Josh and I are attending the TCM Classic Film Festival which begins Thursday, April 22nd, and goes through Sunday, April 25th.  I can’t wait.  I’m going through and giving a brief history of the three major venues.  Yesterday, we looked at the Egyptian.

Today, let’s go visit Grauman’s Chinese Theater.

As a kid, I was introduced to this historic structure not by visiting Hollywood, California but by traveling down to Orlando, Florida.  In 1989, Walt Disney World opened it’s third theme park, the Disney-MGM Studios.

The “wiener” of the park, or the central icon was Grauman’s Chinese Theater.  Housed inside the theater is one of my favorite theme park rides of all time, The Great Movie Ride.  See the video at the bottom of this page to get an idea of what the attraction is like.

Upon my first visit to Hollywood, I found that the Chinese Theater was much more touristy on the outside with random people dressed in costumes.  My dreams of visiting classic Hollywood were dashed forever.

It wasn’t until I moved to LA last year that I actually went to see a movie there.  There is only one screen so I had to wait till it was playing a film I wanted to see.  Again, I had to wade through the costumed characters.  But, once I entered the theater, I was instantly transported back in time.  The Chinese Theater is truly the definition of a “movie palace.”

As with the Egyptian, Sid Grauman and Charles Toberman where behind the planning of the Chinese Theater.  Initially intended to be a replica of a Chinese city, the plans were scaled way down.  Construction began in 1925.  Lon Chaney and several other Hollywood stars were present for the groundbreaking.

Cecil B. Demille’s film, The King of Kings, was the first film to play at the prestigious movie house.  Tickets to the premiere were $22.  Grauman staged a 3 hour prologue that caused many of the attendees to leave before the film was over.  Demille was furious.

Grauman hit upon a great gimmick by taking handprints and footprints of stars in the cement in the forecourt of the theater.  It gave the theater a sense of timelessness.  Those cement squares are still there today.

As much as I hate having to wade through the costumed “performers” outside the theater, it isn’t anything new.  In 1928 when Charlie Chaplin’s film, The Circus opened, Grauman hired a look-alike to perform in the forecourt and on stage.  The major difference is that the people today aren’t affiliated with the theater (and could be twisted psycho-killers.)  I once saw a “Joker” put a real knife to a girl’s neck – she just laughed.  Stupid tourists.

Grauman sold his share to Fox Theaters in 1929 but remained as the theater’s managing director until his death in 1950.  Boy, do I wish I could have met him.

Hollywood premieres are still held at the Chinese Theater.  I hope to have a premiere there of my own film one day.

Remember to follow us on twitter as we hit the festival.  We’re hoping to get some great audio and video of some of the special guests in attendance and maybe some interviews.