Designed in every Chinese detail by architect Raymond M. Kennedy, Grauman's final theatre opened on May 18th, 1927.

An estimated throng of between 24,000 to 50,000 people crowded Hollywood Boulevard hoping to catch a glimpse of their favorite film stars arriving in their limousines for the premier of Cecil B. DeMille's The KIng of Kings".

Inside the full to capacity theatre, the audience was treated to one of Grauman's most lavish prologue's Glories of the Scriptures with a cast of 200 and lasting two hours. The film finally going on the screen at 11:00pm.

The entire program accompanied by a 65 piece orchestra conducted by the famous Constantine Bakaleinikoff with Frederick Burr Scholl at the Wurlitzer.


This was the beginning of what is arguably the most famous movie theatre in the world.

"A fantastic idea of Sid's was to get Hollywood stars to stick their hands and feet in wet cement outside his Chinese Theatre; for some reason they did it.

It became an honor almost as important as receiving the Oscar."

--Charlie Chaplin
My Autobiography

For a map of the forecourt.

Grauman's Webcam