Alamo Drafthouse takes on texters

AUSTIN (KXAN) - The Alamo Drafthouse Cinema has started a new public service announcement campaign targeting texting in its theaters.

The nearly two-minute clip that will be played before all R-rated movies is an audio recording from an angry woman who was kicked out of a Drafthouse location for texting during a movie.  She had been warned twice to stop, according to Drafthouse CEO Tim League.

League said he created the Drafthouse cinemas to provide a movie-watching experience free from distractions. The company already takes a strong stance against talking during a movie. One warning, and then the offender is kicked out.

"We wanted to take a hard stand and just say that those people are not welcome at the Alamo Drafthouse, so we'll get rid of those people and just make it a better place for the rest of the movie-going public," said League.

Developments in technology since the Alamo first opened have led employees to take on texters, as well as talkers. League said the bright light from a cell phone is as distracting for movie watchers as talking.

"It's a new phenomenon and I think maybe people just don't realize that they are being rude," said League. "It's just an education of people that this isn't your living room, that you're being disrespectful to the entire audience and within this theater, we're not going to put up with it."

Film critic Roger Ebert supports the Drafthouse stand against texting and even blogged about it. All of the buzz overloaded the Drafthouse website Monday. The site is back up and running.