TCL Chinese Theatre

6925 Hollywood Boulevard,
Los Angeles, CA 90028

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Chris Utley
Chris Utley on May 4, 2011 at 1:53 pm

How many standby tix were available for each show? I’m asking for the future. I couldn’t make it to the Festival the last 2 years but I’m hoping to make next years…provided Grauman’s ain’t a disco by then.

RobertAlex
RobertAlex on May 4, 2011 at 1:02 pm

I was not able to see Spartacus, only That’s Entertainment and Goldfinger in 4K, Carousel was a gorgeous 35mm print in the upstairs cinemas. The festival was very expensive! The passes, which sold out, where like $600. All stand by tickets were $20 each film, so I only went to the three movies I had not seen.

Giles
Giles on May 4, 2011 at 12:29 pm

so NO ONE saw last Saturday’s screening of ‘Spartacus’ ????

terrywade
terrywade on May 4, 2011 at 12:27 pm

Hope the new owners can keep the Big Chinese for both film and live events. Enlarge the curved screen and move it up a few feet to the ceiling plus put a circle stage into the first five rows of seats in front of the huge screen for live entertainment. Add a seperate reverse curve curtain track to cover the new stage area. Bring back all the nice color lights.

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on May 3, 2011 at 3:22 pm

I asked the Conservancy about the level of protection the interior of the Chinese enjoys. This is what they wrote back: “The local landmark (HCM) designation mandates a review process that addresses the exterior and interior.”

There aren’t likely to be any nasty surprises concerning this building.

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on May 2, 2011 at 10:21 am

Nice to hear the report on TCM. Are the events in the Chinese selling out?

RobertAlex
RobertAlex on May 2, 2011 at 1:28 am

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.

CTCrouch
CTCrouch on April 30, 2011 at 12:57 am

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”.

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on April 29, 2011 at 8:19 pm

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.

Giles
Giles on April 29, 2011 at 8:16 pm

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:

  • Taxi Driver
  • To Kill A Mockingbird
  • That’s Entertainment
  • Fantasia
  • Streetcar Named Desire
  • Goldfinger
  • An American in Paris
BradE41
BradE41 on April 29, 2011 at 7:45 pm

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.

Giles
Giles on April 29, 2011 at 7:35 pm

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.

BradE41
BradE41 on April 29, 2011 at 7:27 pm

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.

DonSolosan
DonSolosan on April 29, 2011 at 5:49 pm

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…

BradE41
BradE41 on April 29, 2011 at 5:37 pm

Just a really bad hunch. Everything I read and hear tends to make the nightclub more likely than a movie theatre.

View link

These guys are money hounds and NOT film lovers.

markinthedark
markinthedark on April 29, 2011 at 5:31 pm

Brad – are you saying that out of factual knowledge or just a hunch?

Danny Baldwin
Danny Baldwin on April 29, 2011 at 5:30 pm

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.

BradE41
BradE41 on April 29, 2011 at 5:28 pm

Everyone has about 3 weeks to see a film at the Chinese ever again. :–(

Chris Utley
Chris Utley on April 29, 2011 at 9:14 am

4 words: MAYAN THEATRE – DOWNTOWN LA.

Hate to say it, but Grauman’s will probably become a nightclub after all. I’ve accepted it.

William
William on April 29, 2011 at 7:03 am

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.

Cliffs
Cliffs on April 29, 2011 at 1:31 am

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.

markinthedark
markinthedark on April 28, 2011 at 6:52 pm

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.

BradE41
BradE41 on April 28, 2011 at 6:42 pm

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.

Danny Baldwin
Danny Baldwin on April 28, 2011 at 5:52 pm

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…

markinthedark
markinthedark on April 28, 2011 at 5:47 pm

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.