Photo dated 09/09/57, courtesy of Erik Berry. Caption below.

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Uploaded on: November 9, 2015

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Photograph caption dated September 9, 1957 reads, “Famous Hollywood landmark, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre today is flashing a brand new face lift - its second since the film palace opened 30 years ago. The entire facade has been revamped at a cost of $30,000 - with twin marquees installed on both sides. Also a $13,000 carpet, hand-loomed by Chinese artisans, is in the process of being installed at the theater.” Grauman’s Chinese Theatre opened in May 18, 1927, after a construction period of 18 months. The principal architect of the theater was Raymond M. Kennedy of the firm Meyer and Holler. Built to resemble a giant, red Chinese pagoda, the architecture features a huge Chinese dragon across the front, two stone lion-dogs guarding the main entrance, and the silhouettes of tiny dragons up and down the sides of the copper roof. Among the theater’s most distinctive features are the concrete blocks set in the courtyard that bear the signatures, footprints, and handprints of popular motion picture personalities from the 1920s to the present day. In 1968 Grauman’s Chinese Theatre was declared a historic and cultural landmark; it continues to serve the public as a first-run movie theater.