TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
160 people
favorited this theater
Showing 1,576 - 1,600 of 1,676 comments
Vito: Didn’t George Lucas flee to Hawaii to escape all the craziness when “Star Wars” first opened and the mania began? I think I read that somewhere. Hey, maybe you projected the movie with him in the audience? :)
A link to a cool “Star Wars” memory article:
View link
Thanks Michael for that very informative article.
I was in Hawaii at the time and was very agravated by the fact that we opened the picture in two locations, both in 35mm with mono
sound. The prints were SVA but we did not have Dolby processors for the playback. Later in the run, a Dolby CP100 was installed at the Cinerama. As you know “Empire” and “Jedi” did play in 70mm six track at the Cinerama.
“One of my fondest childhood memories is waiting outside the theater in line for what seemed like hours to see the original "Star Wars”. Even at age 9 I thought it was really cool to be seeing a movie THERE. I’m from Minnesota, and my dad lived in San Diego at the time. I’m not quite clear on how or why we happened to be there right then, but I’m so glad we were. It’s a cool story to tell as an adult, especially now with the release of “Revenge of the Sith”, and people talking about their own “Star Wars” memories…“ (MaraC”
A link to a cool “Star Wars” memory article:
View link
The Chinese was among the theatres included in the original limited-market launch of “Star Wars.” The Chinese’s 5/25/77 opening-day gross, according to Daily Variety, was a house record $19,358.
Current seating capacity in the original main auditorium is 1,492. This is due mainly to larger seats and re-spacing plus the loss of several rows from the rear orchestra when the foyer was recently enlarged into the auditorium space to accomodate a concession stand. This area was where the projection booth was located when it was moved from its ‘upper location’ when Cinemiracle was installed in the 1950’s
One of my fondest childhood memories is waiting outside the theater in line for what seemed like hours to see the original “Star Wars”. Even at age 9 I thought it was really cool to be seeing a movie THERE. I’m from Minnesota, and my dad lived in San Diego at the time. I’m not quite clear on how or why we happened to be there right then, but I’m so glad we were. It’s a cool story to tell as an adult, especially now with the release of “Revenge of the Sith”, and people talking about their own “Star Wars” memories…
Wow! 78 Years Ago Today — Opened For Business!!
my best friend worked at the theater next to graumans before they tore it down.when they let him go he took the exit signs that were over the doors,he has 2 i have one,its in a asian script,so im happy with my little piece of hollywood.the last movie i saw there was rush hour 2,and the place was empty,it connected to gruamans by some kind of tunnle,i wonder if they incorprated that into the new complex.either way my friend shane got transfered to the dome,and i saw solomon birch there and that was awsome.im a little upset about the whole archlight thing,but at least they kept it.
Perhaps, but I was already in the theater a few years earlier, so it’s not like I “had” to go inside.
I’d say, spend the $10 and go inside! Who cares what’s playing. Remember, we buy tickets to theaters, not movies.
Yes, it is amazing. I was just there this past January. Althought I didn’t see a movie there this past January, I did see a movie in the Chinese Theater the last time I was in California some years ago. Unfortunately the last few times I was in California, there were always stupid movies in the Chinese Theater that i had no desire to see, so haven’t been inside for a while.
I was just in California and had the chance to see the Graumans Chinese just before the world premiere of Miss Congeniality 2. I did not stay for the walk down the red carpet, but it looked fabulous with all those lights. Though I have to admit it seemed smaller then I envisioned it. However, those footprints are great and well worth going to see. If they ran the tour that day I would go inside, but, unfortunately they didn’t. That theater is a show in itself.
KenRoe, I had no idea they were doing that extensive of renovations! That’s great news. I am very interested to see the pagoda over the door and the replica doors, as well.
Although I have not yet seen the movie, I noticed in a still from the film “The Aviator”, they have replicated the entrance of the Chinese as it looked with specially built neon signs for the movie “Hell’s Angels” in 1929. I believe the neon signs were red, and were 2 sided on both sides of the forecourt. I also found a photo of the signs at the following links. Does anyone know what other real neon signs were made just for a film title shown at the Chinese Theater?
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater3/00015760.jpg
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014618.jpg
Here is another view of the Yul Brynner and Deborah Kerr signature blocks … again, notice her HUGE “and I” in comparision to his “The King” … below is another unusual “non-star” set of prints, which was Donald O'Connors mother in his block….
http://jpg2.lapl.org/theater1/00014585.jpg
While on my recent visit to LA, I stopped by the Chinese (as all good theatre lovers should do! lol) and went into the adjacent gift shop. They have on sale the DVD “Hollywood at Your Feet” ‘The story of the Chinese Theatre footprints’ hosted by Raquel Welch. 53 mins running time. On the Image Entertainment label # ID0964FSDVD
Also, every 15 minutes they announce over a microphone to the crowd viewing the footprints that they can come into the theatre lobby where one of the staff tells you a little about the history of the theatre and you can take photo’s. Of course the movie is screening in the auditorium so you’re not allowed any further inside. 2 Dollars goes to childrens charity as an entry fee to this short tour.
