Nation's Oldest Cinema-Eatery Relies on Quality Projection Surfaces for Newest Venture
WINCHESTER, VA - When Rydt Entertainment Systems, a division of Moving Image Technologies, was given the task of fitting out the Alamo Drafthouse's Winchester, VA location, it turned to Harkness Screens to provide projection surfaces for the new theatre/restaurant.
The Alamo Drafthouse Winchester location is the first to go beyond its Texas borders by venturing out to Virginia. As the only franchised movie theater chain with the unique offering of a restaurant, the Alamo Drafthouse is known for showing some of the best first-run, independent films and other one-of-a-kind special events in the country.
Featuring a total of eight theatres, the Alamo Drafthouse Winchester has a seating capacity of 870. The two largest screening rooms each have seating for 158 patrons and feature 48' x 20' Harkness Perlux 220 screens that are designed for 3D films featuring Dolby's 3D solution. The six other theaters range in size from 76 seats to 103 seats and feature Harkness' Perlux 140 screens.
"We were very excited when Lisa Limoges at N/L Entertainment, the franchise owner of the Winchester Alamo Drafthouse, approached us about getting involved in the project," says Jerry Van de Rydt, president of Rydt Entertainment Systems. "The whole concept of the Alamo Drafthouse is very unique and genuinely the best at what it does."
With over 25 years experience using Harkness products, Van de Rydt felt confident that Harkness would provide the best screens for the project. "We chose to equip the Drafthouse with Harkness Screens because they are the best screens in the industry," adds Van de Rydt. "The quality of the output is always consistent and the reliability and the customer service are exemplary."
Harkness Perlux screens are considered by leading cinema exhibitors worldwide to be the premier gain projection surface. The Perlux line of screens provides a choice of gain characteristics, high contrast, bright pictures, generous viewing angles and excellent color temperature. The Perlux 180 and 220 high gain screens are perfect companions for digital 3D systems, which by nature of the 3D architecture have a lower light output when compared to traditional 2D projection systems.
The Alamo Drafthouse Winchester has enjoyed much success since opening and plans are already set to open additional locations in the Shenandoah Valley region within the next few years -- all featuring Harkness Screens. In addition, Rydt Entertainment Systems plans on installing Harkness Screens in the two new Alamo Drafthouses that it is scheduled to design and build in Texas.