Alamo Drafthouse Slaughter Lane held its grand opening March 22.

In a short speech prior to the ribbon cutting, founder/CEO Tim League thanked his wife, Karrie, and the Drafthouse staff. He said he hoped the theater would be a haven for movie lovers.

Robert Rodriguez, director of "Spy Kids" and "Desperado," was a special guest at the ribbon cutting. He said he had many happy childhood memories watching road show screenings of old movies. He praised the Drafthouse for its innovations.

To mark the grand opening, League and Rodriguez enacted what League called a Napoleonic-era tradition. Rodriguez used a sword to slice off the cork of a bottle of champagne.

If done cleanly, that meant armies would be successful. If it was not, that meant the armies would die in battle.

Rodriguez sliced off the cork cleanly, which League took to indicate that the theater would be successful.

League cut the ribbon using a replica dagger based on "The Lord of the Rings."