Los Angeles Theatres: Grauman's Chinese: the forecourt

Grauman's Chinese: the forecourt

6925 Hollywood Blvd. Los Angeles, CA 90028 | map |

The Grauman's Chinese pages:

1926 - The pagoda and forecourt walls under construction. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for locating this rare photo in the 1928 book "The Ferro-Concrete Style: Reinforced Concrete in Modern Architecture" by Francis S. Onderdonk, Jr. Visit Kurt's wonderful site about the history of the theatre: www.graumanschinese.org

The layout of the forecourt. It's a detail from a 1st floor plan that appeared in American Architect. See the full drawing. Note the original ticket office in the upper left and the exit stairs from Sid Grauman's office in the lower left. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for sharing this.

Also see an earlier version of the plan from the Huntington Library collection showing a more sprawling layout for the planter areas near the two stores. It's on their site as image #3869, dated February 4, 1926. Also see how the forecourt appears on the roof level plan from their collection.

Somehow a number of the Meyer & Holler drawings for the Chinese ended up in the Morgan Walls & Clements Archive at the Huntington. The set of ten pages on the site runs from image #3864 to image #3873. Thanks to Mike Hume for locating these. Visit the page about the Chinese on his Historic Theatre Photography site as well as his Index to the MW&C Drawings. There's also an index by Mike Callahan on Internet Archive.

1927 - A pre-opening entrance view from the Kurt Wahlner collection. The photo, by an unknown photographer, appeared on page 288 of the August 20, 1927 issue of The American Architect with the article "Chinese Theatre at Hollywood, California." It's on Kurt's superb page "A Tour of Grauman's Chinese Theatre 1927."

He comments: "Here we see some workmen putting the finishing touches to the main entrance just prior to opening day. The triple double doors are surmounted by a small pagoda topped with a statue, surrounded by a stylized flame punched out of metal, said to symbolize the imperishable spirit of creativity.

"Behind that is a large sandstone bas-relief of a dragon, which was purchased by Grauman in China for the theatre. The flanking columns are girded with metal theatrical masks with pendants, and which clutch the columns on all four sides. The three tiered capitals have scenes from antiquity painted on them in delicate rose colors, while the copper valence behind the gong has a dark / blueish-green color, typical of weathered copper."

1927 - Four pre-opening photos by George D. Haight appearing on page 84 of the January 1928 issue of Architectural Digest. Thanks to Scott Collette for locating the issue. He curates the Facebook page Forgotten Los Angeles.

1927 - A pre-opening look in from the street by an unknown photographer. It's on Kurt Wahlner's "A Tour of Grauman's Chinese Theatre 1927" where he comments: "Long before the cement of the Forecourt would become world famous for its imprints of film greats, the entrance to Grauman’s Chinese was a lush semi-tropical oasis, sheltered from the roar of Hollywood Boulevard. Originally, four Queen Anne palms flanked the center isle, so that the grandeur and height (87 feet) of the central pagoda would be slowly revealed as you move toward the main entrance.

"Here in the Forecourt, patrons would mingle in the warm air, quaff the house brand of water and, if inclined, have a smoke....Notice the dark coloring of the curved lintel and dentils above the center bronze gong. This gong would be struck at the conclusion of intermission, signalling to patrons that the second half of the program would commence shortly."

1927 - A Mott Studios photo of the forecourt that's in the California State Library collection.

1927 - A detail of the entrance taken from the Mott Studios photo.

1927 - A view of the forecourt from the west. The original boxoffice is beyond the entrance doors, just to the left of the palm tree. It's a Mott Studios photo from the California State Library collection.

1927 - An usherette points to a sign for the theatre's opening attraction "King of Kings." The film opened May 18, 1927. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the photo -- he had it as a post on the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. You can also find the photo in the wonderful McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection.

1927 - A detail from a much larger photo taken during the run of "King of Kings." The full image from the Eric Lynxwiler collection is on Flickr. It's also in the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation Group Pool on Flickr that's curated by Michelle Gerdes.

1927 - Sid in the forecourt with Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks. It's a photo from the Chinese Theatre's collection that appeared on "Chinese Theatre at 90: Landmark Look Back," a story on the NBC Los Angeles website. The photo can also be seen in a 90th Birthday album on the TCL Chinese Facebook page.

Of course, there are scandalous reports of re-arrangements over the years with a few stars' imprints being hauled off to storage. The Chinese Theatre website curated by theatre historian Kurt Wahlner includes an interactive map on his "Forecourt of the Stars" page. His site also lists the films that played the Chinese year by year as well as an alphabetical film list.

"Hollywood At Your Feet: The Story of the Chinese Theatre Footprints" (available on Netflix) offers lots of newsreel footage of footprint ceremonies -- many with Sid Grauman supervising. Check out the footprints map on Seeing Stars.

See Martin Turnbull's post "The Most Famous Slab of Concrete in the World" for another history of Sid Grauman and the Chinese Theatre footprints. The Wikipedia article on "List of Handprints" also has a full rundown of dates of events in the forecourt.

1927 - Gloria Swanson with Sid Grauman playing in the forecourt. It's a photo located by Nile Hight for a post on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles. Ms. Swanson was the eighth star to add footprints.

