TCL Chinese Theatre
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles,
CA
90028
160 people
favorited this theater
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Came back from the TCM festival at the Chinese. Yesterday was a great 35mm print of Carousel at the 6 plex in one of the smaller theatres. They did an awesome job.
This morning I waited for That’s Entertainment playing in Grauman’s. It was so much fun being there with a large enthusiastic crowd. After that, my buddy met me and we saw Goldfinger at 12:30. Nothing like seeing James Bond at the Chinese!
I cannot get over the projection of both films with that Barco 4K DLP projector. It was unreal, truly a game changer for larger screens.
If you examine the rumors (especially Hollywood Elsewhere and it’s “inside source”) the alleged dramatic changes are centered more on the Chinese 6 than Grauman’s.
If the Chinese 6 were to be convereted to a nightclub style venue, would anyone really care? It’s not like that annex holds the same historical/cultural significance.
As for Grauman’s, the only changes that have been rumored, to a significant extent, are transitioning to “multi use”; which would suggest the need for a stage, thus restoring an original feature of the theatre. About the only questonable alteration suggested, thus far, involves removable seating.
While I’m just as concerned as the next guy, especially considering the track records of the parties involved, I could see the potential for some of these alleged changes being beneficial. Say, Grauman’s continues to screen movies and adds the option of hosting live events once again. Perhaps, the kitchen/bar adds a luxury service to the theatre. And, the former 6 supplements the venue with post event options and extra drawing power via alternative entertainment choices. Yes, that involves a great deal of speculation and wishful thinking on my part, but, at this point, it’s no more speculative than saying “this is the end”.
If Mann used historic preservation tax credits for their restoration several years ago, it would make it very difficult for anyone to significantly alter the interior now.
oh I don’t know if it was sold out, I’d go to this in a heartbeat if I lived in LA or travelled out to attend the film festival – I’m just very intrigued in knowing if this digital screening is superior to the shoddy bluray transfer Universal dumped on us. Let us know how ‘Outlaw Josey Wales’ looks BradE41, as it’s another 4K DLP digital presentation.
other 4K DLP festival presentations include:
Was it sold out? I hoping to see The Outlaw Josey Wales tomorrow.
I just looked at Mann site. There are premieres for Hangover 2 and Green Lantern booked past May 20. So it looks like these guys will keep as is for a while at least. They still probably will not have top films this Summer. Mann probably has films booked already. Still, I am NOT breathing a sigh of relief.
Tonight there’s a 4K DLP digital screening of ‘Spartacus’ – is it better than Universal’s hidef transfer that they released on bluray – I really hope so… Criterion needs to rectify and release a definitive proper bluray edition.
I hope I am wrong. But everything about these guys does not say “we love film preservation.” These days I have to expect the worst and hope for the best. IF the Chinese goes we will only have the El Capitan as a first run theatre on Hollywood Blvd and Egyptian for retros. There was a time when I was a child/teenager you could start on Hollywood Blvd at the Chinese walk east past the Paramount, Hollywood, Egyptian, Pussycat, Vogue, Holly, Fox, Hollywood Pacific, Vine, Pantages, World and end at the Pix. Trust me, I HOPE you are wrong. Tomorrow I am going to try to see Josey Wales at the TCM Festival.
The word the LAHTF is getting through its contacts is that there’s nothing to worry about. As for Brad’s hunches, the Chinese does not equate in any way to the Mayan…
Just a really bad hunch. Everything I read and hear tends to make the nightclub more likely than a movie theatre.
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These guys are money hounds and NOT film lovers.
Brad – are you saying that out of factual knowledge or just a hunch?
Did you read another article, or is this further speculation? Even though the deal closes in three weeks, the likelihood that they would just shut it down right away is close to nothing, IMO.
Everyone has about 3 weeks to see a film at the Chinese ever again. :–(
4 words: MAYAN THEATRE – DOWNTOWN LA.
