TCL Chinese Theatre in Hollywood is the most famous cinema in the world and the place where the most important film premieres are held. Every artist dreams of entering this movie palace.
Sir Grauman, a businessman who previously built the Egyptian Theatre, took a trip to China and fell in love with its culture. Not long after that, he built the Chinese Theatre.
The Chinese Theatre opened its doors on 18th May 1927 with the premiere of the film “King of Kings”.
All the materials used for the construction were brought from China. One example is the huge “chinese heaven dogs”, half-dog, half-lion, belonging to the Ming Dynasty, which guard the entrance of the theatre.
The Chinese Theatre has the best has the best technology in the world and in 2013 it became the largest IMAX cinema in the world.
It is currently visited by over 4 million people a year.
From 1944 to 1946 it was the venue for the Oscars and some of the most famous premiers have taken place in the Chinese Theatre like Star Wars: Episode IV, A New Hope (1977) and The Wizard of Oz (1939).
Probably the most famous feature is outside the Chinese Theatre. There you can find hand and footprints of over 200 celebrities, including Sir Grauman (the creator), Shirley Temple, Sophia Loren, Jackie Chan and Marilyn Monroe.
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Some says that this tradition started when Norma Talmadge accidentally stepped into wet concrete, although it was later claimed to have been Grauman himself.
The Chinese Theatre is decorated in gold and red with elaborate, regal designs. This is a must-visit you’re a film lover!
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To visit the Chinese Theatre you have two options:
- buy a ticket to see a movie
- go on a guided tour
Both options allow you to admire the incredible auditorium and its entrance hall, which exhibits items from movies of all decades.
The guided tour is 30 minutes long and it takes place every 30 minutes from 10 am to 4 pm. You can buy your ticket at the theatre itself (it is not usually very busy) or online, where special offers are sometimes available.
Phone: (323) 463-9576
Price: from US$ 12 (€ 9.80) to US$ 25 (€ 20.40)
Nearby places:
- Madame Tussauds (59 m)
- Dolby Theatre (69 m)
- Ripley’s Believe It or Not! (236 m)
- Hollywood Boulevard (742 m)
- Walk of Fame (872 m)
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