1927 - We're looking past the pagoda to another Charles Toberman project on the hills. The big sign for his Outpost Estates housing project rivaled the one for the Hollywoodland project. It's a photo from Marc Wanamaker's Bison Archives that appeared on two Noirish Los Angeles posts about Outpost Estates. GS Jansen initially had it on his Noirish post #1650. Mr. Ethereal Reality later had more discussion on his Noirish post #38206. Also see the website www.outpostestates.com.

1927 - The staff lined up to serve you in a great image from the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for spotting it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

1927 - Those usherettes got into all sorts of trouble. Here, in a photo from the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection, they're up on top of the entrance vestibule. The photographer is unknown. Head to the site to browse nearly 400 Chinese Theatre photos, including many of ceremonies in the forecourt.

Kurt Wahlner also has the photo in his collection. On his page "A Tour of Grauman's Chinese Theatre 1927" he comments: "We enter the Chinese theatre through these beautifully detailed sets of double doors. The door frames are all rough concrete with designs painted on them, while the doors themselves have elaborate scenic paintings around the carved windows. The original color of these designs remains a mystery, since no one took color photos showing this area. The theatre's ushering staff is shown in this publicity photo, with the floor managers below, and their supporting ushers above. The costumes they wore were unbelievably elaborate, colorful and fanciful, with tons of appliqué work holding tiny mirrors to catch light."

1927 - Mary Pickford posing with Sid's promotional airplane. It's a photo from Marc Wanamaker's Bison Archives. Thanks to Woody Wise for sharing it on the History of Hollywood with Marc Wanamaker private Facebook group. Kurt Wahlner has a date for the shoot as July 7 and has a view with Mary in the plane on his listing for "King of Kings."

Also from 1927: Cezar's Del Valle's Theatre Talks blog on Tumblr has two posts featuring forecourt views from scrapbook pages by Beryl, a woman visiting Hollywood in 1927. | Part 1 | Part 2 |

1928 - A promotion in January for Chaplin's "The Circus" with a Chaplin imitator and the Mexican clown Pepito. The Dick Whittington Studio photo is part of a set of five in the USC Digital Library collection.

1928 - A look down from the pagoda into the forecourt during a premiere. It's a photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The photo can also be found on the website of the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection. They give it a 1927 date.

Chinese Theatre historian Kurt Wahlner says: "I have determined that this photo was PROBABLY taken during the premiere of a picture called 'The Trail of '98,' on May 7, 1928. My reasons are these: The four palm trees at center forecourt - the photo must have been taken prior to the engagement of 'White Shadows in the South Seas,' August 3, 1928, where the rear two have been removed, and a grass shack had been erected in that space.

So, only four premieres were held during this time frame: 'King of Kings,' 'The Gaucho,' 'The Circus' and 'The Trail of '98.' I rule out 'The Gaucho,' as its premiere picture shows the stenciled canopy in place. I also rule out both 'King' and 'Circus' because this photo is really not crowded enough for pictures with such large public interest."

The film "The Trail of '98" was of interest technically as it used an MGM process called "The Fantom Screen" where the picture both got bigger-- and the screen rolled toward the audience -- during climactic scenes. Kurt tells all on one of his Chinese Theatre projection pages.

1928 - Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for locating this view of the "Trail of '98" premiere from the east side of the theatre's pagoda. It can be seen on the Los Angeles Public Library website. Edwin Schallert, in his Los Angeles Times review of the opening of "Trail of '98" noted that "There was a little less glamour than usual attending its advent, probably because premieres are gradually losing some of their popular excitement, due to their constantly increasing number."

Kurt says: "So here is an eyewitness account of the 'Trail' premiere in LA, and I gather that he was describing the area around the forecourt, which does seem a little subdued, regardless of the bleachers full of people across the street."

1928 - A view from the street during the "Trail of '98" premiere. It's a Los Angeles Public Library photo.

1928 / 1929 - A view of the original stenciled canopy by an unknown photographer taken sometime during the run of "Noah's Ark," a film that ran from November 1, 1928 until January 16, 1929. The photo is in the Kurt Wahlner collection.

On his page "A Tour of Grauman's Chinese Theatre 1927" Kurt comments: "Originally, the Chinese Forecourt was outfitted with a canvas canopy running from the main entrance to both the street (to the left), and to the parking lot (to the right). Red in coloring with polished brass uprights, it was highly decorated with stenciled dragons and piping and contained electric lanterns along the peak inside. The stenciled canopy was part of the theatre’s original equipment, designed to be set up during inclement weather, and taken down again afterwards, which is why some photos from this very early period have the canopy and some do not." Thanks, Kurt!

1930 - Sid in the forecourt with the Cycloplane Trainer. Presumably the gentleman is Omer Woodson, its inventor. Wikipedia has an article about the plane. Also see "Cycloplane Device in Chinese Court," an August 12 Daily News article located by Leonard Wynne. Note the photo kiosk on the right with a photo of Sid showing. This is one of over 800 images in the great book "The Story of Hollywood: An Illustrated History" by Gregory Paul Williams, available on Amazon. This photo is on page 158. There's a preview of the book to browse on Google Books.

At the top of the photo note the wheels of a biplane suspended above the forecourt. Kurt Wahlner notes that it's a shot taken during the run of "Hell's Angels," a film that opened May 27 for an 18 week run. He adds that there are other photos taken during that engagement showing "Napoleon's Coach" in this spot. And others showing nothing displayed here.