Hate to say it, but Grauman’s will probably become a nightclub after all. I’ve accepted it.
The first thing would be to restore the full stage area. Since it’s no longer there and change and reformat the screen to one that could fly into the stagehouse area.
Let us not ignore the fact that the sale also includes the adjacent 6-plex. I can’t imagine taking over both Grauman’s AND the 6-plex if you only want to convert Grauman’s to a nightclub. Perhaps they’ll convert the 6-plex to a nightclub and I wouldn’t loose a moment’s sleep if they did.
Also… Grauman’s is a cultural landmark so I’m not sure how easily or extensively it could be converted into a nightclub. Obviously they COULD do it, I just don’t know what additional hoops and accommodations would have to be gone through to make it actually happen and if it would be worth it or not to the new owners. Nightclubs in Hollywood are about as stable and longstanding as most of the marriages in this town.
I think beyond ticket sales, Disney uses the El Capitan like a giant billboard to advertise its films. Millions see it on as tourists or on TV (Jimmy Kimmel?) etc.
Sadly, I think even the most beloved large screens are always in jeopardy these days. Sometimes I wonder how long Disney will hold the El Capitan; granted they are one of the higher grossing theatres when a new Pixar opens. But they also charge through the butt force you to pay more for a show, even more if the kid wants a happy meal deal. But what about the off months? the 6 weeks of showing Mars Needs Moms to empty audiences? The cost to run the theatre must be murder, electricity alone when they run the marquee 24/7.
Honestly, I hope I am wrong about the intentions of the Chinese. But this smells like something bad more than good to me. But hey, I could be wrong. Let’s hope so.
I think that’s being WAY cynical. A lot of people would have a lot to say about eliminating what is perhaps the most iconic symbol of Hollywood after to the sign…
What the Chinese needs is a lesson in showmanship and showcasing a film from the folks at the El Capitan. They need to lure a studio, WB, Paramount, Universal whoever into partnering with the venue to showcase studio product. Plus they could have the added feature of the Chinese 6 as a move-over house as new product is showcased at the Chinese.
Maybe I am just cynical, but I have a difficult time believing they are purchasing this theatre to show films when it has not been a moneymaker for quite a few years. A large venue like the Chinese seems prime for a successful “pretentious’ nightclub. God forbid, I hope I am wrong. But these people really sound like the kind of sleezeballs that do not have integrity and just want to make a lot of cash.
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce will fight it if it is true. But I would try to visit it as much as you can. Because a year from now it could be a distant memory of what was once great, and yet another L.A. instutition gone forever.
They only have what’s left of the land lease till 2023 (12 years).
Thanks for sharing that link Brad, pretty scary to think that could happen. I am hoping for the best as we all are I am sure.
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Several Hollywood sources said they had heard that the new owners are considering turning the theater, which has 1,152 seats, into a nightclub. It’s worth noting that Samaha has interests in two historic Hollywood Boulevard movie theaters that have recently be turned into nightlife venues: the Fox Theatre and Vogue Theatre.
Leron Gubler, CEO of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, and Nicole Mihalka, a commercial real estate broker at Cushman & Wakefield, both said they had heard talk about the Chinese Theatre being converted to a nightclub. However, Tronson said he doesn’t expect that to occur, adding that the new owners had not mentioned such a potential change to him.
“That would kill all the interest from people who are interested in coming there,” Tronson said.
One of the future owners Elie Samaha has interests in two other former Hollywood Boulevard movie theatres, the Fox and Vogue.
The article says :“..one person familiar with the matter said the theater will continue to screen movies and host premieres and that the new owners plan to upgrade food and beverage services.”
I pray that they can save the Chinese, the last few years has been dreadful for this gem.
On a side note, Barco announced today they are installing their new 4K DLP projector, DP4K-32B for the TCM Festival. I cannot wait to see Goldfinger on Sunday afternoon on that screen in 4K DLP!!