In what feels like a complete 180 to loyal Alamo Drafthouse patrons, phones will soon be required to order food, drinks, or request service before and during film screenings.
The policy change is in sharp contrast to the pre-movie PSAs the dine-in theater chain has been showing for decades. Just a few weeks ago, Dolly Parton joined the lineup of actors, directors and politicians who have told moviegoers to “Turn them phones off!” before the lights went down.
Starting mid-February, instead of pressing a button and scribbling food and drink orders on paper, guests will place orders through the company’s app before and during the movie. The days of raising an order card to alert staff of talking or texting will soon be gone. Ironically, all tattling on others for inappropriate phone usage will need to be reported using a phone…