Grauman's Chinese Theatre (2024)

TheChinese Theatre in Hollywood is the most famous movie theatre in the world.Millions of visitors flock here each year, most of them drawn by its legendaryforecourt withits footprints of the stars. Yet the Chinese Theatre is also a fine placeto see a movie in its own right, a spectacular movie palace with a uniquehistory.

Grauman'sChinese Theatre opened over 70 years ago, with the 1927 debut of theoriginal silent version of "King of Kings," produced byCecil B. DeMille.Since then, the Chinese Theatre has been the site of more gala Hollywoodmovie premieres than any othertheatre. (In 1939, for instance, over 10,000 spectators showed up for theworld premiere of "TheWizard of Oz.)

And those big premieres arestill being held at the Chinese on a regular basis. If you would like towatch the stars arrive in person on the red carpet at these premieres,just see my CalendarofEventspage for the dates and times of upcoming premieres. Then show up earlyand wait (hint:wear comfortable shoes.)

Backin the 1940's, Grauman's Chinese Theatre also hosted the annual AcademyAward ceremonies. And the theatre has appeared in quite a few movies itself,including the opening scene of 1952's beloved musical "Singinginthe Rain," and at the climax of the recent action-adventure "Speed."More recently, it played a major role in the remake of the "MightyJoeYoung,"in a scene where the giant gorilla climbs up the side of the theatre andperches atop its ornate roof.

It's been featured on TV sitcomsas well - remember the episode of "ILoveLucy"where Lucystole the cement block bearing JohnWayne'sfootprints? Or how about the episode of "The BeverlyHillbillies"where Jed and Jethro thought that the forecourt had been vandalized bythe stars, and were caught trying to pave over the "evidence "with wet cement!

TheChinese Theatre was built by legendary showman SidGrauman,the man who also built the nearby Egyptian Theatreand the Million Dollar Theatre onBroadway. Sid had a flair for the dramatic, and he was the one who cameup with the idea of putting the stars' footprints in wet cement. Sid Graumanowned a one-third interest in the theatre, along with partners MaryPickford and DouglasFairbanks.

For a while, the theatre was renamed "Mann'sChinese Theatre" after it was purchased by Ted Mann in 1973, the ownerof the Mann's Theatre chain (and husband of actress RhondaFleming). But fortunately, the landmark later regained its original name.

Theornate exterior of the theatre is almost as enticing as its celebratedforecourt. Resembling a giant, red Chinese pagoda, the theatre's architecturefeatures a huge dragon snaking its way across the front, two stone lion-dogsguarding the main entrance, and the silhouettes of tiny dragons racingup and down the sides of the theatre's ornate, copper roof.

Outside, near the forecourt,you'll find that the fist business is thriving, with several boothsset up hawking various guided bus tours of Hollywood, the movie stars'homes, and greater L.A. Two theatre gift shops offer the usual selectionof touristy Tinseltown souvenirs, at outrageous prices. And it isn't unusualto see street performers (such as a CharlieChaplin look-alike) milling with the crowdof tourists on the fabled forecourt.

And of course, for the priceof a movie ticket, you can go inside and see the theatre's well-preservedinterior as well.

You might suspect that afterseven decades, the theatre's interior would be dilapidated, like many ofthe other older theatres in L.A. But in fact, the Chinese Theatre remainsin surprisingly good condition. Its interior decor is a dazzling blur ofexotic Asian motifs.

The lobby boasts elaboratewall murals depicting life in the Orient, bold red and gold columns, anda colossal, intricate Chinese chandelier. In the lobby's west wing is aglass case containing three wax figures (from the HollywoodWax Museum) wearing authentic Chinese costumes from Cathay. The threefemale figures surround a now-empty chair that once held the wax likenessof actress RhondaFleming,wife of owner Ted Mann. Movie-makers used to consider it good luck to cometo the theatre and touch these wax figures before embarking on a new filmproject.

