Los Angeles Theatres: Grauman's Chinese: recent auditorium views

Grauman's Chinese: recent auditorium views

Looking into the auditorium from the lobby at the right center aisle. The snack bar is off to the left. The theatre reopened after the Imax renovations in September 2013 with an Imax 3-D version of 1939's "The Wizard of Oz." Photo: Bill Counter - September 2013

Looking back toward the lobby from the top of the right center aisle. With the resloping of the floor, the rear is substantially higher than it was earlier. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2013

The view across the back of the house. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

A look to the front before a March 1, 2024 showing of "Dune: Part 2" on Imax 70mm film. Thanks to Dave Hunter for sharing his photo.

They were running "Dune" from a temporary Imax booth at the back of the house with trailers run digitally from the normal booth's upper level. This booth had been installed for "Oppenheimer" in 2023 and then removed. It was reinstalled for revival runs of "Oppenheimer" and "Tenet" in 2024 before "Dune" opened on February 29. It's another photo from Dave Hunter. See his Facebook post for a forecourt shot plus a discussion about the film.

"Giant" on the screen at the 2022 TCM Festival. It's a photo taken by John Nowak for TCM that appeared with Julia Chan's 2023 CNN article "How to Help Save Film History."

Looking down from the back. Thanks to Wendell Benedetti for the photo, taken in June 2015 prior to screenings of "Fantasia" and "Fantasia 2000." It originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.

The Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation works to preserve historic theatres in the L.A. area by supporting events, offering tours and promoting awareness of the architectural merit of these treasures. The organization was active through the 2013 planning and renovation process as an advocate for the project and as an adviser to assure that the historic elements of the auditorium were protected. www.lahtf.org | LAHTF on Facebook

In "Chinese Theatre Is Now the World's Highest Capacity Imax Venue," Michael Nordine's September 12, 2013 L.A. Weekly story, he noted that the seat count was 932 and the screen size was 46' x 94'.

Thanks to architectural photographer Franck Bohbot for this 2014 photo. The photo made an appearance in a 2014 Boing Boing post "Beautiful Movie Palaces of California" as well as in a 2015 National Geographic article "A Night at the Cinema: Reviving the Glamour of Old Hollywood."

The original floor slope. It's a drawing from the book "American Theatres of Today" (1927).

The configuration after the 2013 Imax renovations. It's a drawing from BB Architects, the designers of the project. The front row is now down at what had originally been basement level. The earlier configuration, dating from 1958, had dropped the front of the auditorium about 3' below its original level (about 7' below stage level).

Looking down the house right aisle. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

From the house right side aisle looking toward center and the side of the snackbar bulge. Getting into the rear of the seating area from the side aisles was a warren of stairs and ramps after the 2001 renovations. With the Imax re-do it got rearranged substantially. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

Part way down the house right aisle looking forward toward the top of the proscenium. Note the new railing at the left. The rear section of seats is much higher than the earlier floor configuration. The front section is much lower. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2013

The view up toward the rear wall from the house right side aisle. At the rear of the house the seating is now way above the aisle height, which remained at its original level. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2013. See the upstairs boxes page for some views from that location both before and after the renovation.

One of the side aisle ceiling fixtures. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2013

The rear of the auditorium from house left. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2013

The vista to the screen from house left. Thanks to Hunter Kerhart Architectural Photography for the October 2014 photo. Keep up with his explorations: HunterKerhart.com | on Flickr |

The view back out toward the lobby from the left center aisle. The thing at the left was the booth from 1958 until 2001. It's now the bar area in the expanded lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - September 2013

Looking toward the house left side aisle from the top of the left center aisle. The lobby is off to the left. The exit doors go to an open passageway along the west side of the building. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

In the side aisle looking over toward the left center aisle. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

The view down the house left side aisle. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

Signage above a side exit. Photo: Cat Lukaszewski - 2019

The ceiling as seen from part way down the aisle. Photo: Bill Counter - 2019

After both the 2001 and 2013 renovations the side aisles make a perfect entrance to the seating area at the mid-auditorium crossaisle as the auditorium level and side aisle levels coincide at that point. Now it's an even more interesting journey down to the crossaisle because you're so far below the now-elevated seating level at the rear of the main floor.

Looking in at the new rake of the floor from the house left aisle. The audience was there for the first attraction after the September 2013 reopening, an Imax 3-D version of "The Wizard of Oz." Photo: Bill Counter.

A house left wall detail. The columns of course are hollow. On the back side are return air grills. 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.

A house left ceiling detail. Thanks to Claudia Mullins for her photo, one in a TCL Chinese Theatre Tour album on Facebook featuring 41 photos taken at the November 2019 LAHTF "all-about" tour.

