TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
164 people
favorited this theater
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I’m not sure the quality of films being booked here is as important as the fact that hardly any new product is being booked at all. If Grauman’s changed movies every three weeks, consistently, I think we’d be fine. Not happy, but fine.
Here’s my question: why don’t they just put some second-run stuff into the big house if they’re going to keep going like this? When they took “Iron Man 2” from the ArcLight, they continued to play “Splice” in Grauman’s for Weeks 4 and 5. I’m sure they weren’t obligated to play that relatively low-grossing film in the big house for THAT long per their contract. And I don’t think “Iron Man 2” headlining on Hollywood Blvd over two months into its release would be any more embarrassing than a box office bomb over a month into its own. I’m pretty sure those who missed the movie or those who like the Chinese in general and wouldn’t mind seeing it again would have shown up… at least in greater droves than they did for “Splice”.
If they built at least 10 screens alongside Grauman’s, we wouldn’t be having this conversation. I would love to know which members of Mann’s management felt that, in the age of 15 screen multplexes on every other corner, a 6 screen theatre was a feasible 21st century business plan!
Mark, I do agree with you that locals pass on the Chinese sometimes because of the tourist congestion. I’ve given neighbors a nice tongue lashing out not patronizing the Chinese enough. :–)
The Chinese 6 theatres have turned into what the Galaxy was during its last couple years, a move-over house. The only new films booked into the Chinese 6 seem to be whatever is in the Main house or something like this weeks “Standing Ovation” which is a wide release that is looking for first run screens. The Chinese 6 also gets alot of kiddie films like “Alvin & Chipmunks” that Arclight passes on.
Actually Mark, I take back part of what I said. The studios may perfer Arclight over Chinese in some cases because they can provide more seats. This weekend INCEPTION sold out the DOME and 3 of the larger Arclight screens throughout the weekend. Chinese probably could not have offered that.
I do wonder however if the locals prefer avoiding all the tourists at the Chinese and the Hollywood & Highland complex where the Chinese 6 is located, and if that plays into the fact that most of the desired releases being booked at the Arclight. Is there a prestige factor involved in a studio putting a film at the Arclight, where industry people seem to prefer going to the movies?
I do not think it is a matter of Paramount and WB wanting their films at Arclight; actually, they seem to be splitting the WB product between the 2 theatres. Mann has kept the Harry Potter franchise at the Chinese which is still huge. The jury is still out on HP7 later this year, if Mann is folding Arclight may out bit Mann for it.
Paramount seems to be releasing most of their films lately under the DreamWorks banner which always were booked at Arclight.
To me it has seemed like Mann has not cared. They pretty much book a new film to play a month in the main house, and use the 6 plex for move-overs, rentals, and film festivals. Film exhibition has not been top priority for Mann over the past couple years. If they really wanted some of these films, they could out bid Arclight. It appears they rather not. This is just my observation and I could be wrong.
I believe Mann was owned by Westar when they filed for bankruptcy back in the late ‘90’s? Then Warner and Paramount stepped in and created an entity called WF Holdings to take over Mann. They must have spent quite a bit of money renovating the Chinese. In the forecourt they removed the boxoffice and covered walkway. Inside they upgraded the THX sound system and also put in a new screen, new screen curtains, new seats, new carpet, and enlarged the concession area by moving the projection booth back upstairs. Ever since Star Wars Episode II back in 2002, they’ve kept the booth upgraded with the best digital projection equipment.
They spent all that money spiffing the place up :) but then they don’t showcase their big budget tentpoles there anymore :(
Well Mark thats to bad considering the only theatre to rival the Chinese is the Cinerama Dome at the ArcLight. I think its more Mann Theatres than the ArcLight. Mann Theatres during its decline hasn’t protected the Chinese film bookings. The Chinese was always a top grossing theatre until Mann declined so badly. The Chinese should be treated the way Disney treats the El Capitan. Warner Bros and Paramount still have a stake in Mann Theatres and should treat the Chinese better. I think a little old fashioned showmanship is needed to promote the most famous film theatre on the planet.brucec
The problem is Paramount and WB would rather have their films at Arclight…
Warner Bros and Paramount should take over the Chinese. The Chinese is a flaship theatre that is being booked like a subrun theatre under Mann’s declining health. Grauman’s Chinese should be booked with the biggest and the best summer blockbusters as in the past. It should be treated like the Cinerama Dome and El Capitan. The Chinese still hosts mamy premiere’s but those films are booked elsewhere.brucec
Another old postcard:
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So the theatre fails to get Inception but they get Standing Ovation (basically the Mormon High School Musical) at the Chinese 6. How did they sink that low?
There’s a huge disconnect between the beautiful theater in Hollywood90038’s pictures and the crummy movies like Predators that are playing to an empty house. Maybe TCM should take over Grauman’s Chinese and run it year-round.
Alright, y'all. Time to state the obvious. Grauman’s Chinese & Chinese 6 (until another operator takes them over) are DEAD. Mann Theatres itself is DEAD. Hate to say it…sad to say it…but it’s the truth.
Predators sounds about right for the type of films the Chinese has been getting lately. So what is the prediction on how long it will play at the Chinese? What crappy film in late August will replace it?
PREDATORS tickets are now up for pre-sale at the Chinese, thankfully. (However, this unfortunately means they won’t be getting INCEPTION, which is the only predicted big-hit they had a shot at.) I’d be curious to know how many people are still watching SPLICE there — maybe a dozen per show at best? The movie had a marginal per theater average opening weekend, can only imagine what it’s like now. Let’s pray the next movie they get is not CATS & DOGS 2.
Splice should have been a much bigger hit than it was.
hdtv267, it depends on what they’re showing, but earlier shows are a safer bet if you want to shoot the Chinese mostly empty. I’d recommend going in as soon as they open the house and doing it before the show. Afterward they’re cleaning up and there’s more pressure to get you out. Evening shows are likely to be busier.
I’ve never taken the tour, but I’ve seen them going through prior to a show and they don’t seem to really give people time to take anything but quick snaps.
Something you should think about before you go in: it’s pretty dark. Do you have a camera that can take good quality photos at high ISO? (Or a really good flash?) If not, you might want to take a tripod. I tend to shoot long exposures (2-3 seconds) in there.
The manager used to stop me taking photographs, but the good news about Mann closing up shop is that they don’t seem to care anymore. The last couple of times I was in there I shot freely and no one bothered me.
That must be the Chinese on a Friday night! (bad joke). Seriously, Grauman’s is still showing “Splice” and the Chinese Complex got none of the major releases this week, nor will they get any of the major releases next week. Very sad. I hope Mann closes shop soon so another operator can take over and at least make an effort.
Anyone know if they’ll be getting delayed Prince of Persia d-box run? It seems a shame that any movie that might be worth seeing in something like d-box seems to never arrive at Chinese 6 for a first run.
Looks a little empty without all the costumed people…
Splice is supposed to be good. Anyone been there to see what the Chinese has booked for the Summer months?
Splice starts tomorrow at the main theatre.
Just saw the schedule for Friday. Prince of Persia IS NOT playing at this theatre in DBOX or any other shape or form.
Found it !
Thanks for the info and for pointing me in the right direction.