Since 1927, this ornate, Asian-inspired movie palace has been hosting Hollywood film premieres and red-carpet events, and it remains a piece of living Hollywood history to this day. Located on Hollywood Boulevard—home of the Hollywood Walk of Fame—and across the street from the historic Roosevelt Hotel and El Capitan Theatre, the TCL Chinese Theatre is surrounded by more than 200 concrete slabs of celebrity handprints, including those of Marilyn Monroe, Tom Hanks, Frank Sinatra, Mariah Carey, Jackie Chan, and many others.
Here’s the best way to visit this Los Angeles landmark.
What Is the History and the Original Name of the TCL Chinese Theatre?
Every step of the creation of this ornate theater is steeped in Hollywood history. Built by showman Sidney Patrick Grauman in 1925, the very first bolt riveted into place was struck by Anna May Wong, Hollywood’s first Chinese American movie star. The first ever red-carpet premiere was for 1927’s King of Kings, drawing a crowd of 50,000 spectators to Hollywood Boulevard. The reputation of the massive theater only grew as it hosted premieres for The Wizard of Oz in 1939, the first ever Star Wars in 1977, and Marvel’s Iron Man in 2008.
Previously called Grauman’s Chinese Theater after the owner, the current moniker, TCL, stands for “The Creative Life,” which is the name of the Chinese multinational electronics company that purchased the naming rights to the theater in 2013.
Underwood Archives/Getty Images
How to See the Hollywood Handprints at the Chinese Theatre
The plaza in front of the TCL Chinese Theatre gets even more attention—more than 200 famous celebrities have left their hand- and footprints in cement, then signed them personally, sometimes with a flourish. Marilyn Monroe made prints with her signature high-heel pumps; John Wayne stepped into wet cement with his cowboy boots; Star Wars’ R2D2 left wheel prints.
There’s an urban legend behind this most Hollywood of Hollywood attractions: It’s said to have been inspired by silent-movie star Norma Talmadge, who accidentally stepped in wet cement during the theater’s construction. Grauman saw the footprints and thought it was a perfect marketing ploy. Shortly after, stars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks became the first celebrities to officially immortalize their hands and feet in the wet cement.
Many of the notes etched forever in stone offer thanks and kind words and jokes to the original proprietor. “Thank you Sid” is written right above Jimmy Stewart’s footprints. Even Humphrey Bogart wrote in his slab: “Sid, may you never die, ‘till I kill you.”
Can You Still See Movies at the Chinese Theatre?
The TCL Chinese Theatre is still open for business and hosts wide releases across their screens. To sit in the oldest and most ornate theater, look for screenings in the main auditorium which seats 932 and has a 94-foot by 46-foot IMAX screen.
Tours at the Chinese Theatre
Take a VIP guided tour to peek behind the theatre’s impressive golden doors, and learn more about master showman Sid Grauman, the theater’s original owner. Tours are typically offered daily; check the official website for more details.
Where Are the Oscars Held?
Three Academy Awards ceremonies (in 1944, 1945, and 1946) were held at this historic venue, drawing stars such as Bing Crosby, Bob Hope, and Jennifer Jones. Since 2002, the annual Academy Awards have taken place next door at the Dolby Theatre. Beginning in 2029, the Oscars will move to the Peacock Theater in downtown Los Angeles.
What’s Nearby the TCL Chinese Theatre
Looking for more Hollywood history? Head to Musso & Frank Grill, the storied steakhouse that’s been serving Hollywood Boulevard since 1919. Famous for its martinis, charcoal grill, and impeccable service, this place has been hosting celebrities for over 100 years. Also on this strip is the Roosevelt Hotel, a gorgeous Spanish Colonial Revival building with a jaw-dropping lobby and a secret bowling-alley bar, The Spare Room, tucked away on the second floor.
