Carlito in the City

Ahh! The glitz and glamour! The red carpet premiers! The foot prints and hand prints! The TCL Chinese Theatre (f.k.a. The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, then later as Mann’s Chinese Theatre) has served as a must-see tourist destination and romanticized icon of Hollywood for decades! Most people have seen the exterior of this iconic building, and its courtyard of hand and footprints.

With the familiar decorative details..

And hand and foot prints of celebrities from Gloria Swanson to Hugh Jackman..

And of Sid Grauman himself..

What does it look like on the inside? I had a chance to go on an All About the TCL Chinese Theatre Tour by the Los Angeles Historic Theatre Foundation.

After passing the golden doors, a second set of doors open to the lobby area

Behind the second set of doors, the theater lobby and the folding screen mural and lantern-shaped chandelier welcomed me.

Below the mural is the concession stand.

To the right, entrance to the side lobby alcove with a beautiful figure on top..

With decoration painted on the underside of the overhang..

The side lobby alcove is full of details as well, from the Chinese-inspired doily light to the stenciled ceiling and walls designs.

The continuing red theme, and down a few steps, the aisle leads into the spacious auditorium.

With more Chinese-inspired lights down the sides..

An ornately stenciled auditorium ceiling..

And the pièce de résistance of the auditorium: the “doily” and the chandelier.

Current view of the auditorium from stage left side of the auditorium with figures decorating the two upper level screening rooms and projection boot. Unfortunately, the steps down will be gone after the IMAX conversion.

Before the tour of the theater started, there was a presentation about the theater’s history, along with photos and articles from the past, and some exclusive photos from a private collection.

I went on the backstage/basement tour first. After we entered through a side door into the backstage area, our docent pointed out that we were standing on the remains of the theater’s original stage. Immediately to our right is the current movie screen that goes into the part of the basement, and a catwalk above.

Going down some stairs, this is how far the current movie screen goes into the basement.

And the current basement, with columns and walls marked for demolition as part of the IMAX conversion.

And parts that they marked to keep..

Our LAHTF volunteer docent Kurt pointing out the wall and doorway marked for demolition, and the A/C and heating room, with the original A/C unit! The conversion will involve digging into the basement and the ground below. Most of the basement will be gone.

After the backstage/basement tour, I went onto the tour of the upstairs area. After walking up some stairs, past the manager and accountant offices, we come to a hallway. Apparently the ladies wardrobe is upstairs..?

Next on the tour was the Cathy Lounge (the box on house right), and the projector room. Unfortunately, the projector room photos did not come out..

View from the Cathy Lounge

We were also shown the door to the late Sid Grauman’s office.

And as a special treat, we get to see and hold a stylus that they use for the hand and foot print ceremony! Apparently, it’s an arrow sans the tail half.

I also went on a tour of the Chinese 6 (the multiplex next door) where they house a screen test theater, a gallery of photos from past foot print ceremonies, and a couple framed examples of test run concrete blocks. Currently, they have Robert Pattinson, Kristen Stewart, Taylor Lautner, and Mickey Rourke on display. Unfortunately, I didn’t get a chance to snap photos as that tour was a tad rushed.

I can’t wait until the next time LAHTF puts together another All About the Chinese Theatre and take more photos of items I missed. I definitely recommend anyone who love historic theaters to check out LAHTF and their All About Tour of various historic theaters.