TCL Chinese Theatre

6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90028

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Showing 201 - 225 of 1,670 comments

Giles
Giles on April 6, 2015 at 10:45 pm

the new IMAX laser system features 12-channel sound (to compete with Dolby Atmos and Auro 11.1) – did they actually install the requisite 4-ceiling speakers??

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on April 6, 2015 at 1:01 pm

Ok. Who would win in a fight the Chinese or Lincoln square in nyc? I say Lincoln square because of the real Imax screen and it’s well done multiplex screens.

RobertAlex
RobertAlex on April 6, 2015 at 12:57 pm

moviebuff, this is/was Grauman’s Chinese Theater and does not show Chinese movies ( but named for the architecture and decor)? I would read the overview above.

moviebuff82
moviebuff82 on April 6, 2015 at 12:28 pm

What’s the next Chinese language movie to be shown at this theater and why is this theater the only one in the US to be named that?

RobertAlex
RobertAlex on April 6, 2015 at 10:10 am

the screen does seem a bit wider, and no, there is no masking for IMAX shows. I have heard that it is 96 feet, but also read that it was 91 feet so I am not sure on the exact size, but it is BIG.

markinthedark
markinthedark on April 6, 2015 at 10:01 am

So was Furious 7 not masked properly then? If they have the ability to mask for the festival why not IMAX shows?

Can anyone report on the screen size? Is it wider? Properly masked? Etc?

RobertAlex
RobertAlex on April 6, 2015 at 9:12 am

I spent the last two weekends at the Chinese, first with the TCM Film Fest and then to see Furious 7 on Friday. The TCM festival was awesome, and to see classic movies ( i saw Affair to Remember, Norma Rae and 1776) on the big screen with almost every seat filled is a wonderful thing. Also, to see that screen properly masked was beautiful. They have movable masking that they used for each film, and I was wish they used that during the IMAX shows. It makes a huge difference.

Furious 7 looked amazing, but the most notable improvement here is what Cliffs said, the sound. It is very discreet, detailed and kicks butt in volume. 4 more channels on the ceiling and one additional channel on each side of the auditorium mid way from the screen to the back speaker. It is not as good as Atmos, but damn if it doesnt come close.

The visuals were stunning. Far superior from the demo i saw two years ago. The blacks were solid, and like Chris said, the colors. OMG the colors…well done indeed!!

Chris Utley
Chris Utley on April 5, 2015 at 9:33 pm

Yeah…the lasers are FANTASTIC! Never seen clarity, sharpness & colors popping like that before. Laser will be the norm in 2-3 years. And rightfully so.

Escott O. Norton
Escott O. Norton on April 5, 2015 at 7:20 pm

Cliffs, I am so glad to hear! I’ve been out of town so haven’t witnessed it for myself yet!
For those interested, I was allowed to witness and document the secret load-in night when the IMAX Laser projectors first arrived. It was quite an experience! Click here to see my Facebook album: http://tinyurl.com/LAHTFChineseIMAXLaser

Cliffs
Cliffs on April 5, 2015 at 6:38 pm

Laser projection at the Chinese is tremendous! The new IMAX trailer that played before the Furious 7 had the deepest black levels and most vivid colors I’ve ever seen projected anywhere. And the picture on that huge screen was razor sharp and jaw droppingly beautiful. In fact (and shockingly since F7 had a 2K DI), you could see a definite drop in quality when the movie pulled in footage from Tokyo Drift (which was Super35). Aside from the slightly bigger screen overall, the sound appears to be better as well. At least 4 new ceiling speakers were counted. I wasn’t a huge fan of the sound at the Chinese since the IMAX redo, but I’m converted with this redo redo. It was truly spectacular.

RobertAlex
RobertAlex on March 12, 2015 at 5:07 pm

The Chinese Theater is closed till 4/2 for installation of the new IMAX Laser Projector and a new immersive sound system. I noticed there were no showings posted so I called to ask. Personally I am psyched to finally get to see hear and this. This also means they will be using the entire screen starting with Fast and Furious 7 (after the TCM film fest is over).

