CalSeptOct_lores2

King of the A/V Geeks, Skip Elsheimer, is our hero.  He’s your hero too, maybe you don’t know it yet, but he is.  As far as the entire Alamo crew is concerned, he’s living THE dream: he collects bizarro old films reels, watches them all day long, categorizes and catalogues little cinematic abnormalities and offers them up to weirdos in dire need of stock footage insanity. When he’s not living it up in his sanctuary of celluloid, he’s on the road bringing specially curated shows across the country to share with all of us fellow film geeks.

Well that train’s a-comin’ through, and if you’re not on it when it stops, you made some poor life choices.

He’s bringing his show ALCOHOL IS DYNAMITE! to four, count them FOUR, Alamo Drafthouses, so if you live anywhere within 100 miles of Alamo Park North in San Antonio, Alamo Lake Creek and South Lamar in Austin and/or Alamo Mason in Katy, GO SEE SKIP WORK HIS MAGIC! The educational value of his programs is always only slightly less than the pure entertainment value. So, whether you’re in it to learn or laugh, you are guaranteed satisfaction.

Check it:

8/22 at 7pm: Alamo Drafthouse Park North (San Antonio, TX)
8/23 at 7pm: Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek (Austin, TX)
8/24 at 7pm: Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Austin, TX)
8/27 at 7pm: Alamo Drafthouse Mason (Katy, TX)

This show of 16mm films about the drink that makes you crazy is hilarious.  Some of our favorites are:

Curious Habits of Man (1972) – A puzzling film where a Canadian party overlaps with a nature documentary.

A Case for Beer (early 1970s) – A guide for convenience store owners on how to cash in on beer profits while looking out for under-aged customers.

Alcohol is Dynamite (1958) – Tragedy-monger Sid Davis demonstrates to teenagers the slippery slope of alcohol and its ability to destroy lives.

At both of the Austin shows, there’s going to be a special beer bucket option for $25, including:
Satan Red Belgian Ale
Samuel Smith’s Imperial Stout
Brooklyn Brown Ale
Dogfish Head 60 Minute IPA
Anchor Steam
and Blue Moon

And that’s not even all.  On 8/26 at 7pm at The Highball (Austin, TX), the Action Pack and AV GEEKS are partnering to do a special Highball Prom!

Skip will be showing his program YOUR PROM DATE, which includes the hysterically funny films:

As Others See Us – The Dairy Council shows us how to behave when at a social event.

Getting Closer – Will young Greg make it to the dance tonight or will his shyness keep him at home with his lizard?

It’s a Thought – A junior high girl imagines what it would be like to be a popular kid at the school dance.

And after the film show, starting at 8:30 we’ll be dancing the night away in our Highball Prom.  You’re encouraged to dress up in your best fluffy outfit/tuxedo, they’ll be a king and queen crowned by the end of the night, and spiking the punch is encouraged.

So come see some great, weird, funny, and bizarre films from some of the most forgotten corner of history:

ALCOHOL IS DYNAMITE!

8/22 at 7pm: Alamo Drafthouse Park North (San Antonio, TX)
8/23 at 7pm: Alamo Drafthouse Lake Creek (Austin, TX)
8/24 at 7pm: Alamo Drafthouse South Lamar (Austin, TX)
8/27 at 7pm: Alamo Drafthouse Mason (Katy, TX)

YOUR PROM NIGHT w/Action Pack Prom

8/26 at 7pm at The Highball (Austin, TX)

One of the buzz movies at SXSW Film 2009 is back: Ron Mann’s KNOW YOUR MUSHROOMS, and master chef Trish Eichelberger has created a phenomenal feast to go with it. There’s only one show, on Wednesday July 29 so buy your tickets in advance. Don’t worry, a vegetarian option is available.

Inspired by a chance conversation with fellow filmmaker and mushroom buff Jim Jarmusch, director Ron Mann (GRASS, GO FURTHER) sets off to the annual Telluride Mushroom Festival in Colorado. It was there he encountered the unique sub-sub-subculture surrounding fungi that includes an unlikely assortment of nerds, nuts, hipsters, tripsters, artists, chefs, musicians, foodies, foragers, and seekers all paying homage to the mighty mushroom.

Combining material filmed at the Mushroom Fest with animation and archival footage along with a neo-psychedelic soundtrack by The Flaming Lips, KNOW YOUR MUSHROOMS opens the doors to perception, takes the audience on a longer, stranger trip and delivers them to a brave new world where the fungi might well guide humanity to a saner, safer place…with extra cheese. This 2008 SXSW favorite comes back to Alamo for this once-in-a-lifetime mushroom-inspired, consciousness-expanding feast prepared by Alamo chef Trish Eichelberger!

The Menu

I
Mushroom and goat ricotta galette with a micro green salad and bell pepper confetti

II
Hanger steak with mushroom demi glace, asparagus and morels with porcini wild rice pilaf
Vegetarian option will be stuffed Portobello in place of the steak

III
Black truffle dark chocolate truffles, sea salted shortbread and meringue mushrooms

Each course will be paired with the perfect wine!

Note: “Consciousness Expanding” used here metaphorically.

