Yesterday, the day after our asshole governor decided to create more super spreader events (upcoming Spring Breaks filled with dill holes), my favorite movie theater chain has declared bankruptcy. To add insult to injury, they shuttered their premiere location in downtown Austin, the historic Ritz Theater. Another reason for going into the city removed, the biggest annoyance is the highway-robbery rates for parking.
Although the Ritz wasn’t their first location, it became their greatest thanks to its stage and when it was packed, it was awesome. So many memories made there:
- Two different screenings with Joe Bob Briggs hosting.
- Elvira (Cassandra Peterson) doing a Q&A.
- Viv Savage of Spinal Tap doing a Q&A.
- Numerous Master Pancake shows.
- Trace & Frank of MST3K doing a live riff with the Master Pancake gang.
- Russellmania! An all-day marathon of five Kurt Russell movies to celebrate the actor’s birthday with James Hong showing up at the end.
- The Summer of 1982 celebration. I made it to all eight featured films!
- Restoration prints of 2001 and Barry Lyndon and shown with Kubrick’s original instructions.
- A screening of Blazing Saddles to commemorate the passing of Gene Wilder.
- Seeing Last Crusade in 70mm when they got a projector upgrade.
It was a fantastic chapter for one of Austin’s oldest movie theaters. When I first moved here in 1994, the place was a pool hall/bar, I think. Now I wonder what the owners will do with it next. Given how crappy Sixth Street has become, trust me, it’s filthy and what MTV would resemble if it were a street.
Farewell Alamo Ritz. Fingers crossed the Village, Lakeline and other locations survive this horrendous economy.