TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
161 people
favorited this theater
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Trip Report for 12/22/07
Curtain lights are indeed on during the Screenvision preshow. Doh.
Curtains didn’t close between trailers and main feature. Aww.
Sound system rocked so I’m mostly satisfied. I Am Legend isn’t a very sharp film though. The trailers before looked really really detailed but the actual movie was soft, like it had been filtered or the source/DI was less than 2k. Hmm.
At one time there were sixteen, sixteen inch sub woofers and if fed with 4000W they could produce over 110db of base. That would literally be base you could feel. To really feel the explosions they sub woof channel would have to be set at least ten db over the normal setting. A sound call consists of playing pink noise on all channels one at a time then checking and setting sound levels and response. It also consists of checking the light output of the projector(s). Usually a rehearsal is done and the film the sound call is for is run.
What does a sound call consist of? Tones from each channel?
Yes, with each Premiere the studio does a full sound call to check the system. The problem is the way the film is mixed and presented at the theatre vs. the Home Theatre person that runs his or her home systems wrong. Many times I’ve had patrons ask that the surrounds are not on or the subs are to low or even that the THX is not working. If your Home system is set-up properly like a regular theatre the mix all falls into place. Some theatre driver their sound system hard to make a point. Some film makers love to hear and have their films played very loud, over the normal fader setting in the booth. I’ve done full sound calls on both coasts, if you go by what Dolby and their units say everything will work out fine. And remember a true projectionist is only in that booth for Premiere and Special media shows, the rest is handled by management people.
Sad to hear about the problems over at Grauman’s. The Screenvision “preshow” is indeed terrible and also infected the Village in Westwoood.
While the curtains not closing and opening is a big no no I’m more worried about the sound and picture though. The last few times I’ve been to Grauman’s the sound hasn’t been cranked and/or the subwoofers haven’t been very active. You’d think that with all the premieres that go through there that the sound system would be continually calibrated and maintained, right?
i agree with you. My bad. The Chinese is to West Coast moviegoers what the Ziegfeld is to East Coast moviegoers; both are favorite places for movie premieres.
Justin: I have to agree with what Howard said. Not only is the Ziegfeld still a great theater, but it’s the only one left in Manhattan (not counting Radio City, of course).
Looking forward to seeing “Sweeney Todd” there. I hope Tim Burton doesn’t ruin it.
The Chinese has always made it’s money from the tourists. If they could close off that forecourt and sell tickets to that they would have many moons ago. Just think if the Egyptian Theatre was the holder of those footprints, it’s forecourt would have been the Star on Hollywood Boulevard. When the Chinese dropped a fulltime projectionist to maintain and watch over the theatre it’s presentations died.
Justin! That’s a totally unwarranted comment about the Ziegfeld. Have you been reading that theater’s page, including special presentations of all sorts of classics and Blade Runner: the Final Cut? I see their mainstream features, usually shown with use of curtain even if after the pre-show. There’s much class at the Ziegfeld’s presentations.
…. IF All you posters want to tell the “Suits” at Mann what you think … you can E-Mail them:
yet another cinema treasure being overtaken by rich people. Look at the Ziegfeld, another theater now run by corporate bums. Once a great theater, now plays junk.
The Chinese Theatre seems to make its money from unsuspecting tourists and the overly LOUD person(s) giving actual tours of the theater while the movie is running.
As for good showmanship… take a trip to the MAJESTIC CREST THEATRE in Westwood! The JOSEPH MUSIL DESIGN is simply stunning. Blacklight murals of the famous L.A. skyline, two sets of fabulous curtains, a starburst over the procenium, fanfare, great coffee & popcorn and no goofy tourists with loud comments!
Hollywood… your days are numbered.
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.
** The new owner of the Chinese could care less – Tradition is out the window…
When they covered up my Mother’s handprints near the sidewalk (1927),
and Sid Grauman’s pet duck prints on the balcony staircase, their answer was: “Oh well, nobody told us they were there” …
(** It’s only been on file with the Hollywood C of C since 1962)
These jerks only see $$$$ signs – The care and preservation of these artifacts means NOTHING to them !!!!!
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.
How sad this once great theatre has become. A trip down to Hollywood this past Friday for the 5pm show of Hitman. Across the street the El Capitan had all the neon on with huge crowds for Enchantment. The Chinese sat dark on the outside at 4:30 PM. Like the problems I had when I visited the Chinese about 6 months ago came to pass again. I asked when I bought my ticket if they close and open the curtain, the lady told me yes. I also asked the doorman the same question he told me they close them after the pre show Screenvision presentation before the main 35mm previews and main feature. To my shock again like 6 months ago the digital pre show comercials were up on the big curved screen in flat without the side masking closed as Hitman is in scope. The whole screen had red/orange and blue lights on the screenvision adds running on the screen. You couldn’t see the digital image, all covered by a red/yellow tint. Can you imagine paying for a Sreenvision ad at the Chinese and have it ruined by bad light. I went out to the lobby to look for someone to ask why the curtain lights are on when video is up. They gave me the same run a round like last time. Said it was on a computer. Then the real disapointment came at 5:04 after someone finally shut of the screenvision adds and the red lights and started the main previews. guess what NO CURTAINS close or open. Same thing happend at the start on the Fox logo for Hitman. Well I found my ticketstub and had to track down over three puppet people to get my refund for the red distortion and curtains not closing. Good I asked before. How sad the showmanship is gone at Graumans Chinese. Why have a new curtain if they don’t use it! Next time you go complain and get your many back! I had to sign a complaint form. I told about the red and orange lights on the pre show and curtain problem. Today I will call the main office of Screenvision® and tell them what is going on at Manns Graumans Chinese Hollywood. Wait till they start digging in the parking lot next door for the new wax museum as it is all fenched in waiting for the bulldozers. The sound will go thru the walls when a movie is on. You can see why the Disney people make the money across the street with quality presentation. They know how to show off a nice theatre with plenty of curtains that work and a front that doesn’t look dead like the cold dark Chinese.
Beautiful. The place is still a wonder.
Great photos. I didn’t know there were any Munchkins still alive.
SORRY! – here’s the URL
http://www.angelfire.com/ri2/valleygirl/index.html
My grandfather, Jean Klossner “MR. FOOTPRINT"was on the original Meyer & Holler construction crew that built the Egyptian, Chinese, Mayan and American theaters (among others) …..
After the opening of the Chinese, (1927) he performed the footprint ceremonies for over 30 years. (1927-1962) He said Sid Grauman always wanted to open a complete chain, each theater with a different theme …. So different than the “Multiplex Giants” of today.
Here’s MORE Info & Photos:
http://www.angelfire.com/ri2/valleygirl/index.htm
…OR:
View link
Here is a 1944 ad:
http://tinyurl.com/2octca
Here is a September 1929 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/3b5oty
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.”
You can see a shot of the marquee of the main house showing “Excalibur” during the film “Death Wish 2”.
Here is an April 1957 ad from the LA Times:
http://tinyurl.com/3c769c