1930 - A "Hell's Angels" view of the forecourt with "Napoleon's Coach" on display beneath the biplane. Thanks to David Cutter for locating the photo. See the early street views page for more photos taken during the run of "Hell's Angels."

1930 - A lovely forecourt view located by Ken McIntyre for the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles. It's a nice display but, alas, we don't know for what film. Chinese Theatre historian Kurt Wahlner suggests it might be for "The Big Trail" as we see a bunch of western paraphernalia scattered about. The photo can also be seen on the website of the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection.

1931 - The April 7 premiere of "Dirigible." Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for extracting this shot from newsreel footage of the event.

1931 - The short "Mickey Steps Out" played with the second engagement of "Trader Horn," running from June 11 until June 25 "at popular prices." Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for sharing this photo on his fine page "What's playing at the Chinese, anyway?," a survey of the theatre's changing signage over the decades.

1932 - The April 29 premiere for "Grand Hotel." Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for extracting this shot from newsreel footage of the event.

c.1932 - The fountain on the west side of the forecourt. It's a Mott Studios photo in the California State Library collection, their #001423281. Kurt Wahlner notes that the earliest photos he's seen with fences around the fountains date from 1932. Escott O. Norton comments that the "sandbox" we see in the foreground is part of a planter.

1933 - Jean Harlow with a young fan at her imprint ceremony in the forecourt on September 29. Thanks to The Movie Gal for sharing the image on her Facebook page. It can be seen on the Getty Images site, credited to the John Kobal Foundation. Visit Kurt Wahlner's terrific Forecourt of the Stars page for an interactive map and check out his listing for Jean Harlow. She had actually done the imprints on September 25.

1933 - A lovely view from the top of the building looking over toward the Roosevelt. The photo, appearing on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page, was a find by Nile Hight. Kurt Wahlner advises that the shot is a still for a Paramount film called "The Search for Beauty," released in 1934. The theatre doesn't figure in the film.

c.1933 - A view to the south side of the street shared by Dave Swart on the Lost Angeles Facebook page. He comments: "My grandfather's shoe store 'the French Bootire' at 6916 Hollywood Blvd., across the street from Grauman's Chinese in the early 1930s. Notice the famous cement squares in the foreground." The signage for the Bess Schlank fur store was gone by 1936, replaced by an ad for Signal Oil.

1934 - A view east giving us a nice panorama up Hollywood Blvd. and a great look down at the lush foliage in the forecourt and atop the walls encircling it. It's a photo from the California Historical Society appearing on the USC Digital Library website. Also see a very similar shot (but with a different assortment of vehicles) from the Marc Wanamaker collection that appeared in Ronald Haver's 1980 book "David O. Selznick's Hollywood."

The signage fronting the parking lot east of the theatre would usually have a film title up. Here it just says "Sid Grauman's Prologue." Evidently the photo was shot sometime between March 19 and April 3, when the house was dark after the run of Garbo's "Queen Christina." The banner at the El Capitan is advertising Sidney Kingsley's play "Men in White," a production that ran from March 11 until May 5.

1934 - A detail looking down into the forecourt from the USC image above.

1936 - The poster on the left shows Guy Kibbee and Shirley Temple in "Captain January," also starring Slim Summerville and Buddy Ebsen. The marionette theatre was also part of the promotion for the film. It played May 1 through May 7 along with "Everybody's Old Man," another film from Fox. It's a photo by Alfred Eisenstaedt. Thanks to Scott Collette for locating this as well as several other Eisenstaedt shots for a post on his Facebook page Forgotten Los Angeles.

The corral behind the spectators near the original boxoffice was around a hole in the concrete where Victor McLaglen's footprint slab would go on May 25. On the far right is a poster for the film that would follow "Captain January," William Wellman's "Robin Hood of El Dorado," starring Warner Baxter and Ann Loring. It played for a week beginning May 8 along with "Moonlight Murder."

1936 - A shot taken during the run of "Robin Hood of El Dorado." It's a Life magazine photo appearing on the Google/Life Images site. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for locating this for his Noirish post #40551.

The boxoffice we see here was installed in 1934 after the Chinese had abandoned the two-a-day format and gone to a "grind" policy. It survived until it was dynamited in 1975 during the run of "Funny Lady." Kurt Wahlner says "I only recall the story of the boxoffice being blown up, but that is my recollection. They might very well have only wanted to expand the thing to get more customers in, but who knows? If the damage was done, they kept it pretty quiet, if you ask me...I like the version of 'Funny Lady' being a box office bomb."

1936 - Another shot by Alfred Eisenstaedt for Life. Thanks to Scott Collette for locating for it a post on his Facebook page Forgotten Los Angeles. Of course in those days people were used to going in any time and leaving when they would tell their companion "This is where we came in." Here it looks like the complete program had a run time of just under 3 hours.

1936 - A Life magazine shot on Google/Life Images, perhaps also taken during the May run of "Robin Hood of El Dorado." Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for the photo, appearing on his Noirish post #40551.

1936 - Another Life magazine shot on Google/Life Images. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for the find, appearing on his Noirish post #40362. The post includes many other fun Hollywood shots of young hopeful actresses hanging out around town waiting for their big break. Maybe this young hopeful is looking for an usherette job in the meantime.

1936 - A Life magazine shot from Google/Life Images. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for the find, part of his Noirish post #40362.