HAPPY NEW YEAR! Even though I’m writing this two days before the proverbial new year is here, I still feel a little bit of the refreshment and excitment that comes with trying to remember to write “2009″ on anything that needs dating. Personally, I’m terrible at coming up with New Year’s Resolutions (keeping them, actually), so I’m just going to relate them to the Alamo and welcome you to share each and every resolution. Resolution #1: I’m going to drink as many white russians as the waitstaff will serve me during the only two screenings of THE BIG LEBOWSKI. Resolution #2: I’m going to expand my knowledge of Japanese pop-culture by watching what promises to be an absolutely mind-blowing SUPER HAPPY FUN MONKEY BASH 2009. Resolution #3: I’m going to stand in front of the mirror and practice my best Britney and Christina lip-syncing and dance moves to get ready for the POP PRINCESS SING-ALONG. Resolution #4: I’m going to patiently wait for a whole week to finally see THE WRESTLER so that the next time somebody says “Oh my GOD that is the best movie I’ve ever seen!” I can finally say “I KNOW!” instead of “SHUT UP I HAVEN’T SEEN IT YET!” Well, those resolutions should at least get me through the week. Damn, this is gonna be a long list…

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO RITZ ::

- THE BIG LEBOWSKI with WHITE RUSSIANS -
: Alamo Ritz : Friday, Jan 2 : Saturday, Jan 3 :

The Coen Brothers have described THE BIG LEBOWSKI as their Raymond Chandler story, and it contains all the trappings of the author’s hardboiled mystery novels, including the alcohol. Secondly, as a bowling-themed comedy, liquor is a given. Finally and most importantly, THE BIG LEBOWSKI is the ultimate movie for White Russian fans. The Dude fuels his detective work with numerous helpings the sweet drink, which he often refers to as “Caucasians.” As long as there is ‘half and half’ dripping from his mustache, the Dude abides. (Booze Movies)

- Big Screen Classics: ESCAPE FROM NEW YORK -
: Alamo Ritz : Sat, Jan 3 : Sun, Jan 4 : Mon, Jan 5 : Wed, Jan 7 :

Rare 35mm Print!! Snake Plissken is the ULTIMATE Sci-Fi Badass. Why? Because he’s played by ultimate real life Badass Kurt Russell, who was at the height of his effortlessly steely machismo when he teamed with ultimate filmmaking Badass John Carpenter for the first (and many say greatest) of several flawless collaborations. So if you love BIG TROUBLE IN LITTLE CHINA and THE THING – and you sure as hell do – this is the unshaven, post-apocalyptic blowtorcher that started it all!

- SUPER HAPPY FUN MONKEY BASH 2009! -
: Alamo Ritz : Saturday, Jan 3 :

Each year around this time, we roll out a new volume of Super Happy Fun Monkey Bash, a 90 minute compilation of mind-boggling insanity from Japanese television. You’ll see A-list American celebrities pimping themselves out for cheap Japanese products, bawdy situation comedies, extreme pro-wrestling, bizarre anti-flatulence products, nonsensical English phrases, supreme goofiness, and lots and lots of foam rubber costumes! Check out our YouTube Channel for teaser clips from this year’s show as well as trailers from current and past Monkey Bash shows!

- TRINIDAD with Sabrina Marcus LIVE -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Jan 4 :

The film chronicles Trinidad, Colorado’s transformation from Wild West outpost and “Victorian Jewel of Southern Colorado” to “Sex Change Capital of the World,” and follows three transgender women who may just steer the rural ranching town (pop. 9,077) toward becoming the “transsexual mecca.” We are delighted to have cast member Sabrina Marcus live in person for this screening! Sabrina founded the transgender-focused Southern Comfort Conference in Atlanta and is an active member in the International Foundation for Gender Education and the National Center for Transgender Equality.

- Girlie Night: MEAN GIRLS -
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Jan 6 :

Before Tina Fey was officially declared The Smartest Woman on Television, she proved that she was one of the smartest women in celluloid when she wrote MEAN GIRLS. Taking the high school misfit genre one notch higher, MEAN GIRLS was based on the book QUEEN BEES AND WANNABEES, and the world of teenage girldom has never been the same. Here, the Plastics are the most popular girls in school. They wrote the rule book on Girl World, like always wearing pink on Tuesdays. And they’re mean. As usual on Girlie Night, we will have special MEAN GIRL cocktails available at this show!

- Terror Tuesday: HOWLING 2 with SYBIL DANNING LIVE! -
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Jan 6 :

There is NO BETTER MOVIE IN THE GODDAMN WORLD to kick off Terror Tuesdays than this ferocious assault on the human skull, and no better guest to experience it with than The Queen of the Werewolves herself: horror/exploitation film legend SYBIL DANNING! The last time we played HOWLING II, the audience had so much fun that the governor’s mansion got set on fire! Now, with the ultimate wolfwoman loose in the theater, it’ll most certainly mean the total extinction of all life on this planet. Special thanks to Reb Hibbert.

- Weird Wednesday: CHAINED HEAT with SYBIL DANNING LIVE! -
: Alamo Ritz : Wednesday, Jan 7 :

By focusing their combined sexual repressions from their respective adolescences, true hero of the Alamo Reb Hibbert and Alamo programmer Zack Carlson managed to convince revered ’80s exploitation sexbomb Sybil Danning that it was a good idea to sit in a dark theater full of her most lonely, potentially obsessed fans to watch her goddess-esque roles in some truly classic drive-in films. CHAINED HEAT is pure women-in-prison exploitation with all the catfights, steamy shower scenes and deviant sexuality you can handle. Maybe more!