A view across to house right. Thanks to Gary Simon for his great photo, one of 18 in an set taken during the 2019 LAHTF tour of the theatre that appears on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page. Gary notes that the silver side wall mural work was done by bandleader Xavier Cugat, who at the time was also did work as a cartoonist for the L.A. Times.

A fine wide angle view of "King Kong" on the screen during the April 2023 TCM Festival. Thanks to the Alex Film Society for sharing the photo on their Facebook page.

A wall and ceiling detail house right. Photo: Gary Simon - 2019. He comments: "If you turn in a circle as you look up at the outer ring of the ceiling art work, you may be able to read the story of a young poor boy, who becomes a prince."

A closer look at some of the painted ceiling detail house right. Photo: Gary Simon - 2019

The curtain as seen from the cross aisle. It's the same curtain that was in use previously, with extra material added at the top to deal with the height of the new screen. The Imax picture is 46' high x 94' wide. The curtain dates from about 2006. One without a pattern had been in use previously. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his September 2013 photo.

A detail of the ceiling near the center of the proscenium beam. The original proscenium was farther back. It was removed during the 1958 Cinemiracle renovations. Photo: Gary Simon - 2019

Another proscenium detail. Photo: Claudia Mullins - 2019

Looking across from down in front. It's a photo that appeared with Adrian Glick Kudler's September 2013 Curbed L.A. article "See All the Lovely Renovations at the IMAX - ready Chinese Theatre."

A look to the rear of the house before the first screening of "Star Wars: The Force Awakens." That's Levi Tinker with the light saber. The December 2015 Wendell Benedetti photo for the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation originally appeared as a post by Hillsman Wright on the LAHTF Facebook page. Thanks, Wendell!

The dragon carpet pattern in front of the screen. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his September 2013 photo that appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.

The rear of the house as seen by Franck Bohbot in 2014. The photo appears in Mr. Bohbot's Cinema Portfolio and also in a 2014 Fast Company Design piece: "9 Theaters That Harken Back To the Golden Age of Cinema"

A closer look at the rear seating section taken by Franck Bohbot in 2014. Thanks, Franck!

A view to the rear from Coyne Public Relations that appeared with "Newly Renovated Chinese Theatre..," a September 2013 LAist article by Sharon Knolle about the reopening.Note the new two-level configuration of the projection booth.

The main chandelier after its refurbishing for the Imax remodel. Work included refitting it with LEDs. Thanks to Sandi Hemmerlein for her 2013 photo. It appears with her Avoiding Regret blog's 2012 article "Behind the Scenes at Grauman's Chinese."

Thanks to Stephen Russo for this September 2013 chandelier view, appearing initially on the LAHTF Facebook page.

The chandelier as seen from one of the private boxes. Photo: Gary Simon - 2019. He comments: "I bet most of you never noticed the bearded faces and bells on the end of the lights lower arms."

A closer look at the faces on the chandelier arms. Photo: Gary Simon - 2019. Thanks, Gary! See his full set of 18 photos on the SoCal Historic Architecture Facebook page.

The 2013 IMAX construction project:

A June 2013 view from the backstage wall during the renovations, looking down through a hole in what was the stage into the basement below. The auditorium had been tented to minimize the dirt on walls and ceiling. The shot is from Andy Oleck's superb "TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX Renovation - Time Lapse Video," a 2 & 1/2 minute condensation of the whole renovation on YouTube.

The steps in front of that pink and turquoise wall were once the entrance for the musicians into the orchestra pit. Beyond the wall some of the 1958 floor slab (and the orchestra pit underneath it) still remains to be excavated. At the top of the frame is the excavated former seating area at the front of the auditorium.

In this later shot from Andy Oleck's video the stage is completely gone as is the wall that was at the back of the orchestra pit. Still to be demolished is the curved wall that was the audience side of the orchestra pit.

The pit completely dug out and excavation continues for the new lower seating section in the front of the auditorium. Forms are already in place for the seating risers in the upper section. It's another shot from Andy Oleck's video.

A nice view in July toward stage left after the re-terraced floor has been poured and framing is going in for the wall behind the screen. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his July 2013 photo, originally appearing on the LAHTF Facebook page.

The front of the main floor now extends down through what had been the orchestra pit and stage and on into the former basement areas. Note the framing at the end of the risers for a new wall extending down below the earlier floor level. Much of the stage had already been removed for installation of the huge curved Cinemiracle screen in 1958.

Imax didn't go wider but much lower to accommodate the 46' high screen. The Cinemiracle screen frame was 40' x 100' with a picture size of 38' x 92'. The Imax width is 94' with less curvature than the 1958 installation. Look offstage left at the two horizontal concrete beams. The lower one is at the level of the front of the auditorium floor after the 1958 renovations. The upper one is the 1927 stage level.