Kurt Wahlner suggests that this shot might be from March, April or May -- perhaps another from the May 8-14 run of "Robin Hood of El Dorado." That little visor over the entrance doors was deployed intermittently. Kurt has two other shots from mid-1936 showing it in use. One was used in a Lansing speaker brochure from perhaps summer 1936 and the other was taken during the August 1936 run of "His Brother's Wife."

1936 - Another take of that Life magazine pagoda shot from Google/Life Images. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor BifRayRock for the photo, seen on his Noirish post #40551.

1937 - Tourists exploring the forecourt. It's a Los Angeles Public Library collection photo by Herman Schultheis. Kurt Wahlner dates this one as July or August, during the run of "The Good Earth," set in China. Note the rickshaw and other items.

1937 - Peeking into the forecourt in a photo from the Los Angeles Public Library. It's from their Works Progress Administration collection. The Library gives it a November 15 date, which would have been during the one week run of "Heidi" and "Night Club Scandal." Also see a wider view in the Library's collection.

c.1937 - An easel announcing that it's Studio Preview night. It's a photo by Herman Schultheis in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. Note the reflection in the glass of the signage for the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel.

c.1937 - The forecourt during a premiere. It's a Herman Schultheis photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

c.1937 - Another Los Angeles Public Library collection premiere photo taken by Herman Schultheis.

1939 - A wonderful shot taken for the L.A. Times during the August 31 premiere of MGM's "The Women." It's popped up in a number of places including on the blog by Martin Turnbull and on Scott Collette's Forgotten Los Angeles Facebook page. Scott comments: "Papers reported that more than 15,000 people showed up hoping to catch glimpses of stars Joan Crawford, Paulette Goddard, Norma Shearer, and Rosalind Russell."

1942 - The theatre getting a new paint job. The shot was probably taken during the run of "Life Begins at Eight-Thirty" and "We Are the Marines," running from December 10 through 16. The gawkers are checking out a poster of Veronica Lake's feature "I Married a Witch." It played for a week beginning December 17 along with "Silver Queen." Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing this photo from his collection on Flickr.

1940s - A tourist snapshot that popped up on eBay.

1940s - A photo taken by Dennis Lewis, Sr. showing the canopy leading to the entrance doors from the boxoffice. It was on a now-vanished site titled Scenes of L.A. During WWII.

1940s - A boxoffice view by Dennis Lewis Sr. that appeared on the vanished site Scenes of L.A. During WWII.

The original boxoffice was at the rear of the forecourt -- this one was a 1934 addition when the theatre abandoned two-a-day shows and went to a "grind" policy. Kurt Wahlner notes that the boxoffice was bombed during the run of "Funny Lady" in 1975 and replaced with a larger version. It was removed entirely in 2001. The current boxoffice is just east of the forecourt. For an entertaining romp, see Kurt's Grauman's Chinese Timeline.

1940s? - Thanks to Christopher Crouch on his blog Cinelog we get this undated Christmas view of Sid Grauman in the forecourt. The photo is from the collection of Jefferey Hawkins.

1940s? - A postcard map showing hand and footprint locations on "The Floor of Fame." Thanks to Martin Turnbull for the card, appearing on "The Most Famous Slab of Concrete in the World," his article about Sid Grauman and the Chinese for the Garden of Allah Novels blog.

1943 - A view from the Theatre Talks collection of Cezar Del Valle showing Monty Woolley imprinting his beard in the cement. Cezar is a Brooklyn-based theatre historian with a fondness for Los Angeles theatres. Thanks, Cezar!

1944 - In this photo from the McAvoy/Bruce Torrence Historic Hollywood Photographs collection we're looking over at the original boxoffice in the northeast corner of the forecourt.

c.1946 - A look at tourists in the forecourt that appeared on eBay.

1948 - A summer tourist shot included in a fine batch of Hollywood photos from eBay. Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for spotting them -- they're on his Noirish post #25261.

1948 - Another snapshot on Noirish Los Angeles, part of the set found by Mr. Ethereal Reality. In this and the shot above the Chinese is showing "The Street With No Name" starring Mark Stevens. It's the "Story of the FBI's battle against the rising post-war crime wave."

1948 - A nice look in toward the entrance from a tourist snapshot located by Hector Acuna. See his post on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles for three more views from the set. Thanks, Hector!

c.1949 - Longtime doorman Joseph Lockard Martin, Jr. is seen here in a photo from Christopher Crouch's profile of him on his blog Cinelog. Crouch reports that "Lock" Martin had a role in "The Day The Earth Stood Still" as well as television work.

1949 - Dale Evans, Trigger and Roy Rogers have a fine time in the forecourt on April 21. Thanks to Joel Sanoff for locating the shot for a post for the Lost Angeles Facebook group. You can also see the image on Shorpy. See Kurt Wahlner's listing for the Roy Rogers event.

1950 - A tourist checking out Don Ameche's "Happy Landings" message to Sid Grauman. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting this one from a family album when it was for sale on eBay. Kurt Wahlner bought it and reports that the poster in the "Next Attraction" case is for Otto Preminger's "Where the Sidewalk Ends," a film that played one week beginning July 7. Thus the photo was taken sometime during the run of "The Gunfighter," a film with Gregory Peck that played two weeks beginning June 23.

1950 - The pagoda gets a paint job in this early November photo set by Ralph Morris that's in the Los Angeles Photographers Collection at the Los Angeles Public Library. Also see his view from across the street.

