Alamo Drafthouse is giving its Aspen Grove outpost in Littleton a serious star-power upgrade, renaming the theater the Pam Grier Cinema and throwing a celebration on May 15, with the actress in attendance. The evening will kick off with a 35mm double feature of Foxy Brown and Jackie Brown, and the chain says encore 35mm screenings of both titles are planned later in the summer. The tribute puts Grier’s Denver roots front and center and brings a rare, big-ticket film event to the metro area.
As reported by 9NEWS, Alamo Drafthouse will roll out the new name with a Pam Grier celebration at its Littleton theater on May 15. Grier is slated to take the stage for a live conversation about her career and her influence on film culture.
What Alamo Says
“Renaming our Littleton theater in her honor celebrates not only her extraordinary cinematic legacy, but also the lasting influence she’s had on film culture,” Alamo Drafthouse chief marketing officer Chaya Rosenthal said in the announcement, according to 9NEWS. The company added that it plans more Pam Grier-focused screenings along with commemorative items tied to the renaming.
Alamo’s Colorado Presence
Austin-born Alamo Drafthouse now operates around the country from its Texas headquarters, and its Aspen Grove location in Littleton has been part of that footprint since 2013. According to Wikipedia, the Littleton theater was the company’s first Denver-area venue when it opened.
Grier’s Local Tie
Pam Grier grew up in Denver and graduated from East High School, a detail that pops up regularly in local biographies and profiles. The Denver Public Library notes that she broke out in the 1970s with roles in films like Coffy and Foxy Brown, and that she later surged back into the spotlight with Jackie Brown.
Alamo Drafthouse plans to sell commemorative Pam Grier items through its online store, and the chain’s gift shop already carries Pam Grier merchandise. The theater’s retail site currently lists a “Pam Grier Badass Cinema T-Shirt,” according to AlamoMart…