- 24: SEASON 7 PREMIERE! -
: Alamo Ritz : Wednesday, Jan 7 :

Austin Voices and Fox 7 are giving us a chance to see the much anticipated two-hour premiere of 24 (Season 7) before it airs! That pesky writer’s strike has deprived us all for too long- Jack Bauer is back and on the big screen at the Ritz!

- ELVIS PRESLEY’S BIRTHDAY SING-ALONG -
: Alamo Ritz : Thursday, Jan 8 :

We put together a night to celebrate the King himself, the man who started it all by stealing black music and making it accessible to a racist world market long before the New Kids on the Block ever dreamt of stealing the New Edition method. We owe Elvis Presley so much, and for so much more than just his music. He’s influenced every single person who was born after him with his music, his legend, and his god damned amazing house, Graceland. How fantastic is that place? People don’t just sing like Elvis, or sing about Elvis, they sing about his house! That’s awesome.

- The POP PRINCESS SING-ALONG -
: Alamo Ritz : Thursday, Jan 8 :

The Boy Band Sing-Alongs have always been rousing successes and great fun for everybody, but every time we put NSYNC and Backstreet up on the screen I couldn’t help but feel guilty. What about the ladies? Sure, we’ve done the Ladies of the 80s show, but how do you fit the Spice Girls into that? You can’t. And so this January we’re putting together our very first POP PRINCESS SING-ALONG, focusing heavily on the princesses of the 90s, including the aforementioned Spice Girls, Britney, Christina, and more!

- THE WRESTLER -
: Alamo Ritz : Thursday, Jan 8 at MIDNIGHT :

This may be the first time we’ve ever seen the toughest critics and fans unanimously deem a new film perfect. With his battle scars and failing heart, retired professional wrestler Randy “The Ram” Robinson (Mickey Rourke) jumps back into the squared circle to prove to himself that he’s more than just a used-up piece of meat. A simple premise, but apparently Rourke’s performance and the script are so strong, compelling and real that audiences across the world are going haywire, calling this the best film in the critically acclaimed director’s entire career.

We’re teaming up with The Texas Wrestling Federation to bring you ACTUAL LIVE PROFESSIONAL WRESTLING preceding the Thursday, Jan 8 midnight opening of THE WRESTLER! For the price of your ticket, you’ll have a seat for Austin’s premiere screening of this flawless cinematic suplex, PLUS you’ll have a top-notch seat for an exclusive pre-screening, full-scale, white-knuckle WRESTLING EVENT to take place nearby, where REAL LIVE PRO WRESTLERS will be having a no-holds-barred BRAWL for your entertainment! This is clearly the only way to experience the greatest thing to happen to wrestling since the Hulkster slammed Andre the Giant!

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO SOUTH LAMAR ::

- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

David Fincher and Brad Pitt team up for a third time with this adaptation of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. Pitt plays a man who is born 80 years old, but instead of aging, he grows young. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett costars, along with Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton. “The film represents a richly satisfying serving of deep-dish Hollywood storytelling. This odd, epic tale of a man who ages backwards is presented in an impeccable classical manner, every detail tended to with fastidious devotion.” – Todd McCarthy, Variety

- BEDTIME STORIES -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Adam Sandler stars as a man whose nighttime tales do more than just put his nephew to sleep; instead, his imaginative stories become reality. This fantasy comedy for the whole family is directed by HAIRSPRAY helmer Adam Shankman.

- THE SPIRIT -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Down these mean streets a man must come. A hero born, murdered, and born again… Rookie cop Denny Colt returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces in Central City. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller (creator of 300 and Sin City) and starring Samuel L. Jackson as “The Octopus,” Eve Mendes as “Sand Seref,” and Scarlett Johansson as “Silken Floss.”

- DOUBT -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the play’s quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality and authority. Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO VILLAGE ::

- TV at the Alamo: GOSSIP GIRL -
: Alamo Village : Monday, Jan 5 :

There’s nothing I hate more in the television world than the dreaded FALL HIATUS! It’s far worse than a season ending because there is absolutely no closure and you’re totally lost for like, three or four weeks wondering WHAT is going to happen. Well thankfully, fall hiatus is coming to an end and GOSSIP GIRL is back on! Finally we’ll figure out where Chuck went, why everyone’s freaking out about Lily’s abortion a bazillion years ago, and what the hell Serena is doing with Aaron in South America. You know you love it. XOXO.

- MARLEY AND ME -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

John Grogan’s bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog.

- VALKYRIE -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

Just in time for Christmas comes the most anticipated, heartwarming film ever made about the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler! Helmed by the mighty Bryan Singer (USUAL SUSPECTS, X-MEN, SUPERMAN RETURNS) and starring Tom Cruise with an even mightier eye-patch, this true tale of treason and revenge is destined for acclaim-town. Best part- no fake German accents.

