Opened in 1927, Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is one of Hollywood’s most iconic landmarks. Since its very beginning, it has played host to major movie premiers. Its forecourt is famously paved with concrete tiles featuring the handprints, footprints, and signatures of celebrities. Besides moviegoers and stars, could there be some ghosts wandering the aisles?
Iconic Front of Chinese Theatre
The Chinese Theatre was the brainchild of showman Sid Grauman, who had previously built two other Los Angeles theaters: the Million Dollar Theater and Egyptian Theatre. At the time, it cost $2 million to build and a number of objects (such temple bells and the Heaven Dog statues) were imported from China. The theater officially opened on May 18, 1927 with the world premiere of Cecil B. DeMille’s The King of Kings. There are some different stories about how the cement footprint tradition started, but it tends to involve a movie star accidentally stepping in wet cement outside the theater.
Above entrance
Celebrity prints
The opulence of the theater’s interior certainly matches the grandeur of its exterior. There are numerous ornate features to see as one walks through the lobby and hallways. The ceiling of the main auditorium is especially striking. With its ambiance and Hollywood history, it’s not surprising that one’s mind might turn towards the spirits of the past.
Above you in the lobby
When the theater was first built, Grauman apparently had secret rooms built where he could entertain his celebrity friends. A buzzer system was setup to allow access. Although the rooms were eventually sealed and the buzzers disconnected, a theater employee in the 1990s stated that he heard the buzzers going off for weeks inside those inaccessible rooms.
Lobby Mural
There are also a couple ghosts that are believed to haunt the backstage area of the theater. One is referred to as Fritz. It’s said that he was a stagehand who hanged himself behind the screen at some point in the past. Another ghost, known as Annabelle, is described as a young girl. Some believe that the ghosts are responsible for the unexplained movements of the stage curtain seen by some visitors.
Screen with curtains
Today, the theater is officially known as the TCL Chinese Theatre. In addition to being a venue for premiers, it is also an operating first-run cinema. So you can buy a ticket and watch a movie in opulent surroundings. The theater also offers guided walking tours. I did this tour myself and found it a great way to experience this iconic location. Please check their official site for hours of operation, movie ticket prices, and tour ticket prices. Keep in mind that the theater (which is on the Walk of Fame) is in a highly trafficked, tourist area. If you visit, you’ll likely see people on the sidewalk who dress in costumes and pose with tourists for money.
Auditorium seating
Amid the commotion of Hollywood Boulevard, the grandeur of the TCL Chinese Theatre invokes the nostalgia of Hollywood’s golden age. With its history of glitz and glamour, perhaps there are a few spirits who aren’t ready to leave after the credits have rolled.
Auditorium columns
Auditorium ceiling
Ladies Lounge
Location
TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Blvd,
Hollywood, CA 90028
Official site: tclchinesetheatres.com
Sources
“About Us.” TCL Chinese Theatres. http://www.tclchinesetheatres.com/about-us/.
Brady, Janice. “Haunted Graumans Chinese Theater in Hollywood.” An Open Suitcase. September 26, 2019. https://anopensuitcase.com/graumans-chinese-theater/.
Discover Los Angeles. “TCL Chinese Theatre: The Story of an L.A. Icon.” Discover Los Angeles. December 16, 2019. https://www.discoverlosangeles.com/things-to-do/tcl-chinese-theatre-the-story-of-an-la-icon.
“History.” TCL Chinese Theatres. http://www.tclchinesetheatres.com/tcl-chinese-theater-history/.
Jacobson, Laurie. “8 Hollywood Haunts That Are Seriously Haunted.” Britannica. https://www.britannica.com/list/8-hollywood-haunts-that-are-seriously-haunted.
Jacobson, Laurie. “Haunted Hollywood: 3. Grauman’s Chinese Theater (10 Oscar-Related Ghost Stories in Honor of the Academy Awards).” Encyclopedia Britannica Blog. February 24, 2010. http://blogs.britannica.com/2010/02/haunted-hollywood-3-grauman’s-chinese-theater-10-oscar-related-ghost-stories-in-honor-of-the-academy-awards-2/.
Murphy, Annie. “grauman’s chinese theatre.” LAPL Photo Friends. October 29, 2017. http://photofriends.org/tag/graumans-chinese-theatre/.
Wallis-Finestone, Tara and Chuck Henry. “Forgotten Footprints: Hollywood History Found in Airport Hangar.” NBC Los Angeles. February 18, 2011. https://www.nbclosangeles.com/news/local/forgotten-footprints/1901195/.
Written by A. P. Sylvia
