TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
161 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,176 - 1,200 of 1,682 comments
One for the rumour file. I hear Hollywood Heritage are very keen to take over this property. Can anyone confirm/deny please?
“the tourists don’t flock to the Cap, they head straight for the Chinese forecourt.”
Something else I should point out. Those tourists don’t flock to the ticket booth.
It doesn’t matter who does or doesn’t know about the El Capitan. The fact remains that Disney already has an operating prestige venue for their films.
SEGASK—-you are correct … The Chinese is the most famous theater (movie) in the world operating today!
definitely more ultimate than the Cap. Grauman’s Chinese is the most famous movie theater in the world. When those Starline Tour buses pull up, the tourists don’t flock to the Cap, they head straight for the Chinese forecourt. Most people outside of L.A. have probably never heard of the El Capitan theater, unless they are on a Disney mailing list and get those flyer/invitation thingies that Disney mails out to announce the latest big budget blockbuster VIP movie experience they have going on there.
“it would be the ultimate in prestige.”
More ultimate than the El Cap? They’ve already got a show palace for their big films. Why put their eggs into two baskets? Not to mention that the Chinese doesn’t have room for either stage shows or an organ…
“What if a potential buyer wants the main theatreonly but not the 6-plex? I assume it would it would be an "all or nothing” package deal.“ — Rich37
I think only Grauman’s movie palace is for sale here. I don’t think Mann owns the six-plex. I think they lease that space from the owner of Hollywood & Highland (CIM).
I believe CIM owns the Hollywood & Highland retail space and also the land underneath. They also own the land underneath Grauman’s Chinese. Mann owns the actual theater. In 14 years the 99 year land lease that Sid Grauman obtained when he built the theater will run out and the landowner, CIM, will become owner of the theater.
^
it would be the ultimate in prestige. I bet they probably made an offer to Mann way back in the late ‘80’s/early'90’s before settling for the El Capitan across the street.
Something else to consider about Disney and the El Capitan: they’ve spent so much money restoring the place that even though it’s wildly successful, it is not profitable for them. They do it for the prestige. So what would taking over the Chinese do for them exactly?
So the prestige pictures from Disney would go to the El Capitan while the Chinese gets the scraps? unlikey!
Here’s a thought. What if a potential buyer wants the main theatreonly but not the 6-plex? I assume it would it would be an “all or nothing” package deal. But,in this particular scenario,who would/should get what? Or does that just ask for another Hollywood Galaxy disaster?
I hope AMC or Regal doesn’t buy it, since they screw up classic theaters.
They would have to redo the whole stage area.
I think Disney has enough quality films to play at two different theatres. While Up and G-Force get the El Capitan, films like The Proposal and Ponyo along with films from a few other studios (such as DreamWorks, Paramount and Sony, mainly studios that have had or will have alliances with Disney) could play on the theatre’s seven screens.
Why would Disney want it? They have the El Capitan across the street. Do they have enough quality films to fill two palaces simultaneously?
what about Disney? Didn’t they build a full scale replica of the Chinese at one of their theme parks in Florida?
I’m not sure a major studio would bite. They have 2 already that do not want it. I still think a major chain could have interest just for the prestige factor. Unlike the Village and Bruin, the Chinese is considered Iconic.
I know that Chris, but they seem to book the same movies in both. Fast and Furious had four prints playing in the seven auditoriums for a month.
American Cinemateque does not have deep pockets and I doubt they would take on the Chinese even if they had the funds. Cinemateque survives primarily on membership and donations and the staff is comprised mostly of volunteers for it’s screening and events. The $10 admission is a bargain as it allows you 2 films in the original format and the best extant print available along with guest speakers who discuss aspects of the film on any given night. I doubt that $10 per head goes a long way in covering their overhead, so I really don’t think that Cinemateque is a player in taking over the Chinese. They have their hands full with the Aero and the Egyptian and God bless them for it.
D-Box is equipped for Chinese 6 – not Grauman’s Chinese.
I expect a non-profit or a film fan with deep pockets to buy the theatre. A major studio with a deep library (such as Sony) is another guess.
In other news, it looks like that The Final Destination could play here on August 28th. It is the first film in history to combine REAL-D 3-D with the D-Box motion format.
They’re also running the Aero in Santa Monica…
Different using the 600 seat Egyptian main auditorium and the smaller auditorium for classics and filling up huge Chinese and the 6 plex. American Cinemateque can’t operate the Chinese.
Didn’t the American Cinemateque get the theatre from the city of LA for like a dollar. But they had to pay to restore it.
It will be interesting to see who bids for this theatre. Does American Cinemateque have deep pockets? They operate Grauman’s Egyptian. How ironic would it be if they operated Grauman’s Chinese also. They could used the Chinese 6 for “Retro” screenings and perhaps book Hollywood blockbusters at the Egyptian once in a while.
I would be surprised if a “name” chain buys the theatre. Hefty purcase price, fourteen year operating limit (unless the landlord agrees to what would likely be a very expensive extension), difficult to book competitively, challenging to operate, etc.; the Chinese just doesn’t fit with the modern business model most chains follow. I would imagine a private entrepreneur(s) or party working in a joint venture with CIM would be more likely candidates.
It occured to me that someone here mentioned Kerasoltes as a possible owner/operator. Didn’t they take over a Chinese Theatre complex in Colorado that was opened by Mann in the ‘70s?
That’d be quite a coup,i think.