TCL Chinese Theatre

I made the mistake of going to the Chinese 6 on opening night to see “The Mist.” Though I had no expectation of anything other then what you would expect by going to the annex theaters to the Grauman’s, I was about to go mental after sitting through almost 30 minutes of commercials, advertisements and banal musical selections in what they call “Screenvision.” They should call it “Screamvision” because that’s what I wanted to do – scream for them to turn it off! It was truly unbearable. The Mann chain really socks it to you and hits you over the head with their policy of these pre-show advertisments. And now they have joined the ranks of the cel phone addicts where you can “text in” requests or answers to a central phone number. I swore I’d never set foot in that theater again or at least wait outside until all the consumerism ended. Have today’s audiences become so jaded and brainwashed that they can actually accept this and sit though this blatant advertisemnets? Remeber when we used to boo and hiss when the old Los Angeles Times commercials came on? What happened to those days? Here’s a tip: for an excellant presenation of a film and a wonderful expierence head to The “Vista” and see a film the way it is supposed to be presented. No pre-show canned commercials, but they play music and have great leg room in the seats and fantastic projection and sound all in a wonderful historic theater where you can look up from the screen and marvel and give thanks to the wonderful people who did so mush to restore the theater. And best of all? They have a curtain they raise and lower before and after the feature. I saw “American Gangster” last week and the matinee was only about $8.50. Thank God they is still have theaters in Los Angeles where some things are still scared. Shame on you Mann Theaters.

Did you ask to talk with the Manager?

With the closing of the National, and with the comments on this page about not using the curtain, I considered but decided against a vacation in LA that would now be taking place.

Beautiful. The place is still a wonder.

SORRY! – here’s the URL

http://www.angelfire.com/ri2/valleygirl/index.html

Here is a 1944 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/2octca

The last nail in the coffin of the Chinese – after building the horrendous Highland & Hollywood development, removing the old box office and hiring all those kitchy celebrity “impersonators” out front, was the policy of using the screen to project advertisments as “Preshow entertainment” before the feature. No more curtain and a chance to sit and appriciate the decor and motif. Nothing is scared. Now you are bombarded by advertisements whether you want to see them or not. Also their policy of between show tours is terrible. The last time I was there an usher told me I was in the way of the group – and this after I paid for a ticket to the film! This is NOT the same theater Harvey Korman goes to and tries to get in on a student rate in “Blazing Saddles.”

Here is an April 1957 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/3c769c

How different was the interior in the 70s and 80s in comparison to the 90s? The stage and proscenium collumns were removed decades before if I’m not mistaken. The exterior is certainly better but they should’ve put back the palm trees and fixed the fountain on the east side. Whenever I’m there it’s not working.

Were there ever little bonzai trees in the theater or is this a false memory?

Thanks Ken mc. I know as I have searched for some time..No lobby photos and even if I found some they would have to be from that era..they say a photo is worth a thousand words and as long as I have that Cary Grant photo that might well be all I will ever be able to put together. I often wondered what happened to pieces of decor such as this when remodeling is done and how this person came to be in possesson of it and what the owner’s connection to the theatre was if any. Nobody seemd to know at the time.

Nice shots, but no lobby shots.

I have been trying to locate interior photos of the Grauman’s lobby from the 40’s and 50’s but have not been sucessful..Perhaps there are none around..I have an antique dragon motif cast iron. bronze and brass floor standing ashtray/smoking stand I purchased many years ago that I understand was once in the lobby of the Grauman. The adm. of the estate I purchased it from told me it was removed during a renovation and came accompanied with a picture of Cary Grant standing there putting out a cigarette in the very same smoking stand. I have treasured it over the years but always meant to try and find out more about the piece. I called Mann’s a few years ago and spoke to someone there and described the ash tray and was told after some deliberation that it was indeed one of a pair that once stood in their lobby. I am an antique collector and bought the piece for it’s value as a unique art deco piece of the era but it’s connection to the theatre was a real plus and has always had me fascinated. Does anyone know how I could go about getting more info on this fabulous piece.I have visions of not only Cary Grant but the likes of Bette Davis putting her cigs in the ashtray and it gives me goosebumps.

Does anyone know how the Damon Runyon Cancer Research Center of New York and Barlow Respiratory Hospital of Los Angeles came to own the land ?

A recent visit to ‘Madame Dara’ the gypsy fortune teller in San Francisco CA has told me today the future of the Mann’s Grauman’s Theatre in Hollywood CA. Looking just 2 years from now; and with city help. The new owners CIM will put a new big fancy hotel above the air space on top of the Chinese Theatre. (Just like in NYC) It will be called the Grauman’s CIM Hotel Hollywood. It will have a oriental/tiki look with 600 rooms. The big draw she told me will be all the Movie Star beggers outside dressed for the tourist crowd will move inside the new hotel and offer nite tuck down service to the guests that pay a little extra for a Hollywood touch! Imagine Marilyn or the Pirate can come to your room. The big money thing that the CIM people will do $$$ is put in the Big Tong Gates in front of the forcourt and charge $5 per person to enter and see the movie star prints and take photos (No Video) that’s extra. If your on a tour bus the bus people will pay CIM $3 per head for entrance 24/7 The big news that blew me away ‘Madame Dara’ told me this afternoon when Mann goes out of business two brothers from the San Francisco area will take over the Mann Theatres (what is left after the big LA earthquake and fire in 2008) I asked her the name of the brothers she said it started with a S. I thought it will be the Forman brothers with Pacific she said no. I mentioned Syufy Brothers. Yes she said that will be the new owners of the former Mann Chinese in the future. They are breaking away from the tired Century/Cinemark multiplex folks and go single screen at the Chinese. They will only run the Graumans Chinese Theatre part for the CIM folks. She thinks the 6 plex behind the main Chinese will be a big Chinese food court for the out of town people? Also the Syufys will have to pay 50% of the theatre candy/popcorn sales direct to the CIM owners so they can buy more land in Hollywood. I was thinking when I left ‘Ms Dara’ today the CIM guys are very smart business people buying the Chinese Theatre and the air space above. Watch for booking reservations in 2010! Superman or Batman can come visit you in you room! Will the old Mann Paramount/Warner Bros Theatre people get a cut of this new room entertainment venture? Big flat wide screen Tv’s will be in every room. You will be able to watch the exact movie that is playing in the big curved screen Chinese below you in your room without showmanship; or will they put a little curtain on each TV? A extra charge for Dolby Digital Stereo per movie in your room will be added to your room bill. The CIM people know how to bring in the tourist $$$$. Hollywood needs more nice big hotels bring on this new venture. And thanks to ‘Madame Dara’ she knows all!