TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
160 people
favorited this theater
Showing 401 - 425 of 1,676 comments
Cliff’s there was no big conversion to Cinemascope. The Cinemascope screen was installed on the stage and the original projection booth was used. The major renovation that changed the stage area of the theater to make room for a huge screen was to install Cinemiracle a three projector process very much like Cinerama. To install the 120 foot 120 degree curved Cinemiracle screen two columns were removed and most of the stage. The Cinemiracle projection booth was where the rear of the new concession stand is now. The Cinemiracle projectors were removed and three Todd-AO machines were installed with 13.6 carbon arcs. Star Wars ran in 70mm on water cooled Todd-AO machines with 13.6mm carbon arcs on a very big screen. Eventually xenon lamps and then automation was installed. The light from the xenon was no where near that of the carbons so the masking settings were changed and the 70mm picture reduced in size. Eventually one of the Todd-AO machines was removed and a platter installed.
Film IMAX is dead the theater at Universal will be digital soon. The Chinese looks like it is the new standard for IMAX.
Nevermind… spoke too soon. They added reserved seating for Gravity.
Yeah, The Chinese was in pretty big trouble ever since Mann dropped them a few years back. Their bookings were horrible and they were playing to empty houses most of the time. The IMAX conversion (which I view as not that much unlike the Cinemascope conversion in the 50s) allows them update the auditorium again and gain a booking advantage they haven’t had in a while. Without the IMAX, they would never be showing Gravity. They’d be probably be showing week 4 of The Family that weekend.
RobertAlex… Totally agree about 3D in the Dome. I’ve complained multiple times about how terrible their 3D is and I’ve begged them to at least offer 1 or 2 2D showings in there on opening weekends and they steadfastly refuse. So I go to the Village in Westwood for those needs now. They actually listen to customer complaints and alternate 2D and 3D.
But The Chinese NEEDS NEEDS NEEDS to get reserved seating for EVERY show otherwise people will continue to go to Universal City and Rave. I was excited when OZ appeared and had reserved seating, but disappointed that Gravity does not. They need to sort that and quick.
Not a silly question, BigJoe. :)
There is an IMAX to the north of this theatre: AMC Theatres' Citywalk Stadium 19 + IMAX at Universal Studios. The theatre is an original 15/70 built from the ground up IMAX with the 7 story tall screen that made them legendary.
I think the time and expense has more to do with keeping the world’s most famous movie theatre alive and kicking for future audiences than about any perceived proximity to other IMAX theatres.
Well I’m glad someone is going to see Gravity in IMAX when I read it was shot in 2K I put it on my watch at home list.
Has anyone read the reviews about Wiz OZ in IMAX? Its at a 99% on RT. I was skeptical of it at first,I thought just seeing the new Chinese would be enough, now Saturday cannot come fast enough!! Once I am there I will happily purchase my tickets for Gravity, since I am thrilled that I do not have to suffer through anymore 3D showings in the Dome, I have emailed Arclight 3 times and I get the same response…“we have no control over the format that plays in the Dome.” yea right.
I am getting more excited about seeing all the changes this weekend, the blog review above was great, as well as the pictures that have been floating about. Is it too much to also wish for comfortable seats?
Hello From NYC-
I haven’t been out to L.A. in approx. 7 years so though this question might be silly to ask at this point i’ll ask it anyway. I am assuming the reason the new owners of the Chinese went thru the time and expense of IMAX-ing the Chinese’s auditorium is that there are no other IMAX theaters anywhere close to the Chinese.
Also I love how they quietly deleated the tweet saying that Gravity tickets for Arclight Hollywood were coming soon lol
Being cocky with their twitter/facebook post saying Hollywood Arclight tickets for Gravity onsale soon.
Yeah they have been quiet about Gravity and the Hollywood Arclight since then.
Wayne if you mean because of your post then yeah anyone would turn over after reading that. Let me ask you a question what was the last movie you saw there?
Chris unfortunatly Sid died in March of 1950 aprox 3 years before cinemascope install. But your point is still valid.
BTW…according to ownership, the screen is 46 feet tall and 94 feet wide. The screen probably got side masked to 61 feet to properly project the 1:33:1 filmed “WOZ.”
You mean the same Sid Grauman who let them rip out the proscenium in his theatre to install Cinemascope in the 1950’s? :)
Ciffs: DEAD ON! They were EXACTLY and PRECISELY being cocky! Serves em right!
I see the Gravity tickets (YEAH!) Uut the reserved seating chart hasn’t been activated. I’m not buying till it does…lest I end up sitting in the front row (in the basement…LOL!).
Sid Grauman must again be turning over in his grave!
Now we’ll just have to wait and see what happens with Arclight. If they book Gravity as well, they’d be fools to put it in the Dome in 3D. If they don’t book it, they’ll have been a bit cocky booking the companion Children of Men screening before locking the Gravity booking.
Looks like Oz is indeed held over a week for the first showtime each day, And tickets now appear to be officially on sale for Metallica and Gravity at the Chinese. http://www.tclchinesetheatres.com/tickets-showtimes/
Friday 9/20/2013
When did they reopen?
Went to the premiere of 3D Oz yesterday. A very different experience, but I think it works. Read my review on my blog: http://graumanschineseorg.blogspot.com/
Somebody had to help pay for the upgrade. So they put up a sign. The sign seems to blend in just find and like bigjoe59 said most people won’t notice it. Besides it’s what is inside the building that counts not some little sign on the outside.
Hello-
I second Chris U.’s comment. its a rather unobstrusive sign that i’m betting most people won’t notice.
Sign looks alright to me. :)
Walking by this afternoon, I noticed they’ve added a metal “TCL Chinese Theatres” sign directly above the main doorway. Between a work ladder still being adjacent to the area and my not noting it before (I walk by the theatre almost daily these days), I assume this was just installed. While not overwhelming or obnoxious, it does seem to look a bit out of place (in my opinion). I’ve uploaded two pictures.
Im waiting to see Avatar in IMAX 3D at the renovated Chinese. The Wizard of Oz in 3D may appeal to some and Im sure it will be a treat. I am waiting to be impressed.
Hello from NYC-
I haven’t been out to L.A. in a few years and did enjoy going to the Chinese. to which my question- with all the hoopla about the IMAX-ing of the auditorium while keeping the renowned architectural design as anyone heard anything about the 3-D…ing of The Wizard of Oz. if the retrofit into 3-D of the 1939 film just doesn’t work that won’t be a good omen for the reopening.
It doesnt look like they will be running much film but the video presentations should be stunning.