WATCH: Alamo Drafthouse Star Wars SF Premiere & Menu – San Francisco, get an exclusive behind-the-scenes look at Alamo Drafthouse’s New Mission Theater. The cinema will open to the public on December 17th, launching with inarguably the most hotly-anticipated movie event of the 21st Century: STAR WARS: EPISODE VII: THE FORCE AWAKENS. Bay Area HQ’s Ally Williams caught up with CEO/Founder Tim League & Creative Director Michael Keegan to get all the details on what this amazing venue will offer to not only visitors, but also to the community. Tim & Mike talk about what’s unique at the San Francisco location and some interesting info on the Star Wars premiere. Check it out.
Alamo Drafthouse’s New Mission Theater is the company’s first foray into California and it marks a dramatic arrival for the brand. The theater’s meticulous $10 million restoration and retrofit has resulted in a movie mecca as original 1920’s decor fuses with state of the art technology. The New Mission is the first theater in North America equipped with Sony’s revolutionary 515DS dual-4K projectors.
“I was seven when I first saw Star Wars Episode IV. Nearly 40 years later, I still remember exactly where I saw it and every detail of the experience.” said Drafthouse CEO/Founder Tim League. “I can think of no better way to launch our new flagship, the historic New Mission Theater, than with this hugely anticipated film.”
Alamo Drafthouse’s restoration and retrofit of the 1920s movie palace in San Francisco’s Mission District features a total of five screens, ranging in size from boutique screens of just 34 to 320 seats in the grand hall, as well as a full-service bar and kitchen, in-theater dining and a strictly enforced (and widely lauded) no-talking/no-texting policy.
Alamo Drafthouse’s New Mission Theater will feature a comprehensive offering of the best new releases ranging from blockbusters to indies and the Alamo’s highly-celebrated signature repertory programming. The largest auditorium at the New Mission will feature Sony’s aforementioned revolutionary projection system in addition to archival 70mm & 35mm projection capabilities. The other four auditoriums feature state-of-the-art Sony 4K digital projection and Dolby digital surround sound.
All seating is assigned and can be reserved at time of ticket purchase online or in-person at the box office. Customers are encouraged to arrive early to enjoy Alamo’s exclusive pre-show entertainment of rare clips, videos and shorts that are custom-curated to complement each feature film or event.
Located at 2550 Mission Street, between 21st & 22nd, the New Mission was built in 1915 and subsequently expanded in the 1920s and 1930s. It showed it’s last movie in May 1993, and diligent work by the San Francisco Neighborhood Theater Foundation resulted in it being declared a landmark in 2004.
Alamo Drafthouse at the New Mission is easily accessible on public transportation. It is directly on the 14 and 49 bus lines, two blocks north of the 24th Street BART stop, and a ten-minute walk from the J-Church line. There are several private parking lots adjacent to the theater, as well.
Stay tuned for more information on the Alamo Drafthouse at the New Mission and its accompanying bar, Isaac Shumway’s Bear Vs Bull. For developments on the New Mission and Bear Vs Bull, visit the website and follow Alamo Drafthouse on Facebook& Twitter.