Escott O. Norton
Escott O. Norton on November 20, 2014 at 2:14 pm

The Vista is east of Hollywood, but still in the neighborhood. It has recently been given new life as a first run house, and has developed a loyal following. During my youth it was one of many great revival theatres that I would frequent. https://sites.google.com/site/hollywoodtheatres/vista

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on November 20, 2014 at 1:45 pm

Hello Again From NYC-

thanks for all the replies. I know I set a rather tight parameter but I was interested in what grand old time theaters other than the Chinese that were built from the get go as 1st run venues have continued to operate as such since the day they opened. the area in an around Hollywood is luck they have 3 that fit my criteria, Manhattan doesn’t have any.

also where is the Vista?

HowardBHaas
HowardBHaas on November 20, 2014 at 5:45 am

I thought Westwood Village movie theaters became “premiere” movie theaters in the 1960s or 1950s but not when built? i doubt they were 1st run when built. Downtown LA & Hollywood movie theaters were the 1st run until 1960s or so.

Escott O. Norton
Escott O. Norton on November 20, 2014 at 1:59 am

So BigJoe59, I guess the answer to your question is that the 2nd oldest theatre in Los Angeles built as a first run and still operating as such would be the Fox Village Theatre, opened in 1931. The Bruin across the street was opened in 1937 so would be the 3rd. Here’s a video made during our most recent Westwood theatre tour: www.youtube.com/watch?v=veX5sfunsw4

RogerA
RogerA on November 19, 2014 at 11:18 pm

I didn’t know that CTC thanks for the input

CTCrouch
CTCrouch on November 19, 2014 at 10:30 am

Technically, the Vista wouldn’t fit in to bigjoe’s parameters, as it spent time as both a porn venue and revival house (i.e. hasn’t been continuously first run from open to present day).

RogerA
RogerA on November 18, 2014 at 4:24 pm

bigjoe don’t leave out the Vista Theater that has been around for a long time as a single screen and is first run

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on November 18, 2014 at 3:43 pm

to Roger A.–

thanks for your quick reply. unfortunately the grand El Capitan doesn’t qualify since it wasn’t built as a movie theater. it opened in 1926 as a legitimate theater for live shows and didn’t start showing films till Citizen Kane in 1941. so based on your reply other than the Chinese the Village and Bruin theaters both in Westwood are the only old time movie theaters in or around Hollywood that were built from the get go as 1st run venues and have continued to operate as such since the day they opened?

RogerA
RogerA on November 18, 2014 at 2:33 pm

bigjoe59 The El Capitan which was the Paramount has been in operation as a single screen first run movie theater for many years. The Egyptian was shut down for many years after it was damaged by the Northridge earthquake but it is no longer a first run venue. The Vista Theater has been in operation since 1923. The Village Theater and the Bruin Theater in Westwood has been in operation as a first run venue for decades.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on November 18, 2014 at 2:13 pm

Hello From NYC-

I would greatly appreciate it someone answered my question of Oct. 14. thanks.

RogerA
RogerA on November 17, 2014 at 12:26 pm

I went to Interstellar in IMAX 70mm. The few scenes that were in IMAX looked great, boring movie but it looked good.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on October 14, 2014 at 2:59 pm

Hello From NYC-

i have a question for my fellow L.A film buffs. this theater is the only one of the grand old movie theaters built in the hayday of such construction that was as built as a 1st run venue and has continued to operate as such since the day it opened. so i was wondering what is the second oldest movie theater in L.A. that was built from the get go as a 1st run venue and as continued to operate as such since the day it opened.

Escott O. Norton
Escott O. Norton on October 13, 2014 at 11:22 am

Yes, the amazing Rita Moreno! Unfortunately no connections there. I do know someone who just performed with Shirley Jones so I will ask him if he can ask her.
As for Wikipedia, I do not trust what I read there unless I can confirm via primary sources. That is why I mentioned the NYT article. Lots of inferences and assumptions. I would believe a studio making cuts to keep running time at a certain point though.

bigjoe59
bigjoe59 on October 13, 2014 at 10:23 am

Hello Again-

i made a big OPPS! in my last post. i said Patrick Adriatre would be the only major cast member of TKAI still with us. so i apologize to Rita Moreno and Rex Thompson for not including them.