A July view from near the back. Thanks to Wendell Benedetti for the photo, originally appearing on the LAHTF Facebook page.

Looking along the cross aisle of the new floor. The July 2013 photo by Bob Freeman is part of the Curbed L.A. article "Inside the Chinese Theatre's...Makeover" by Adrian Glick Kudler.

A July ceiling and sidewall view by Bob Freeman from the Curbed L.A. article "Inside the Chinese Theatre's...Makeover" by Adrian Glick Kudler.

A view toward the proscenium. Photo: Stephen Russo - LAHTF Facebook page - July 2013

The ceiling area just above the proscenium. The July 2013 photo by Bob Freeman is part of the Curbed L.A. article "Inside the Chinese Theatre's...Makeover" by Adrian Glick Kudler.

A construction shot from house right. The July 2013 photo by Wendell Benedetti originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.

The vista toward the rear of the house after the new floor was poured. The July 2013 photo by Bob Freeman is part of the Curbed L.A. article "Inside the Chinese Theatre's...Makeover" by Adrian Glick Kudler.

A look across the rear of the auditorium after the August seat installation. It's a photo from "Check Out the Installation of the New Imax Screen...," a Beyond The Marquee article by Steve Czarnecki about the Imax renovations.

An August 2013 proscenium view from "Check Out the Installation...," the Beyond The Marquee article by Steve Czarnecki. That's the main chandelier down for a retrofit on the right of the photo.

A view when the seats were getting unbagged. It's a photo that once appeared on the Chinese Theatre Facebook page.

A look at the old end standards incorporated into the new seating installation. It's an August 2013 Stephen Russo photo on the LAHTF Facebook page.

Here we're in front of the cross aisle, an area below the original auditorium floor level. Escott O. Norton, who took the August 2013 photo for the LAHTF Facebook page, calls our attention to the new railing beyond. The item hanging down is one of the side chandeliers, down to get retrofitted for LEDs.

An August 2013 view with several speakers, the side masking, and curtain in place -- but no screen installed yet. Note the speaker up near the top of the frame at center -- an Imax speaker configuration peculiarity. The photo is one that appeared on the Chinese Theatre Facebook page.

Getting ready to hoist the new screen into place. It's laid out on top of the seats and the riggers are inserting the 94' long top batten into the screen's upper pocket. Thanks to Stephen Russo for the photo, one appearing on the website Beyond The Marquee.

The screen halfway up. The August 2013 Stephen Russo photo appears with the Beyond the Marquee article "Check Out the Installation...." Thanks, Stephen!

The silver screen being hoisted into place in August 2013. The photo once appeared on the Hollywood & Highland Facebook page.

The Imax screen up on the frame, not yet stretched and masked. The August 2013 Stephen Russo photo originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page. Many more of Stephen's photos of the screen installation appear with a Beyond The Marquee article by Steve Czarnecki.

More 2013 photos on the LAHTF Facebook page: from house left - new floor - Benedetti - September 2013 | proscenium - Benedetti - September 2013 | floor slope comparison 1927/2013 - Benedetti | looking across with seats - Benedetti - September 2013 | installing the screen - Benedetti - August 2013 | screen halfway up - Benedetti - August 2013 | booth front view - Escott O. Norton - August 2013 | surround speaker - Stephen Russo - September 2013 |

The look of the auditorium pre-IMAX - from 2001 to early 2013:

The configuration at the top of the right center aisle after the 2001 renovation. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page - April 2013. Also see his view looking back up the stairs.

See a similar view looking in from the firm that designed the 2001 renovation project for Mann Theatres, Behr Browers Architects. Their work increased the size of the lobby but required ten steps to get you down to the last row of seats. The slope of the seating area itself was retained from the 1958 Cinemiracle renovation.

With the 2013 Imax stadium-syle renovations the seating at the rear ended up substantially higher than the configuration seen here. The front of the house ended up lower, dropping down to what had been basement space backstage.

The seating terrace back in the corner house right. The draped area at the left is part of the snackbar. It used to be the booth until that was moved back upstairs in 2001. Photo: Bill Counter - 2012

The back of the house as seen from the house right side aisle. All this would get seriously rearranged during the Imax renovations. Thanks to Elizabeth Daniels for this photo and others appearing here. 33 of her fine views once appeared as a photo gallery on Curbed L.A. with Adrian Glick Kudler's April 2013 story "Touring the Chinese Before it Closes For a Renovation." The version now online is missing its photos.

Looking down the house right side aisle. Photo: Elizabeth Daniels - Curbed L.A. - April 2013

Another house right side aisle view. Photo: Bill Counter - 2012

A view across to house left. Photo: Elizabeth Daniels - Curbed L.A. - April 2013

A terrific 2001 proscenium view from the Grauman's Chinese Theatre page of the Behr Browers Architects website.

