TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
160 people
favorited this theater
Showing 51 - 75 of 1,676 comments
May 2017 Chicago Tribune article with about the 90th anniversary images.
https://www.chicagotribune.com/entertainment/movies/la-et-mn-chinese-theatre-20170518-htmlstory.html
On 11/7/1977 Herbie(The Love Bug) along with other immortals of the silver screen, placed it’s wheel marks in cement outside the Chinese Theatre, before people to watch a screening of the movie, “Herbie goes to Monte Carlo”.
Moviegoing as practiced for more than a century appears over. This could be the “new normal.” The following New York Times article does not mention Grauman’s Chinese specifically, but the theatre would be affected if it ever re-opens. Click here
“Movies and Museums Are Coming Back. Should You Go?” asks The New York Times in a controversial article displayed here
Great story
That was back when the Chinese had carbon arcs three Norelco’s in the main booth and they could go from 35 to 70 mm on a changeover and it was impressive. To go from a small 1:85 picture for the trailers in mono to a full Todd-AO picture with six channels of a great six channel mix an experience that only comes once in a while
Hi Bill_Lonee, and welcome! Great story! I remember my first viewing of Star Wars, also at the Chinese, and it also changed my life! I remember events in my life as pre- and post-Star Wars!
I hope when theatres reopen eventually that you come back and watch a movie at the Chinese, I go all the time (well, until it has to close) and the theatre is still magic, and in my opinion one of the best places to see a big movie!
What a lucky kid to have such cool parents!
Back in ‘77, our parents woke us up and let us know that we would not be going to school that day. Instead, we drove to Hollywood from Glendora and stood in a very long line for a couple of hours. To see a movie I’d never even heard of. I ate a pita sandwich for the first time in my life because we happened to be standing in front of a pita shop when we got hungry. I was blown away by the outside of the theater but underwhelmed by the weird lobby card photos from the film. Once inside, I was blown away again by just how big the screen was, then disappointed when the trailers started and they only filled the middle of the screen. HOWEVER, once the movie started, my whole universe changed. Twelve, going on thirteen, and seeing Star Wars for the first time, on the biggest screen you’ve ever seen, will do that to you.
Latest speculation on the future of moviegoing as practiced for more than a century can be read here
Water & Power Associates website with multiple vintage photos.
https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_LA_Buildings%20(1925%20+)_1_of_8.html?fbclid=IwAR1lX7MwR-B7JOo00XCauScOyIvE8JH7-uWLXd3HLct6TthaapoIJLyY71U
“Hollywood’s Iconic Chinese Theatre Lays Off Staff Amid Virus Crisis. The 932-seat movie palace has been closed for business since March 16.”
Article from The Hollywood Reporter, with a couple interesting things: 1. the names of the principals of the theater: Eli Samaha, Carol Braidi and Hina Rizvi, and
2. there’s a current photograph, showing the metal barriers at the sidewalk to keep people out of the famous courtyard during the pandemic closure.
link: www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/hollywoods-iconic-chinese-theatre-lays-staff-virus-crisis-1288257
bigjoe59, what great collection! I would love to see photos of the House of Rothschild program, or any programs that are from Los Angeles theatres. In fact, if you’re ever interested in donating any, the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation maintains an archive of ephemera related to theatres in L.A. County. www.LAHTF.org.
This theatre was seen briefly in an episode of Pimp my ride(second season, episode – Sara’s Chevy s10), when drove pass the theatre, near the begining of the episode.
Hello-
I own several souvenir programs(140 in fact) and one of my favorites is the one for The House of Rothschild which premiered at this theater. what makes it special is not only is it in mint condition but it contains the special mini program just for the premiere at this theater.
Here is the link to a new “Hello, Dolly!” 50th anniversary retro article featuring a historian Q&A and roadshow chronology (which, of course, includes mention of its lengthy run at the Chinese).
“CINITY” projection system installed for the premiere of “Gemini Man” at the Chinese Theatre:
“GEMINI MAN Theatrical Premiere Will Utilize 4K 3D 120fps High Frame Rate Projection”.
The system was developed for Chinese company Huaxia Film, and uses Christie dual laser projection; it is capable of 4K 3D at 120 frames per second, with 28ftL peak screen illumination.
I assume that public screenings were IMAX with Laser?
Variety article about the upcoming premiere of “Joker” at the TCL Chinese Theatre.
https://variety.com/2019/film/news/joker-premiere-red-carpet-journalists-1203352046/?fbclid=IwAR2CZYGRPEmXk-YVfyxppal-k9R9_NZZyp4cf-xWUTFN9MGYpa11olsjuqw
One of the moviegoers that visited this theater had measles and also visited other landmarks around the LA area, including disneyland and others.
Hello-
to stevenJ thanks for the reply. you’d expect since the exterior was a façade on the Columbia lot they’d at least build one that actually looked like the New Amsterdam Theater.
According to the overview for the Warrens (Warner Bros) theatre in downtown Los Angeles the interior theatre shots at the beginning of Funny Girl were filmed there.
Warrens
Hello from NYC-
at the beginning of Funny Girl Barbra Streisand walks into what is supposed to be the New Amsterdam Theater on 42 St.. as any native New Yorker will tell you the interior looked nothing liked the New Amsterdam. this has always been a big mistake for me. to which what L.A. theater was used for the interior of the New Amsterdam?
Link with footage of the August 27, 1964 premiere of “Mary Poppins”.
https://thettc.wordpress.com/2012/08/27/mary-poppins-premiere-august-27-1964/
Some of the movie stars of Marvels “Avengers endgame(5 movie stars i think?) recently put there signitures and handprints in cement outside this theatre(before the movie came out i think?).
The last time this appeared in a Marvel MCU movie was Iron Man 3 which came out six years ago this weekend. Also seen in cartoon form in Scooby Doo Goes to Hollywood and other Hanna Barbera cartoons.
Seen briefly in the film “The Muppet movie” as the Electric Mayhem bus is seen driving past the theatre near the end of the film.