1950 - Bette Davis gets her forecourt ceremony on November 6. That "All About Eve" poster in the "Now Playing" display case was just for the cameras. The theatre was still running "Two Flags West" until November 8. "All About Eve" would have an invitational premiere on November 9 and begin a three week run on November 22. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for sharing the photo from his collection. He calls our attention to a bit of scaffolding seen on the far left from the painting project that was still underway. See Kurt's monumental section about the Forecourt of the Stars which, of course, includes a page about the Bette Davis ceremony.

1951 - Tourists looking at the footprints. It's a June 15 photo by Earl Leaf from the Michael Ochs Archives. Thanks to Torbjörn Eriksson for locating it for a post on the private Facebook group Southern California Nostalgia.

early 1950s - An undated Ralph Morris photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. The Library also has another shot from the same angle as well as yet another similar view.

early 1950s - Across the forecourt from the west. It's an undated Ralph Morris photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. This cleaned-up version was a post on the Library's Photo Collection Facebook page.

1952 - 500 Examiner carriers got a free show of Samuel Fuller's "Park Row" on September 2. That's Sam in the pressman's hat showing the boys a reproduction of an 1886 New York Globe issue with, of course, content about the film. On the right is old-time pressman Fred Schwan. The shot was by an Examiner photographer by the name of Miller.

"Park Row," starring Gene Evans and Mary Welch, opened September 1 for a big seven day run. The co-feature was "Tough Girl" (aka "That Brennan Girl"), a Republic release with James Dunn and Mona Freeman. The photo is in the USC Digital Library collection along with another take of this plus a nice shot on the sidewalk showing the boys coming in.

1953 - An Arnold Hylen photo of the forecourt. Kurt Wahlner dates this as sometime from March to June of 1953: "The palm trees are sporting a haircut they received in the early part of 1953 - just before they hung up the sign for 'Shane.'" The photo appeared on the Facebook page Vintage los Angeles where, Kurt notes, it had been flipped. Also on Facebook see the pages for Arnold Hylen and Arnold Hylen - Los Angeles - Images of an Era 1850-1960s.

1953 - From the UCLA Los Angeles Times Photograph Collection comes this view of Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell doing hand prints at Grauman's. It's on Calisphere with a few other takes including a shot of the duo standing. The photo also appears on Martin Turnbull's fine blog post about the Chinese Forecourt. Many more images of this particular ceremony are available via Google.

c.1953 - For 10 cents you could "Hear the story of the Footprints of the Stars." Thanks to Noirish Los Angeles contributor Ethereal Reality for spotting this image on eBay for his Noirish post #56188. Kurt Wahlner comments: "The photo is from the run of 'The Robe' or later - that big pot is the giveaway. The Chinaman figure appeared sometime in 1950 or 1951, and was there in MOST forecourt shots until the Cinemiracle remodel in 1957."

1954 - A tourist and his new friend. "The Egyptian" had a 5 week run beginning September 1. It's a photo that appeared on eBay.

1954 - "See Your Photo Made in One Minute with Footprints of Famous Stars." Janet Lake was checking out the hand and footprints of Joan Crawford. It's a photo by Allan Grant for Life. It appears on the Google/Life Images site. Also see another take.

1954 - A GI talking to the photographer. It's another Allen Grant shot that appears on Google/Life Images, along with many alternate takes. See a shot of the photographer peeling open another shot.

Note the evergreen boughs decorating the canopy. Kurt Wahlner analyzed the shadows seen in various shots from this set that were produced by the CinemaScope signage across the entrance. He deduced that the photos were taken during the run of "Désirée," a film directed by Henry Koster that starred Marlon Brando and Jean Simmons. It had a five week run between November 18 and December 23.

1955 - Thanks to Richard Wojcik on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles for this view of a tourist looking at the hand prints of Bing Crosby and Jack Benny.

1955 - A look out toward the Roosevelt Hotel. The bit we see of the back of the Cinemascope sign appears to be lettering for "The Seven Year Itch." The film opened June 17 for a six week run. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles private Facebook group.

1955 - A fine view of a happy tourist with the talking Chinese figure. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for spotting it on eBay. He notes that information with it dated it as being taken during the run of "The Seven Year Itch."

1950s - Here's our tour guide showing us the wonders of the forecourt. She seems partial to Jane Wyman. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting the card and sending it along.

1950s - Another charming young lady offering us a look at the forecourt. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for posting the card on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles.

c.1958 - A great shot giving us a view of the upgraded "hard-top" version of the canopy that went up in 1957. The CinemaScope signage across the entrance also came down that year. It's photo by Reed White on a card distributed by Mitlock. Thanks to Kevin Walsh for sharing this image of the card in his collection.

late 1950s - Thanks to Ron Whitfield for locating this pagoda shot for a post on Photos of Los Angeles.

1958 - A lovely view of what the forecourt looked like during the run of "Windjammer." It's on the Chinese Theatre page of In Cinerama, a production of Cinerama and Cinemiracle historian Roland Lataille. He credits the photo to a now-vanished Picasa user.

1958 - "Reserve Our Exclusive Cathay Lounge For Your Private Party." Thanks to Eric Lynxwiler for sharing this photo taken during the run of "Windjammer." It's on Flickr in his terrific "Los Angeles Theatres" album. Eric is the co-author, with Tom Zimmerman, of the Angel City Press book "Spectacular Illumination: Neon Los Angeles 1925-1965."