Restoration work continues on the building with the help and advice of Hollywood Heritage. Recent work completed is the new screen curtain which replicates the original Chinese patterned curtain and replaces the plain red drapes that have been in use the past 40 years or so. Also with help from photographs taken at the time of opening, new replica entrance doors have been made and are now in place. They were designed by studio craftsmen at Warner Brothers studios and look terrific with patterns in real gold leaf etc. A small pagoda has also been replaced over the front entrance. The original disappeared many years ago. Next job is apperently to sort out the electric wiring at the theatre and re-light circuits of decorative lighting that has been out of commission for many years.
You’re welcome, Christian. That’s the first photo I posted to the web – I’m glad it worked. I hope you find your book. I’m looking forward to reading some of those stories.
Hey Bill… Thanks for posting… the photo is great! I think the story of those blocks rate among the best stories of the forecourt. I have a book all about the prints at the theater somewhere in storage. I will try to find it and post some of the other legendary stories. The book also gives the dates and ceremony info. It is long out of print. Has anyone else seen the book?
Maybe this link will work better:
View link
Here’s a link to a picture I took in 2003 of the “King and I” footprint block. I hope it works:
View link
In one scene in the new flick ‘Be Cool’, John Travolta and Uma Thurman are shown driving away from the Million Dollar Theater, while the follow-up shot is of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. (Also, on prominent display on the Grauman’s marquee, via either stock footage or some sort of homage, is title signage from 1987’s ‘The Untouchables’.)
I heard it was an actress too.
Hi Gustavelifting… I understood it was Norma Talmadge who was being given the tour by Sid Grauman and it was poor Norma who made the mis-step. Her square is very prominant in front of the entrance doorway.
William, that is great information! I also have another tidbit concerning Yul Brynner’s square. At the time of the premier for “The King and I”, which also starred Deborah Kerr, it was said the 2 were not on speaking terms and quite angry with each other because each thought they deserved top billing in the film. Yul apparently was asked to come to place his prints first, so he had his ceremony and wrote “THE KING” along the top of his square in huge letters. When Deborah placed her prints in the cement in a separate ceremony a short time later next to his, she wrote “AND I” in letters that were even larger than Yul’s. If that is a true story, it sure is a good one, because after seeing their squares in person, it looks like it could have happend that way. Her “AND I” is absolutely gigantic! Have you heard that one?
According to the play I mentioned earlier, A DAY IN HOLLYWOOD/ A NIGHT IN THE UKRAINE, Grauman got the idea for the footprints when he accidentally stepped back into wet cement while watching the masons laying the pavement. Is that an accurate account? Did they take artistic liberties?
Another square that is missing from the forecourt is the one Charlie Chaplin did in January of 1928 for the opening of his film “The Circus”. At some point during the Senator Joseph McCarthy hearings in the early 1950’s, the hate campaign directed at Chaplin resulted in his square being removed. One story has it that Fox West Coast Theatres the operators of the Chinese Theatre, became tried of the nuisance of cleaning up the daily vandalism of his square.
Also the first square that Jean Hersholt did with the Dionne Quintuplets in October of 1938. Was replaced with a pair of squares for stars Bob Hope and Dorothy Lamour. Jean Hersholt later did a second square in October of 1949.
On Edward Purdom’s square it was later replaced by Yul Brynner’s square. The story has it that Fox West Coast Theatres decreed that Purdom’s square should be removed on “Moral Grounds” as he had become romantically involved with Linda Christan, who at the time was married to (Fox star) Tyrone Power. The affair caused a considerable scandal for the time. And also shows the power and pull of the Studio had.
A set of imprints were done for just promotional purposes for the film “Herbie Goes to Monte Carlo” in 1977 of Herbie the Love Bug car.
GrauMann, thanks for the details. I think Rhonda Fleming, who was Mr. Mann’s wife, is still there, but I cannot be sure. She sure was a fine actress, however, and don’t think her name should be removed. Her square was just to the left hand side of the main doorway. She is still on the unofficial map of the forecourt.
William, I recall “The Egyptian”. It was a magnificent technicolor epic which also starred Jean Simmons and Victor Mature. The name of the star was “Edmund Purdom” (who replaced Marlon Brando when he turned down the role). If they took his name away, that’s a real shame. He is still alive and well in Europe and has been living in Rome and has been making films in that country for the last few decades. He will be 80 years old this year. Wouldn’t it be great if we could get him to come back and re-do his slab? “The Egyptian” is available on DVD and even the soundtrack co-written by Bernard Hermann and Alfred Newman is available on Amazon. It’s an incredible score.
There is one name that comes to mind, Edward Purdom that his footprints removed from the forecourt in the late 50’s. He was one of the stars in the Fox Feature “The Egyptian” (1954).