 The forecourt entrance, Hollywood Boulevard | |
 | |
| Former names | Mann's Chinese Theatre (1973–2001) Grauman's Chinese Theatre (1927–1973; 2001–2013) |
|---|---|
| Address | 6925 Hollywood Boulevard Hollywood, California 90028 |
| Coordinates | 34°6′7″N 118°20′27.5″W / 34.10194°N 118.340972°W |
| Public transit |   Hollywood/Highland |
| Owner | Chinese Theatres, LLC |
| Type | Indoor movie theater |
| Capacity | 932 (as of 2013)[1] |
| Construction | |
| Broke ground | January 9, 1926 |
| Built | January 16, 1926 |
| Opened | May 18, 1927 |
| Renovated | 2001–04 2013 (Digital IMAX conversion) 2014 (70mm IMAX installation for Interstellar) 2015 (IMAX with Laser installation) |
| Architect | Raymond M. Kennedy Donald Wilkinson |
| Website | |
| www | |
| Designated | June 5, 1968 |
| Reference no. | 55 |
| Designated | April 4, 1985 |
| Part of | Hollywood Boulevard Commercial and Entertainment National Historic District |
| Reference no. | 85000704 |
The TCL Chinese Theatre, commonly referred to as Grauman's Chinese Theatre (its official name for much of its history), is a movie palace on the historic Hollywood Walk of Fame in the Hollywood neighborhood of Los Angeles.
The original Chinese Theatre was commissioned following the success of the nearby Grauman's Egyptian Theatre, which opened in 1922. Both were built as Exotic Revival style architecture.[2] Built by a partnership headed by Sid Grauman over 18 months beginning in January 1926, the theater opened May 18, 1927, with the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille's The King of Kings.[3] It has since been home to many premieres, including the 1977 debut of Star Wars,[4] as well as many private events and three Academy Awards ceremonies. Among the theater's features are the concrete blocks set in the forecourt, which bear the signatures, footprints, and handprints of popular motion picture personalities from the 1920s to the present day.
Originally named Grauman's Chinese Theatre, it was renamed Mann's Chinese Theatre in 1973, and reverted to its original name in 2001. On January 11, 2013, Chinese electronics manufacturer TCL Corporation purchased the facility's naming rights for $5 million.[5]
In 2013, the Chinese Theatre partnered with IMAX Corporation to convert the house into a custom-designed IMAX theater. The newly renovated theater seats 932 people and features one of the largest movie screens in North America.[1]
- ^ a b "IMAX at the TCL Chinese Theatre". TCL Chinese Theatres. Archived from the original on January 11, 2014. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Chinese Theatre". Los Angeles Conservancy. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ "Chinese Theatres – History". Mann Theatre. Archived from the original on May 31, 2011. Retrieved February 4, 2014.
- ^ "Today in History: Star Wars Premieres in 1977". Lomography. May 25, 2011. Archived from the original on March 17, 2016. Retrieved May 2, 2023.
- ^ Verrier, Richard (January 11, 2013). "China firm buys naming rights to Grauman's Chinese Theatre". Los Angeles Times. Archived from the original on January 12, 2013. Retrieved February 4, 2014.