Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, aka the TCL Chinese
Premiere night at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre
A few fun facts about the Chinese Theatre in Hollywood opened in 1927 by showman Sid Grauman.
The star-studded groundbreaking ceremony of the Chinese Theatre on January 5th, 1926 featured Charlie Chaplin, Norma Talmadge (who, wielding a gold plated shovel, turned the first spadeful of dirt), Conrad Nagel, and Anna May Wong (who drove the first rivet into the structure).
On May 18th, 1927, the theatre hosted its first premiere, showing DeMille’s “King of Kings” - usherette in traditional Chinese dress uniforms welcomed guests into the movie palace, featuring actual treasures from the Ming Dynasty Grauman had imported from China as well as asian themed designs - the auditorium seats were red leatherette with flower designs in black, and the carpet was jade green with images of clouds and dragons. The auditorium also featured octagonal marble pillars in front of brick walls painted in Chinese red lacquer, with delicate designs of trees and birds done in silver - including a pagoda balcony with a yellow tile roof to the right of the screen.
The Chinese has been known as the place to premiere films since its opening, but none is more famous than the Hell’s Angels premiere on May 27th, 1930. You had the most anticipated film from eccentric Howard Hughes, originally shot as a silent then scrapped and shot with the much promoted newcomer Jean Harlow as a sound film. Would it be any good, or would Hughes lose millions? As a matter of fact, sources say it made 2.5 million, slightly less than its 2.8 million dollar production cost. Regardless, the opening put premieres, the Chinese, Jean Harlow, and Howard Hughes on the proverbial map for good. The Chinese is still sought after today for major Hollywood premieres.
One of the most famous features of the Chinese Theater is the customary hand-footprints of the stars in the cement in the forecourt. The first official hand/footprint ceremony was that of Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks on April 30th, 1927. Over the years, celebrities from Gloria Swanson to Shirley Temple were given the honor of placing their hands and feet in the cement and thus attaining Hollywood’s version of immortality, and the tradition continues today.
Although various upgrades and renovations have been done inside, the theatre has changed little from the 1950s to today on the exterior - the surroundings have definitely changed, but the Chinese is still a very iconic feature of Hollywood Blvd.