Christmas is over, and we sure hope you got everything you wanted. If you didn’t, don’t worry your pretty lil’ heads about it because we still have a million things going on that will make you just as happy as finding that Official Red Ryder Carbine-Action Two-Hundred-Shot Range Model Air Rifle behind that desk (okay, so I may have gotten sucked in to the Christmas Story marathon for a solid 6 hours… or more). For starters, we still have all the HIGH FOR THE HOLIDAYS shows in full swing, and (if you read this in the next hour or so) we’re showing A CHRISTMAS STORY one last time with a ROAST DUCK & MORE FEAST! Lastly, New Year’s Eve is in a few days. New Year’s plans are the hardest to make for me, so we’ve narrowed down your options…

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO RITZ ::

- A CHRISTMAS STORY: Roast Duck N’ More Feast! -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Dec 28 :

Think about the double dog dare, the Chinese caroling, the Red Ryder bb gun, those creepy elves and of course that “fra-jee-lay” Italian imported leg lamp. There is more timeless iconography packed into this perfect little gem than any other Christmas film since the birth of Jesus. Included with your ticket is a multi-course meal themed to A CHRISTMAS STORY, including mashed potatoes and Chinese roast duck. The mashed potato course will be served exactly when it hits the table for Ralphy, and we encourage each and every one of you to snort along and enjoy your plate just like the piggy does. See the menu HERE.

- High for the Holidays: POOTIE TANG -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Dec 28 : Monday, Dec 29 :

This Holiday season, come together at the Ritz to celebrate Pootie by indulging in an ice-cold Pootie’s Malt Liquor or to kapa-chow down on a mouth-watering, fast-foodified Pootie’s Bad-Time Burger while watching Pootie sine pitties all over the Alamo screen. Louis C.K.’s cult classic put back where it should be…in theaters! Merry Christmas to all you tine Tanies! Sah dah tay!

- High For The Holidays / Music Monday: WONDERWALL -
: Alamo Ritz : Monday, Dec 29 :
The head-tripping surreal madness of Joe Massot’s WONDERWALL tells the tale of an eccentric scientist (Jack MacGowran) who stumbles upon a secret window into the sex life of gorgeous nymph (and longtime Serge Gainsbourg muse) Jane Birkin. Overflowing with psychedelic flashbacks, dream sequences and plenty of free love, the classic film features a shimmering, sitar-laced instrumental soundtrack by former Beatle George Harrison. An outrageous journey back to the Age of Altered Consciousness. Get to the theater early for a Jane Birkin/Serge Gainsbourg Preshow!

- High For The Holidays: DARKSIDE OF THE RAINBOW -
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Dec 30 :

Did Pink Floyd intend to synch up the Dark Side of the Moon with the classic the WIZARD OF OZ? Some say VCRs were $10000 at that time and it would be impossible to synch a phonograph to the film, change sides on the album and keep synch. Regardless, come to the Alamo, get properly stimulated and maybe bring some earplugs, because when the tin man’s heart is thumping to the heartbeats in Eclipse (track 9), we’d like you to feel it in your chest as well.

- High For The Holidays: BEERFEST with BEERLYMPICS! -
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Dec 30 :

How did this film become an Alamo holiday tradition? When brothers Todd and Jan Wolfhouse travel to Germany to spread their grandfather’s ashes at Oktoberfest, they stumble upon a centuries old underground beer games competition — “Beerfest,” the secret Olympics of beer drinking. To be honest, we can never really remember the ending because we’re always trying to keep up with the drinking onscreen. We’re starting this show with live Beerlympics, featuring Beer Pong and great food and beer specials!

- AFTER THE THIN MAN New Year’s Eve Party! -
: Alamo Ritz : Wednesday, Dec 31 :

The response to our first Cinema Cocktails screenings of the classic screwball romantic mystery THE THIN MAN was so great that we just knew we had to return to the wonderful chemistry of Nick and Nora Charles, their adorable dog Asta, their crime-solving savvy and, maybe best of all, their love of distilled spirits. In addition to the film itself, we’ll be serving a multi-course feast, enjoying a champagne toast after a countdown to midnight that could only be done by the Alamo, and more!

- THE BIG LEBOWSKI with WHITE RUSSIANS -
: Alamo Ritz : Thursday, Jan 1 :

The Coen Brothers have described THE BIG LEBOWSKI as their Raymond Chandler story, and it contains all the trappings of the author’s hardboiled mystery novels, including the alcohol. Secondly, as a bowling-themed comedy, liquor is a given. Finally and most importantly, THE BIG LEBOWSKI is the ultimate movie for White Russian fans. The Dude fuels his detective work with numerous helpings the sweet drink, which he often refers to as “Caucasians.” As long as there is ‘half and half’ dripping from his mustache, the Dude abides. (Booze Movies)

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO SOUTH LAMAR ::

- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

David Fincher and Brad Pitt team up for a third time with this adaptation of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. Pitt plays a man who is born 80 years old, but instead of aging, he grows young. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett costars, along with Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton. “The film represents a richly satisfying serving of deep-dish Hollywood storytelling. This odd, epic tale of a man who ages backwards is presented in an impeccable classical manner, every detail tended to with fastidious devotion.” – Todd McCarthy, Variety

- BEDTIME STORIES -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Adam Sandler stars as a man whose nighttime tales do more than just put his nephew to sleep; instead, his imaginative stories become reality. This fantasy comedy for the whole family is directed by HAIRSPRAY helmer Adam Shankman.