1959 - On the right there's a display for Jean Negulesco's "The Best of Everything," a film that opened October 9 for a six week run. It starred Hope Lange, Stephen Boyd and Suzy Parker. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding this postcard.

1960 - 1961 - A fine look into the forecourt while the theatre was playing "The World of Suzie Wong" with William Holden. It opened December 15 for a thirteen week run. Thanks to Sean Ault for finding the photo and sending it along.

1960 -1961 - Another view while "The World of Susie Wong" was playing. Thanks to Sean Ault for spotting this one on eBay.

1961 - A peek into the forecourt during the run of "Young Doctors." The film had a seven week run beginning August 30. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating the photo for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page.

c.1962 - Thanks to Carol Watson for this shot from her collection taken during the run of "West Side Story." The film opened December 13, 1961 and had a 57 week run ending January 17, 1963. Thanks to Stephen Russo for spotting Carol's post on the Mid Century Modern Facebook page.

1962 - A photo from the October issue of National Geographic. Thanks to Gary Demirdjian for posting it on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page.

1963 - Thanks to Hector Acuna for this shot of happy tourists on the page for the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern. As we can see, "Hud" is playing. It opened May 24 and had a six week run.

1963 - Checking out the hand prints during the run of "Under the Yum-Yum Tree." The film opened October 23 for a nine week run. Thanks to Qione Holmes for the photo on the non-public Facebook group Mid Century Modern Los Angeles.

also from 1963: handprints - Jack Lemmon, Deborah Kerr - Los Angeles Public Library

c.1964 - An entrance view located by Ken McIntyre. Note the portable snackbar.

1966 - Thanks to Sean Ault for finding this view taken during the run of "Cast a Giant Shadow" with Kirk Douglas and Senta Berger. It opened May 20 and ran six weeks.

1966 - Inspecting the forecourt during the run of Raquel Welch's epic "Fantastic Voyage." The film opened August 16 and ran twelve weeks. It's a photo by Nancy Nehring. Thanks to Ken McIntyre for locating it for a post on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. It's available from Getty Images, their shot #612369110. Kurt Wahlner notes that at the time of the photo they were selling the version of the souvenir book with the "Mary Poppins" premiere on the cover.

1967 - A peek out to the parking lot west of the theatre. Thanks to Darrel David Ross for adding this snapshot as well as another forecourt view as comments to a post about the theatre by Kevin Miller on the Lost Angeles Facebook page.

Kurt Wahlner comments: "I am gonna say that this was taken during the run of 'You Only Live Twice,' June 14 to August 22. The photo has the Steve McQueen block in it from March 1967, but does not have the next person in the neighborhood, Anthony Quinn, placed at the end of 1968. It COULD be 1968, but all my photos of 'You Only Live Twice' have a trimmed fig tree like this, so there is that."

1969 - A Julius Shulman photo taken for the City of Los Angeles Cultural Heritage Board. It's in the collection of the Getty Research Institute, indexed as Shulman's job #4450.

1969 - Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for this photo from his collection of the October 19 Danny Kaye footprinting ceremony. He notes that the band accompanied the UNICEF choir that was performing at the ceremony to honor Kaye’s work for the organization. Visit Kurt's website about the Chinese Theatre's history: www.GraumansChinese.org.

1970s - A forecourt postcard from Ken McIntyre on Photos of Los Angeles. The display was a series of plaques celebrating Academy Award winners year-by-year. These were also featured in at least one National General souvenir book.

1970s - The Chinese used to have a coin operated machine in the forecourt that made little plastic pagodas while you waited. On one side they said "Hollywood USA" and "Chinese Theatre" on the other. Thanks to Robert Stone II for his photos on Vintage Los Angeles. He says you could choose either red or green.

1972 - A look at the molding machine that made the souvenir plastic pagodas. It came from a site called Moldville.com, no longer with us. Similar machines were at other tourist attractions, including at the Hollywood Bowl. The film playing at the time of the photo was "What's Up Doc?"

1970s - A peek into one of the molding machines at the Chinese. This one looks like it gave you a Disney character rather than a pagoda. Thanks to Chexy Decimal for the photo on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles.

1970s - The Chinese also had a recording booth as well -- but nobody seems to remember exactly where it was. This souvenir record that was made at the Chinese comes from the Kurt Wahlner collection.

1973 - Thanks to Rick Balin on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles for this pagoda shot taken during the engagement of "Enter the Dragon." The film opened August 24 for an eight week run.

1973 - A view out toward the street during the run of "Enter the Dragon." Again thanks to Rick Balin on Vintage Los Angeles for the photo -- and also to Kurt Wahlner for some color correction.

1974 - An entrance view from the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles. It's a Johns Burwell photo.

1970s? - A photo by Russ Halford looking down at the forecourt. It once appeared as a post on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles.

1975 - Thanks to John Stewart for his photo taken during the run of "Beyond the Door." It's one of 25 shots appearing in his Los Angeles Theaters set on Flickr. John is the long-time projectionist at the Austin Paramount. Thanks also to Mike Hume for advising of John's collection.

1975 - A look to the west side of the forecourt. Photo: John Stewart

1975 - A pagoda view. Photo: John Stewart. Thanks, John!

c.1975 - A bit of construction going on over on the east side of the forecourt. Thanks to the Classic Hollywood/Los Angeles/SFV Facebook page for locating the photo.

