A Picture To Scan: Historic Theatre Is Where Old & New Meet
Both Architecture & Photos Of This Landmark Worth Preserving
A trip to the movies is an extra special experience at Grauman’s Chinese Theatre. It’s not about the bonbons, the buttered popcorn or even the film that is playing on the screen – it is all about the building.
To this day, the majestic structure in Hollywood still leaves visitors in awe. It stands 90 feet tall and is flanked by a pair of bold red columns. The two Chinese “Heaven Dogs” guarding the entrance, temple bells and pagodas were all imported from China. The building looks timeless – just take a look at a current picture. Scan an old image and compare the two.
Grauman’s is the site of numerous movie premieres. The theatre, named after Sid Grauman, opened on May 19, 1927. Architect Raymond Kennedy designed it. Countless celebrities have walked the red carpet there. Besides the actual building, the hand- and footprints of the famous, called the Forecourt to the Stars, draw more than four million visitors a year (and likely a similar number of photographs!). The list of actors and other Hollywood types immortalized there is impressive, from Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks – who were also part owners – to Will Smith and George Clooney.
The Asian-inspired movie theatre was granted landmark status in 1968. It has undergone a lot of preservation efforts to retain its original state. Today, there is even a Web cam to monitor tourists. What a difference this must be from when the original owners, who also included Howard Schenck, started it. Mann Theatres operates Grauman’s now.
A place like this should be preserved not just architecturally, but also digitally. Historians should take an old picture, scan it and save in a format that makes it simple to share with enthusiasts down the line. After all, what is the present or future without the significance of the past to learn from? We can understand so much more about our predecessors when we have their memories and accomplishments to cherish and study.
I loved Clooney for his brain and talent vs. his looks until last night. I’m a rocker girl at heart (used to be Goth) and last night Clooney showed up on my TV screen without the tie and sporting a goatee. LOL! But I digress… I too was not really interested in GC but was shown his current abode by a friend of mine. No I will not post his address but Fergie be damned, I would like to know where Josh Duhamel lives, too. As well as Viggo Mortenson even though he is way too old for me. Happy Stalking.