- THE SPIRIT -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Down these mean streets a man must come. A hero born, murdered, and born again… Rookie cop Denny Colt returns from the beyond as The Spirit, a hero whose mission is to fight against the bad forces in Central City. Based on the graphic novel by Frank Miller (creator of 300 and Sin City) and starring Samuel L. Jackson as “The Octopus,” Eve Mendes as “Sand Seref,” and Scarlett Johansson as “Silken Floss.”

- DOUBT -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Set in 1964, Doubt centers on a nun who confronts a priest after suspecting him abusing a black student. He denies the charges, and much of the play’s quick-fire dialogue tackles themes of religion, morality and authority. Starring Meryl Streep, Philip Seymour Hoffman and Amy Adams.

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO VILLAGE ::

- YES MAN -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

This film marks the triumphant return of Jim Carrey to comedy! With Peyton Reed (MR. SHOW, UCB) in the director’s chair, YES MAN guarantees to be brilliantly sharp, with just enough drops of nonsense to make it fun for laughers of all thresholds. Oh, and if you’re one of the approximately 80 million people who currently has a total crush on Zooey Deschanel, she’s in the film too.

- MARLEY AND ME -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

John Grogan’s bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog.

- VALKYRIE -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

Just in time for Christmas comes the most anticipated, heartwarming film ever made about the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler! Helmed by the mighty Bryan Singer (USUAL SUSPECTS, X-MEN, SUPERMAN RETURNS) and starring Tom Cruise with an even mightier eye-patch, this true tale of treason and revenge is destined for acclaim-town. Best part- no fake German accents.

TICK TOCK, tick tock, the time for Christmas shopping is running out. Hurry up and go out there and start buying Lexuses you can tie big red bows on and other expensive stuff like that so you can singlehandedly save the economy of the entire planet. Then reward yourself with some affordable entertainment and great times at the Alamo. You can feel like a million bucks no matter how much money you spend when you come down to the South Lamar theater for SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE. You can feel the holidays all around you when you’re on a caroling sabotage mission after THE CHRISTMAS POPS SING-ALONG at the Ritz. And you can just say YES to Jim Carrey over and over and over again at the Alamo Village, just be careful what you say yes to.

- ALAMO GIFT CERTIFICATES -
: Mondo Tees : Any Alamo : drafthouse.com :

“Well, it’s that time of year again – crowds, shopping, lugging the presents around… I love it.” But what Lizzie Montgomery loves even more is getting Alamo Gift Certificates for her family and friends, because as she knows, it’s an investment in freedom. You can invest in that same freedom and set up your family and friends with movies and food and drinks for next year by picking up your own Alamo Gift Certificates either in one of our stores or online.

- AFTER THE THIN MAN New Year’s Eve Party! -
: Alamo Ritz : Wednesday, Dec 31 : 7pm

The response to our first Cinema Cocktails screenings of the classic screwball romantic mystery THE THIN MAN was so great that we just knew we had to return to the wonderful chemistry of Nick and Nora Charles, their adorable dog Asta, their crime-solving savvy and, maybe best of all, their love of distilled spirits. In addition to the film itself, we’ll be serving a multi-course feast, enjoying a champagne toast and a countdown to midnight, 1937!

- HENRI’S ROCKIN’ NEW YEAR’S EVE SING-ALONG -
: Alamo Ritz : Wednesday, Dec 31 : 10:15pm

Screw you, Dick Clark! This year, for the first time ever, we’re hosting our very own New Year’s Eve Sing-Along Extravaganza, and it promises to be the best movie theater dance party ever. Your ticket includes a champagne toast, and my promise to have the most official countdown to midnight EVER, because I hate hate hate it when you’re at some party and a dweeb with a watch that’s set wrong starts making everybody countdown early. Grr. Plus! I’ll be throwing out more confetti than anywhere else in town for sure… If you miss this, you’ll be stuck in 2008 foooorrreeeevvveeerrrrr.

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO RITZ ::

- The CHRISTMAS POPS SING-ALONG! -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Dec 21 :

Please Note: While the holiday season is a magical time for everyone, this show may not be. Some of the videos included in this collection are decidedly PG-13. Which is to say there may be some singing about private parts in boxes… We’ll have trivia, videoke, a host of new videos along with favorites from last year, and of course, carolling down 6th Street. Don’t be left out of our reindeer games this year; get your tickets early, and come on down to the Ritz for the greatest holiday party of the year. No matter your religion, the XMAS POPS SING-ALONG will have you holding your neighbor’s hands, singing in unison, and celebrating Festivus with the rest of us.

- Master Pancake Theatre CHRISTMAS SHOW -
: Alamo Ritz : Fri, Dec 19 : Sat, Dec 20 :

After a 2-year absence, it’s the return of the famous Alamo Christmas Clip Show featuring Master Pancake Theater! Join us as we channel surf A.D.D.-style through a blizzard of clips from your favorite holiday TV specials and some weird holiday programs you never dreamed existed. Owen Egerton returns to team up with regulars John Erler and Joe Parsons for all the fun. We’ll also have an audience sing-along, some holiday snacks, and who knows, maybe even a little pudding and butter! Come join us at the Alamo this December as THE HOLIDAYS GET SLEIGHED!!