1977 - A shot of the 50th anniversary showing of "King of Kings." Thanks to Ken McIntyre for finding the photo -- it was a post of his for the private Facebook group Photos of Los Angeles.

1977 - A look at the boxoffice by John Margolies. Thanks to Richard Wojcik for posting it on the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page as a comment on a "Star Wars" facade photo taken by Margolies. You can browse 147 Southern California theatre photos by Margolies on the Library of Congress website.

1977 - Another view by John Margolies from the Library of Congress collection.

1977 - Cheech and Chong and two actresses from their film "Up In Smoke" visit the theatre for a promo shot. Thanks to Rick Watts for posting the photo on the Photos of Los Angeles Facebook page. In the film they just drive by the theatre without stopping. See the Historic L.A. Theatres in Movies post for several shots from the film.

1978 - One of the many souvenir opportunities at the Chinese was getting a photo in a decorative frame featuring the pagoda. Thanks to Rick Balin for this one on Vintage Los Angeles.

1978 - The wax dolls in the lobby display cases dressed in Chinese costumes were spooky enough. But one of the forecourt displays was even more macabre -- Sid Grauman in a box. Thanks to Rick Balin posting this photo of his on Vintage Los Angeles.

1979 - A fine look down into the forecourt from the Vintage Los Angeles Facebook page as they set up for the premiere of "Hurricane." Thanks to Richard Wojcik for sharing the photo from his collection.

1980 - A lovely column capital detail by Franciscophile on Flickr.

1980s? - Thanks to Bill Gabel on Photos of Los Angeles for this shot of tourists doing their work in the forecourt.

1983 - King Kong in the forecourt for a 50th anniversary screening on March 24. Thanks to Richard Wojcik for the photo on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles. See the comments to his post for a shot taken that evening of Fay Wray in Kong's hand -- and also one of Hugh Hefner and two Playboy bunnies.

1983 - A shot by Roy Hankey that's in collection of the Los Angeles Public Library. This cleaned up version was a post on their Photo Collection Facebook page. The Library's caption indicates that "Flashdance" was playing at the time. It opened April 15 for a four week run.

1983 - Promoting "Cobra" with Sylvester Stallone. It opened May 23 for a three week run. It's a photo taken by Michael Haering that's in the Herald Examiner collection at the Los Angeles Public Library.

1989 - The display devoted to Academy Award winning films. It's a photo by John Margolies that's in the Library of Congress collection.

1990 - Tourists checking it all out in a photo from the Los Angeles Public Library collection. It's one taken by William Reagh.

1991 - An August look at the pagoda in the Los Angeles Public Library collection. It's a William Reagh photo. Also from Mr. Reagh in 1991: pagoda detail | tourists looking at footprints |

1994 - A display case view during the run of "True Lies" on the Facebook page Vintage Los Angeles. Thanks to Matthew Jones for the photo. The film opened July 15 for a three week run.

1994 - A crowd in the forecourt seen in a Carol Westwood photo in the Los Angeles Public Library collection.

1994 - An early October view taken by Thomas Hauerslev. His website, In70mm.com, chronicles the history of 70mm presentation around the world. See the In70mm newsletter about his 1994 U.S. 70mm promotion tour. There's also a photo gallery. Also see his other photos of the Chinese from his visit: daytime view - "The Specialist" | night - "The Specialist" | night - west marquee detail | night - east marquee detail | night - toward the El Capitan | Thanks, Thomas!

1996 - An entrance detail from Berger Conser Architectural Photography from the book "The Last Remaining Seats: Movie Palaces of Tinseltown" by Anne Conser and Robert Berger. It's available on Amazon. Visit the Robert Berger Photography website where 16 photos from the book are displayed in his Last Remaining Seats section. This photo is #12 in the portfolio.

2005 - A look at the pagoda from the Library of Congress collection. It's a Carol Highsmith photo. Thanks to Jonathan Raines for finding it. You might also want to browse more Highsmith photos of L.A. buildings that are in the Library's collection.

2006 - A shot on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Facebook page of Bruce Willis doing the prints.

2007 - A pagoda view from across the street. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - The vista west from the forecourt toward the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - For many, the impressions in the concrete are are the big attraction at the Chinese. Here's Maurice Chevalier. Photo: Bill Counter - 2007

2007 - The hand and high-heeled shoe prints of Constance Talmadge. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - The middle of the forecourt used to have a free-standing boxoffice but it wasn't original. Here on the far right we see a bit of the original 1927 boxoffice. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - The "heaven dog" is guarding the doors if you try to sneak in. Photo: Bill Counter

2007 - A closer look at one of the guardian "heaven dogs" thanks to Tom O'Neil on Flickr.

2007 - A pagoda dragon detail by Glowfish on Flickr.

2007 - A lovely view of the pagoda at night by Hagoody on Flickr.

2007 - A photo by Floyd Bariscale of the entrance doors. See his Chinese Theatre page on Big Orange Landmarks and his Chinese Theatre set on Flickr for more terrific views.

c.2010 - The ornament on the front doors. Thanks to Don Solosan for his photo, taken for the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation.

