Last weekend while passing through Winchester, Virginia on Interstate 81, I passed a strange structure just south of the city limits that looked strangely familiar. The large concrete walls surrounding an empty raked rectangle showed the unmistakable outline of a movie theatre. Needing gas, a bathroom, and an IV of coffee, I pulled off of I81 and into the small truck stop community of Stephens City, Virginia. There I saw a sign that confirmed my suspicions, not only was this town getting a new movie theatre, but they were getting the first Alamo Drafthouse to be built outside of the franchise’s Texas home. I would like to welcome Alamo Drafthouse to the East Coast!
If you’ve ever been to a draft house, you’ll understand why this is such a momentous event. Drafthouses are a combination restaurant, bar, and movie theatre, and once you’ve been to one you’ll be as amazed as Vincent Vega that you’re holding a glass of beer while watching a Tarantino film festival. Mayo for your fries available on request.
The Alamo Drafthouse has a reputation for playing first run studio releases, as well as Indy, and genre films, particularly horror. My first drafthouse (non-Alamo chain) experience was when I was a small child. I was in Baltimore enjoying a day out at the aquarium with my friend and her father. After several hours escorting two giggling and screaming 5 year olds around an oversized fish tank, my friend’s father decided he needed a beer. Not being reckless enough to dump us at the nearest seedy Inner Harbor bar, he decided his best bet was to take us to a nearby draft house where he could enjoy some suds while we sat silently watching whatever happened to be playing at the time. Fortunately the film was GHOULIES because we liked the cute green monster on the poster, but I have a feeling my friend’s dad would have made us suffer through PRIZZI’S HONOR for a beer and some quiet time. No offence Mr. Nicholson, I just needed a film reference from 1985.
Turning my pit stop at this soon to be Alamo East Coast home into an overnight visit with some local friends, I contacted Stephen Nerangis, a die-hard horror fan and a partner/co-owner of the new Alamo Drafthouse in Virginia. He invited me to a small party that the company was throwing to equate the town to the draft house concept. Plus, there would be beer and popcorn. How could I resist?
At the mixer, I got to sample the food and wine, sit in the seats, and even hear about some of the upcoming events. Like most draft houses, this Alamo would be holding occasional pre-shows akin to the old Vaudeville days. Unlike standard sit down and watch theatres, here movies will sometimes be prefaced with guest speakers, Q and A’s from the filmmakers, and concerts. With it’s limitless potential, this new Alamo will change movie viewing in Virginia from a standard ritual to a memorable event.
The week of Halloween, The Alamo Winchester will be showing HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT, a 1986 metal documentary shot outside the now defunct Capital Center in Landover, Maryland just before a Judas Priest and Dokken concert. Upon hearing the news, my traveling partner and fellow writer Ian David, a Baltimore native, guaranteed his presence there since he “remembers when they blowed that bitch up” and loves “rockin with Dokken”. The HEAVY METAL PARKING LOT filmmakers will be ther talking about the film and answering questions.
The movie will be followed up by a performance by the awesome metal band Monolith (who I known and loved for 15 years). The band will be taking time off of their busy touring schedule to play a show for the hometown fans. Guitarist Brian Bayliss told me he was very excited about the show and looks forward to being a part of more events with the theatre.
We too look forward to being a part of future upcoming events full of beer, food, horror, metal, and movies. Keep checking fangoria.com for those event,s and check out Alamo website for more information on the Alamo Drafthouse.
http://www.drafthouse.com/
http://www.drafthouse.com/winchester/
Comments (1)
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|2009-10-22 22:35:14 Elizabeth Cerri - I beg to differ
I have been a resident of Stephens City for over seven years. I feel fortunate to live in an area blessed with beautiful countryside, vineyards, farms, antique shops, restaurants, shopping, colleges, and historical landmarks.
I was mildly interested in the new building of Alamo Drafthouse, and had heard that it was to be a "dinner theatre." However, after reading this post, it seems that what the author describes is a place for younger people with a penchant for beer and B movies.
Either that, or I'm as wrong as the author is about Stephens City being a "truck stop community."
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