Inside the vast auditorium,the 2,200 bright red seats and red carpeting are kept clean and in excellentcondition. Overhead, a spectacular chandelier illuminates the center ofa mammoth, ornate starburst, surrounded by a ring of dragons - which is,in turn, encircled by a ring of icons portraying scenes from Chinese drama.Smaller Oriental lamps glow at the sides of the auditorium, hanging betweenintricately-carved stone columns; black & white murals of trees andpagodas fill the spaces in between.

Turn around and look behindyou in the theatre, and you'll discover that what would usually have beenthe balcony section was divided into four private opera boxes for visitingcelebrities. Also, note the large number of assorted Asian statues, gongs,vases, shields, and friezes employed to add to the theatre's overall exoticambiance. (My only complaint is that the interior lighting is kept so dimthat it is difficult to appreciate all of the theatre's lavish detail.)

The Chinese Theatre may notbe the best-preserved theatre in Hollywood - that honor would go to Disney'srecently-restored El Capitan, across the street - but it is certainlyin fine condition for a 70-year-old movie palace. And they've kept up withthe times when it comes to movie technology, too: the theatre offers 70mmprojection and a state-of-the-art THX sound system (which can actuallybe a little too loud at times).

But whether you plan to seea movie here or not, if you're going to make the pilgrimage to Hollywood,the Chinese Theatre is a must-see.

The famous courtyard is open freeof charge to all visitors. You do not have to buy a ticket to a movie toview the forecourt and its footprints.

But the biggest news is thatthe project opened right next door to Grauman'sChinese. In fact, the spectacular development takes up the entire block,from Orange to Highland, and essentially surrounds the historic theatre.The $600 million project includes the permanent home for the AcademyAwardsshow (the Dolby Theatre), a grand ballroom for post-Oscar parties, restaurants,nightclubs, retail shops, a luxury hotel and parking for 3,000 cars. Sixsmaller, modern cinemas have been built next door (to the east of the existingtheatre), and the main Chinese theatre has undergone a major renovation,removing the box office and some of the more recent signs, to return thetheatre to the way it looked when it first opened.

Update: In 2013, they sold the naming rights of the theatre, and as a result, the official name is now "TCL Chinese Theatre", named after the Chinese electronics company that paid $5 million for the right to slap their name on the marquee. Of course, it will always be called Grauman's Chinese by the public. Trying to rename something as well-known and historic as Grauman's Chinese is like trying to rename the Eiffel Tower. You might convince the media to play along, but the public knows better.

On the bright side, thecurrent owners (producer Donald Kushner & Elie Samaha) used some of that money to turn the interior of Grauman's into thelargest IMAX theatre in the world (in terms of seating capacity) with986 tiered seats and a 94-foot wide screen. They promised to leavethe historic elements of the theatre interior intact, but they hopethat the new IMAX screen will allow the theatre to host even more moviepremieres than usual (as well as providing a more comfortable, modernviewing experience for the audience). The theatre was be closedbriefly, from May until September 2013, but is now open again with its new IMAX screen.

Parking:Parking can be a real problem on Hollywood Blvd. There is some limitedfree street parking on the residential streets just south of the boulevard,such as Hawthorne. There is a one-hour limit on these streets, but notif you visit on Sunday. Parking is now available in the garage under thenew Hollywood &Highland project (be sure to get your parking ticket validated, for a reduced fee) - enteron Orange Ave. There are also paid lots south of Hollywood Blvd (and eastof Orange), and there is a paid parkinglot on the west side of Highland, just south of Hollywood Boulevard.

(The outdoor courtyard is open24 hours a day, but use common sense and come at a sensible hour.)

Also see the separate pages about the Chinese theatre forecourt,and the installationceremonies where you can see the stars put their footprints in cement.

Gettingthere:The Chinese Theatre is located at the northeast corner of Hollywood Boulevardand Orange Drive, just west of Highland Avenue, and just eleven blockswest of the corner of Hollywood & Vine. The new Hollywood &Highlandproject is immediately to the east of the Chinese. / From the Hollywood(101) Freeway, take the Hollywood Boulevard exit, then go west on HollywoodBoulevard a mile and a half, to just past Highland Avenue (and just beforeOrange Drive). The theatre will be on your right (north) side. You can'tmiss it.