- Hey Homo! Presents: WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF BRUNCH! -
: Alamo Ritz : Sunday, Dec 21 :

By popular demand, the fine folks at Hey Homo! are reprising WHO’S AFRAID OF VIRGINIA WOOLF? for a special Brunch show!! HEY HOMO! has decided to give ya’ll the very best Christmas Ham in the whole world to chew upon! What better way to ring in the holidays than with extreme alcoholism, disastrous verbal sparring, sexual retaliations, fried chicken and lonely fantastical seclusion! Top all that shit off with brunch, Elizabeth Taylor and Richard Burton and you’ve got one helluva morning! Sponsored by Austin’s best upscale gay lounge, RAIN!

- High For The Holidays: DARKSIDE OF THE RAINBOW -
: Alamo Ritz : Mon, Dec 22 : Wed, Dec 24 :

Did Pink Floyd intend to synch up the Dark Side of the Moon with the classic the WIZARD OF OZ? Some say VCRs were $10000 at that time and it would be impossible to synch a phonograph to the film, change sides on the album and keep synch. Regardless, come to the Alamo, get properly stimulated and maybe bring some earplugs, because when the tin man’s heart is thumping to the heartbeats in Eclipse (track 9), we’d like you to feel it in your chest as well.

- High For The Holidays: HAROLD & KUMAR GO TO WHITE CASTLE-
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Dec 23 :

TICKET INCLUDES OUR NEW AND IMPROVED ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT WHITE CASTLE-STYLE BURGERS! ** Please note regular food menu service is not available during these shows. It’s burgers or bust! ** To prove who REALLY has an excessive appreciation of fine cuisine, we’ll be having a WHITE CASTLE SPEED EATING competition before the screening! Yep, a select few bold ingestors from the audience will join each other on stage to shove down some burgers for fun/prizes/fun prizes!! We’d love to see you up there, but remember: if you wanna compete, pace yourself on the burgers beforehand. All’s fair in burgers and war!

- High For The Holidays: BEERFEST with BEERLYMPICS! -
: Alamo Ritz : Tuesday, Dec 23 :

How did this film become an Alamo holiday tradition? When brothers Todd and Jan Wolfhouse travel to Germany to spread their grandfather’s ashes at Oktoberfest, they stumble upon a centuries old underground beer games competition — “Beerfest,” the secret Olympics of beer drinking. To be honest, we can never really remember the ending because we’re always trying to keep up with the drinking onscreen. We’re starting this show with live Beerlympics, featuring Beer Pong and more, so come prepared to drink heavily!

- High For The Holidays: CHRISTMAS ON MARS -
: Alamo Ritz : Wed, Dec 24 : Thurs, Dec 25 :

ULTRA-RARE 35MM THEATRICAL SCREENING! NEW FEATURE FILM, NOT ON DVD! Psychedelic rock band the Flaming Lips present CHRISTMAS ON MARS: A FANTASTICAL FILM FREAKOUT FEATURING THE FLAMING LIPS, a glorious science fiction film that marks the directorial debut of the Lips’ visionary frontman Wayne Coyne. It’s Christmastime, and the colonization of Mars is underway. When an oxygen generator and a gravity control pod malfunction, Major Syrtis (the Lips’ Steven Drozd) and his team (including the Lips’ Michael Ivins) fear the worst. There’s a lot of crazy stuff going on in this movie – take the appropriate precautionary measures to prepare your mind…

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO SOUTH LAMAR ::

- SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

From director Danny Boyle (28 DAYS LATER, TRAINSPOTTING) comes a surprising and brilliant excursion into Bollywood. SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE is the story of Jamal Malik, an 18 year-old orphan from the slums of Mumbai, who is just one question away from winning on India’s “Who Wants to be a Millionaire?” Police arrest him on suspicion of cheating, so desperate to prove his innocence, Jamal tells the story of his life in the slum where he and his brother grew up, of their adventures together on the road, and of Latika, the girl he loved and lost. With an all new Bollywood preshow, Indian menu specials and of course Indian beer favorites, the Alamo is the only place to see SLUMDOG MILLIONAIRE.

- Saturday Morning Kids Club: EMMET OTTER’S JUGBAND CHRISTMAS -
: Alamo South Lamar : Sat, Dec 20 :

Christmas is approaching in Frogtown Hollow, and Emmet Otter and his Ma hope to buy gifts for each other. Unfortunately, Emmet doesn’t make enough from the odd jobs he does, and Ma doesn’t make enough as a laundress. They decide to compete in the Frog Town Hollow Talent Contest in order to win money, but Ma will have to hock Emmet’s tool chest to buy a costume, and Emmet will have to put a hole in Ma’s washtub for his band! Kermit the Frog hosts this classic Muppet musical Christmas tale! WITH LIVE JUG COMBO THE ROGUE RIVER STRING BAND PLAYING BEFORE THE FILM!

- THE CURIOUS CASE OF BENJAMIN BUTTON -
: Alamo South Lamar : Opens Thursday, Dec 25 :

David Fincher and Brad Pitt team up for a third time with this adaptation of a F. Scott Fitzgerald short story. Pitt plays a man who is born 80 years old, but instead of aging, he grows young. Oscar winner Cate Blanchett costars, along with Taraji P. Henson and Tilda Swinton.

