This project was supported in whole or in part by the U.S. Institute of Museum and Library Services under the provisions of the Library Services and Technology Act, administered in California by the State Librarian Made accessible through a grant from the John Randolph Haynes and Dora Haynes Foundation and Photo Friends
Grauman's Chinese Theatre opened in May 18, 1927, after a construction period of 18 months. The principal architect of the theater was Raymond M. Kennedy of the firm Meyer and Holler. Built to resemble a giant, red Chinese pagoda, the architecture features a huge Chinese dragon across the front, two stone lion-dogs guarding the main entrance, and the silhouettes of tiny dragons up and down the sides of the copper roof. Among the theater's most distinctive features are the concrete blocks set in the courtyard that bear the signatures, footprints, and handprints of popular motion picture personalities from the 1920s to the present day. In 1968 Grauman's Chinese Theatre was declared a historic and cultural landmark; it continues to serve the public as a first-run movie theater. Photograph caption dated November 3, 1957 reads, "As Kirk Douglas became the 137th film star to put footprints and handprints in concrete at Grauman's Chinese Theatre in Hollywood Thursday night, Ken Murray was on hand to take more of his 'home movies.' He was also on hand to receive a little concrete on the kisser. Much to his surprise and to the amusement of the large crowd assembled, Douglas suddenly plucked his hands from the wet concrete and smeared the comic's cheeks. George Jessel emceed the gala affair; that's actress Jeanne Crain next to Douglas."; See images #00117183 through #00117185 for all photos in this series.
Type
Image
Format
1 photographic print :b&w ;26 x 21 cm. Photographic prints
Douglas, Kirk,--1916-2020 Chinese Theatre (Los Angeles, Calif.) Motion picture theaters--California--Hollywood (Los Angeles) Motion picture actors and actresses--United States Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments Hollywood (Los Angeles, Calif.) Portrait photographs Valley Times Collection photographs
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