The LAHTF works to preserve historic theatres in the Los Angeles area by supporting events, offering tours and promoting awareness of the architectural merit of these treasures. www.lahtf.org | LAHTF on Facebook |

c. 2010 - A detail of some ornament on a column of the pagoda. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF

c. 2010 - Ornament on the south forecourt wall above one of the souvenir stands. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF

c.2010 - A wonderful night view looking up from the entrance. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF

c.2010 - The top of the pagoda at night. Photo: Don Solosan - LAHTF. Thanks, Don!

2011 - A pan and tilt 360 degree tour of the Chinese Theatre forecourt by Bryan Groulx is featured on the amazing site 360 Cities.

2011 - This great shot down from the pagoda once appeared on the TCL Chinese Theatre Facebook page. The event was a premiere of something called "Abduction."

2012 - A look at the entrance doors by Wendell Benedetti, a photo on the LAHTF Facebook page.

2012 - A detail of the capital on a column of the pagoda by Kathy Dominic.

2012 - The stairs leading up from the west side of the forecourt to the offices, private boxes and booth upstairs. Photo: Bill Counter

2012 - A view from the far west side of the forecourt looking along the side of the building toward the stage door. Photo: Bill Counter

2013 - A view on the Facebook page Photos of Los Angeles looking across the forecourt toward the Roosevelt. Thanks to Douglas Rudd for the post.

2013 - The original boxoffice in the northeast corner of the forecourt -- now an office for Starline Tours. Photo: Bill Counter

2013 - A peek into the original boxoffice, now the Starline Tours booth. The photo was part of a lovely Curbed L.A. photo gallery by Elizabeth Daniels that's now vanished. Adrian Glick Kudler wrote the story: "Touring the Chinese Theatre Before it Closes For a Renovation."

2013 - Another view of the original boxoffice (and the safe) by Elizabeth Daniels. It's one of her 33 photos that was with the Curbed L.A. story "Touring the Chinese Theatre Before it Closes For a Renovation."

2014 - This photo is by Kurt Wahlner, curator of the site graumanschinese.org, gives us a look at the professional signage at the theatre's entrance. It's the newly trendy blackboard look. Don't miss Kurt's superb page on Signage at the Chinese.

2014 - The squatters and riffraff have taken over the forecourt. This August evening photo is by Kurt Wahlner, historian of all things related to Grauman's Chinese. Kurt notes that our spray paint artist in the photo is on top of the footprints of Anthony Hopkins, Nicholas Cage, and the "Giant" trio of George Stevens, Rock Hudson and Elizabeth Taylor.

2015 - The base for an Imax laser projector up in the air. The photo is from the set about the installation by Escott O. Norton on the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation Facebook page. Thanks, Escott!

2015 - A side view of one of the projectors in the forecourt. The unload was done in the middle of the night to avoid attention. Photo: Escott O. Norton - LAHTF Facebook page

2015 - Another view of one of the projectors getting strapped up ready for a lift by the crane. Photo: Escott O. Norton - LAHTF Facebook page

2015 - Ready for a lift up to the 2nd floor door near Sid Grauman's old office. Photo: Escott O. Norton - LAHTF Facebook page

2016 - A fine look at one of the metal dragons appearing out on each corner of the pagoda. Thanks to Shawn Dudley for his photo, originally appearing on the LAHTF Facebook page.

2016 - Here's Shawn Dudley's wider view taken the same day showing the dragons atop the pagoda. Thanks, Shawn!

2017 - Thanks to Shawn Dudley for this great photo of the dragons scurrying down a corner of the pagoda roof. It was a post on the LAHTF Facebook page.

2017 - The pagoda lit during a "Hollywood Lights" presentation. The installation of nine Christie projectors was part of the theatre's 90th anniversary celebration. Thanks to the theatre for the photo -- it appeared on the TCL Chinese Facebook page.

2017 - A stunning shot by Wendell Benedetti of the forecourt lit with the theatre's projectors for the "Hollywood Lights" show running every evening at 8:30. The photo originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page. There's a a five minute video of the show on YouTube from the firm Inside The Magic. Thanks to Kurt Wahlner for sending along the link.

The show debuted in May 2017 for the theatre's 90th anniversary. After a short run it took a several month break for equipment repairs. John Hough and Mark Mulhall have done a video of the October re-premiere. It's on the LAHTF Facebook page.

2017 - The crowd control barricades were up and bags were being checked during the December run of "The Last Jedi." Photo: Bill Counter

2019 - Ornament on the west wall. Thanks to Cat Lukaszewski for her photo, one of 30 in a TCL Chinese Theatre album on Facebook with views taken at the November 2019 LAHTF "all-about" tour.

2019 - Ornament on the pagoda. Photo: Bill Counter

2019 - The east side of the pagoda. Photo: Bill Counter

2019 - The figure atop one of the columns. Photo: Bill Counter

2019 - The forecourt from the west. Photo: Bill Counter

2020 - A deserted Hollywood with the theatres and stores closed due to the virus outbreak. Photo: Bill Counter

2022 - Ready for the June 6 premiere of "Jurassic World: Dominion." Thanks to Levi Tinker, the theatre's General Manager, for sharing his photo on Facebook. For a look at some of the dinosaurs and other decor see some of Levi's additional images: post 2 | post 3 | post 4 | post 5. David Saffer commented: "Thank goodness they finally ripped out all the horrible concrete in the forecourt and put in some landscaping."

1 comment:

HaileyMarch 17, 2021 at 3:36 PM
What an amazing collection of pictures
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