A c.2010 look to the right from the bottom of the steps. That's the back of the expanded snack bar area at the right. Note the stairs up to lobby level. It's a photo by Mr. Hollywood 90038 that once appeared on the Cinema Treasures page about the Chinese.

Checking out the Chinese-deco end standards on the right center aisle. Photo: Elizabeth Daniels - Curbed L.A. - April 2013

Another seating view. Photo: Bill Counter - 2012

Oh, no -- it looks like the usher was coming over to say "No photos, please." It's a 2004 photo by Andrew West that appears on Flickr.

The house left terrace at the rear of the auditorium. These areas to either side of the snackbar were created in the 2001 renovation and were used for either handicap seating or as a private box. This area was reconfigured in the 2013 remodel. Thanks to Stephen Russo for his 2012 photo.

A look from house left giving one giving a nice feel for the sweep of the screen area and pre-Imax seating layout. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF - 2012

A 2004 house left side aisle view by Scott Neff appearing on the Cinema Tour page about the Chinese. Among the other photos on the site are: proscenium view during a show - Matt Luthans - 2003 | main chandelier - Scott Neff - 2004 | proscenium view - Ken Roe - 2004 | proscenium view - Scott Neff - 2004 |

A 2009 view down the house left side aisle from Mike Renlund on Flickr. Also by Mr. Renlund: another shot to the rear | screen view | exterior - "Street Fighter" | Hollywood & Highland at night |

Looking in from the house left aisle while the Chinese was running "Breakfast at Tiffany's" for a 25 cent admission price as part of the 85th birthday celebration in 2012. It's a photo that once appeared on the Chinese Theatres Facebook page.

Explorers David Saffer and Hillsman Wright near the screen end of the house left side aisle. It's a 2012 Wendell Benedetti photo on the LAHTF Facebook page.

A view back up the house left side aisle toward the lobby. Photo: Bill Counter - 2012

This 2006 photo by Jon W on Flickr gives us our earliest view of the new curtain with the printed design. Former General Manager Levi Tinker says this curtain went up in 2005. The design was intended to be an enlarged version of the pattern on the original traveler.

A fine view across to house left. Photo: Elizabeth Daniels - Curbed L.A. - April 2013

Despite the great loss of ornamentation at the proscenium caused by wider screen installations, the auditorium retains much of its 1927 splendor. Photo: Bill Counter- 2007

Another look across to house left. Thanks to Cinema Treasures contributor Hollywood 90038 for this c.2010 photo. See the site's page on the Chinese for many more views of the theatre -- but this one is no longer there.

A house left sidewall detail from 2012 by Stephen Russo. It originally appeared on the LAHTF Facebook page.

The coming attractions didn't look promising on this particular afternoon. The screen as seen here was masked for 1.85 to 1 with the full screen substantially larger. Photo: Bill Counter - 2007

A June 2007 shot by Bobak Ha'Eri from the Wikipedia article on Grauman's Chinese Theatre.

A view of the ceiling plasterwork and chandelier in a 2009 photo by Mike Renlund on Flickr.

A fine proscenium view taken c.2010 by Don Solosan for the LAHTF. Thanks, Don! Also see a 2010 proscenium view from John Harrier, Jr. on Flickr.

A detail of the decorative work above the center of the proscenium. It's a 2012 photo from Wendell Benedetti on the LAHTF Facebook page.

A pre-Imax view along the curtain showing the screen's incursion onto the former stage area. The beam we see above is original but wasn't part of the original proscenium arch -- that was farther upstage. This configuration was done as part of the 1958 renovations when the actual proscenium was removed to accommodate the 100' wide Cinemiracle screen frame. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF Facebook page - May 2013

A wide-angle look from the front of the auditorium. Note the curtain height and floor level prior to the 2013 Imax renovations. Here at the front it was about 7' below the original stage level. The front of the stage had been removed during the 1958 renovations. Photo: Wendell Benedetti - LAHTF - 2012

A peek at the vertical striplight that illuminated the main curtain from house left. The striplights are still backstage but no longer light the curtain. Photo: Bill Counter - 2012

A 2001 view of the rear of the house, this one appearing here thanks to Heliphoto. It's in the Interiors Portfolio section of their website. The firm specializes in aerial and architectural photos in the L.A. area.

A 2004 shot looking toward the rear shared by Andrew West on Flickr.

Mike Redlund down in front house right ready to watch a film. Thanks to Mike for sharing the 2009 photo on Flickr.

A look back from the front row. Thanks to Don Solosan for his c.2010 photo for the LAHTF.

Another view to the rear of the house. Note the steps that had been necessary since 2001 to get down from the level of the expanded lobby. On the upper level note the two private boxes. The booth had been moved back upstairs in 2001. Photo: Bill Counter - 2012