- YES MAN -
: Alamo Village : Opens Friday, Dec 19 :

This film marks the triumphant return of Jim Carrey to comedy! With Peyton Reed (MR. SHOW, UCB) in the director’s chair, YES MAN guarantees to be brilliantly sharp, with just enough drops of nonsense to make it fun for laughers of all thresholds. Oh, and if you’re one of the approximately 80 million people who currently has a total crush on Zooey Deschanel, she’s in the film too.

- PARENTS’ AFTERNOON OUT! -
: Alamo Village : Saturday, Dec 20 :

If finding a babysitter makes it difficult for you to come to the movies, The Alamo Drafthouse Village has a deal for you! Every third Saturday of the month (from 2:30 to 6:30pm), you can see one of our regularly featured afternoon movies without calling around town looking for someone to watch your children, thanks to our friends at BodyBusiness. Child care vouchers are $10 and good for one child each. VOUCHER DOES NOT INCLUDE MOVIE ADMISSION. REMEMBER TO PURCHASE YOUR TICKETS SEPARATE FROM YOUR VOUCHER!

- MARLEY AND ME -
: Alamo Village : Thursday, Dec 25 :

John Grogan’s bestselling book about his Labrador retriever bounds onto the screen with MARLEY AND ME. Owen Wilson and Jennifer Aniston star as a couple who adopts the badly behaved but much-loved dog.

- VALKYRIE -
: Alamo Village : Thursday, Dec 25 :

Just in time for Christmas comes the most anticipated, heartwarming film ever made about the attempted assassination of Adolf Hitler!

Helmed by the mighty Bryan Singer (USUAL SUSPECTS, X-MEN, SUPERMAN RETURNS) and starring Tom Cruise with an even mightier eye-patch, this true tale of treason and revenge is destined for acclaim-town. Best part – no fake German accents.

It’s Thanksgiving week, meaning the holidays are actually here now, in all their actualness. But even more exciting – the new holiday menus are in at all of our theaters! We’ve got turkey burgers, fried brie, samosas, and apple pecan turnovers on the holiday special menu, but it doesn’t stop there. The innovations keep on going on the inside of the menu, too, with the return of this summer’s batwings as well as brand new fried pork chops. And… Christmas beers are in! Oh, and of course we’ve got all sorts of Thanksgiving menu specials this Thursday, too, including complete turkey dinners at all of our theaters. In other words – don’t fill up with your family meal, because that’s sooooo just the beginning.

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO RITZ ::

- JIGGY CRUNK: 90s POP RAP SING-ALONG -
: Alamo Ritz : Fri, Nov 28 & Thurs, Dec 4:

The old school rap was great, and the realism of Common and Mos Def can’t be appreciated enough, but god damn it, the pop rap of the 1990s was just so incredibly catchy. It feels bad to admit how much we love it, but it feels good to go with it. So grow your facial hair out, then shave it to ridiculously thin lines, because there’s a good chance Color Me Badd will make an experience. And grow your dreadlocks out, then give them to someone else and let them pretend to be you, because I’ve been WAITING for a show to include Milli Vanilli in!

- NERDCORE RISING with MC FRONTALOT Live! -
: Alamo Ritz : Fri, Nov 28 :

This hilarious and all-too-real music documentary follows MC Frontalot – the “Godfather of Nerdcore” – on his first national tour to reveal the roots of the genre, the dorky complexities of its artists, and one MC’s fight for nerd stardom. Featuring Weird Al Yankovic, Prince Paul, Jello Biafra, Tycho & Gabe, Brian Posehn, MC Frontalot, MC Chris, MC Lars and a slew of other nerdcore artists and commentators. The mighty MC FRONTALOT himself (who’ll be performing downtown after this screening) will be in attendance as well as the woman behind this historical document: Negin Farsad.

- Master Pancake Theatre CHRISTMAS SHOW -
: Alamo Ritz : Sat, Nov 29 :

After a 2-year absence, it’s the return of the famous Alamo Christmas Clip Show featuring Master Pancake Theater! Join us as we channel surf A.D.D.-style through a blizzard of clips from your favorite holiday TV specials and some weird holiday programs you never dreamed existed. Owen Egerton returns to team up with regulars John Erler and Joe Parsons for all the fun. We’ll also have an audience sing-along, some holiday snacks, and who knows, maybe even a little pudding and butter! Come join us at the Alamo this December as THE HOLIDAYS GET SLEIGHED!!

- Rudy Ray Moore Tributes: THE HUMAN TORNADO & DOLEMITE! -
: Alamo Ritz : HUMAN TORNADO – Tues, Dec 2 : DOLEMITE! – Wed, Dec 3 :

We’ll have forties of Schlitz Malt Liquor available for this very special screening. No bull! The great Rudy Ray Moore, nightclub comedian extraoridinaire, Godfather Of Rap and a friend of the Alamo, has died. We were sad for a while and now we’re ready to celebrate his life and work. Rudy Ray Moore’s films are cheap, quickly made and technically disastrous. But they have something that Hollywood can’t buy – they are really, really funny. Be sure to catch both HUMAN TORNADO and DOLEMITE! this week!

- TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES: PIZZA PARTY! -
: Alamo Ritz : Wed, Dec 3 :

Easily the most pulse-pounding film ever made about sewer-dwelling mutants, TMNT wowed kids of all nations. But it also taught them a very important lesson; to respect nature’s perfect food: PIZZA!! So, in true radical ninja party fashion, the Alamo Drafthouse is pleased to present ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT PIZZA for this screening! So bring your little dudes, do a flying roundhouse into your seats and chow down! COWABUNGA!!!

- The LABYRINTH SING-ALONG -
: Alamo Ritz : Thurs, Dec 4 :

Come on people – do I really need to say anything more than that to convince you that this LABYRINTH SING & QUOTE-ALONG is not to be missed, no matter what the goblins tell you that they’re going to do to your little brother? David Bowie, Jim Henson, and Jennifer Connely created an unsurpassed work of young adult cinema in the 1980s, and somehow it’s never been properly celebrated until now. We’ll have props for the crowd and a wig and tight pants for the host. If you miss this show, you most definitely have no power over me. YOU HAVE NO POWER OVER ME!

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO SOUTH LAMAR ::

- UT vs A&M + THANKSGIVING at the ALAMO -
: Alamo South Lamar : Thurs, Nov 27 :

We always do a little something special for Thanksgiving at the Alamo, but usually, that little something special means we have to miss the big game. Well, not this year, because Thanksgiving at the Alamo and UT Football are one in the same! We’ve got a giant inflatable screen and we’re going to set it up outdoors at the Alamo South Lamar, roll out some kegs of beer and set ‘em down next to a truckload of Thanksgiving delights, sit back and cheer. God, it’s a beautiful country.

- Kids’ Club: THE LABYRINTH -
: Alamo South Lamar : Sat, Nov 29 :

All right, so we play a whole lot of Jim Henson stuff at the Kids Club. But it’s not our fault…it just so happens that he was responsible for 99.9% of the magic in the 20th century. And one of his most ambitious and most sorcerocious adventures was the David Bowie-infused otherworldly epic LABYRINTH! This film was made when ’80s lunacy was at its peak, and through the miracle of real special effects (none of that computer business here, buster!), Henson managed to create something truly bizarre and deeply exciting.

- BOLT -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

Kids age 3 and up will be allowed at all screenings of this show. For super-dog BOLT, every day is filled with adventure, danger and intrigue – at least until the cameras stop rolling. When the star of a hit TV show is accidentally shipped from his Hollywood soundstage to New York City, he begins his biggest adventure yet, a cross-country journey through the real world to get back to his owner and co-star, Penny.

- AUSTRALIA -
: Alamo South Lamar : Now Playing :

After seven years since MOULIN ROUGE! body-slammed our eyes and ears into delightful submission, Aussie auteur Baz Luhrmann is back with another epic love story bound with his own brand of unrestrained style. Set in northern Australia before World War II, an English aristocrat (Kidman) who inherits a sprawling ranch reluctantly pacts with a cattle driver (Jackman) in order to protect her new property from a takeover plot.

:: FEATURED EVENTS AT THE ALAMO VILLAGE ::

- THANKSGIVING at the ALAMO -
: Alamo Village : Thurs, Nov 27, ALL VILLAGE SCREENINGS! :

Not everybody makes a pilgrimage back to Paducah to have Turkey Day, but it’s a lot of work to make Thanksgiving dinner. So this year leave the cooking to us. Our award winning chefs will be making turkey and stuffing with cranberries and the whole nine yards. Plus the portions will be huge, big enough to take home leftovers! Get tickets for TWILIGHT, FOUR CHRISTMASES, MADAGASCAR 2 or QUANTUM OF SOLACE and enjoy your Thanksgiving dinner without all that family BS!

- FOUR CHRISTMASES -
: Alamo Village : Now Playing :

Reese Witherspoon and Vince Vaughn pair up for this Christmas comedy about a couple who has to visit four different sets of parents as a result of divorce. Trying to leave town like they do every year for the holidays, they’re busted when they wind up on a local news report at the airport about all the flights, including theirs, were canceled. The premise, we’ll admit, isn’t mindblowing, but this is: THIS WAS MADE BY THE GUY WHO MADE KING OF KONG: FISTFUL OF QUARTERS!!!!!

- TV at the Alamo: GOSSIP GIRL -
: Alamo Village : Mon, Dec 1:

OMG you guys did you SEE the promo for this weeks Gossip Girl?! Everyone’s dancin’ and Blair and Chuck are all flirty and that annoying Aaron guy is still around! Oh, and SOMEONE IS IN AN ACCIDENT!! I don’t know who it is but this is the stuff good tv is made of, people! Lots and lots of ridiculous drama! Please please please let Aaron die soon!

- TV at the Alamo: HEROES -
: Alamo Village : Mon, Dec 1 :

Hiro has gone back in time, and then Papa P made him think he was all young again. Then there was an eclipse, and everything got… well, we’re going to show that episode again this week, so we don’t want to spoil anything. Let’s just say… it’s coming!

- TV at the Alamo: THE OFFICE & 30 ROCK -
: Alamo Village : Thurs, Dec 4 :

The Office and 30 Rock are keeping Thursday nights very exciting lately. Sure they both took a week off for Thanksgiving, but Steve Martin was on 30 Rock last week! And he had a crush on Liz! And Jim bought Pam a house! And it was really cute! I love these shows, so you should come out to the Village and watch them with me.