high-profile premieres we have hosted at the original Alamo, it's Lars' modest Weird Wednesday club that consistently makes me the happiest about what we do at the theater.

Where would the Leagues be today were it not for the Alamo Drafthouse?

I honestly have no idea. I was contemplating going to get my (Masters of Fine Arts) before opening up our first theater in Bakersfield. I had already spent a bunch of money applying before signing the lease on the theater. All I knew at the time was that I didn't want to be an engineer at Shell Oil and I was going to make a change quickly. Given that I was prone to quick, impulsive decisions at that phase of my life, it really could have been anything. ... I am very happy with my job at the theater today.

Harry Knowles, Ain't It Cool News

What is the cultural significance of the original Alamo Drafthouse?

The cultural significance of the original Alamo Drafthouse cannot be measured. It has brought people together, inspired others into a life of film. Educated folks on film history, film presentation and became the clarion call for film lovers nationwide to migrate to this town.

Can you imagine what the Austin landscape would look like had the original Alamo never been built?

Yeah, I wouldn't be in it. If not for the Alamo Drafthouse, I probably would have moved to Los Angeles for money and opportunities, but with the Alamo ... I found movie heaven, right here in Austin.

Ryan Long, director, Screen Door Film

What role has the Alamo Drafthouse played in giving a voice and platform to independent filmmakers in Austin?

Tim League has always been a great supporter of Texas film, going out of his way to provide a theatrical access point for indie filmmakers in Austin. If you counted all the Austin films that have screened at the Alamo, I'll bet it would be more than all the other theaters in this town combined.

What is the cultural significance of the original Alamo Drafthouse?

The Alamo was like one of those great albums that changed all the music that came after it. And like the best enduring innovations, it was so brutally simple you'd wish you thought of it: make going to the movies fun again, make it interactive, and a celebration of film. Beer, potato skins and movies?! Damn, just too easy.

As a testament to Tim League's vision (and profitable business model,) there are Alamo-knockoffs in practically every city in America, but there can be only one original Alamo

Can you imagine what the Austin landscape would look like had the original Alamo never been built?

I do think the Austin Film Community is like a living, breathing organism, made up of filmmakers, film lovers, independent distributors and all the other myriad pieces of that puzzle. The original Alamo was clearly a significant part of that organism; the heart, if you will. Like any healthy heart, it provided plenty of blood to keep this organism thriving.

Chris Trew, ColdTowne Theater

How has the Alamo helped to showcase and cultivate local comedy talent?

Some of my favorite on-stage moments have been at the Alamo. I brag about the venue and the staff at other shows around the country and it makes other performers jealous. It's nice to know that the venue has your back when it comes to show promotions. The atmosphere and energy of the Alamo is addictive. They are a cornerstone of the Austin comedy scene, and I will bend over backwards to help it stay that way whenever they want me to.