TCL Chinese Theatre

The TCL Chinese Theatre, in Los Angeles

The TCL Chinese Theatre is one of the most legendary cinemas of the world, famous for the prints of the stars in its forecourt. The Los Angeles audio-guided tour stops here to evoke this cinema palace opened in 1927, with architecture inspired by China, on Hollywood Boulevard.

The cinema palace with the prints of the stars

Here is one of the most legendary places of world cinema: the TCL Chinese Theatre, opened in 1927 by the impresario Sid Grauman. This sumptuous cinema, one of the most famous in the world, owes its name and its appearance to its spectacular architecture inspired by traditional China, with its great pagoda, its dragons, its ornaments and its appearance of an oriental temple, that make it a true palace of the seventh art. But its renown is due above all to a unique tradition: its forecourt is covered with the prints of the hands and the feet of the greatest stars of cinema, left in the cement over the decades, sometimes accompanied by their signature or a message. To walk on this forecourt is to follow the traces of the greatest legends of Hollywood and to compare the size of one's hand to that of one's idols. The cinema has hosted innumerable prestigious premieres and continues to project films. An emblematic monument of cinema and a place of pilgrimage of the film lovers, the TCL Chinese Theatre is a must-see stop of the discovery of Los Angeles.

What to see

You admire one of the most legendary cinemas of the world, opened in 1927 by Sid Grauman, with a spectacular architecture inspired by traditional China with its great pagoda and its dragons, whose forecourt is covered with the prints of the hands and the feet of the greatest stars left in the cement, a place of prestigious premieres. The TCL Chinese Theatre is a monument of cinema of Los Angeles. It is a must-see stop, to be explored on foot.

Practical information

The TCL Chinese Theatre lies on Hollywood Boulevard, in Los Angeles, reachable on foot. The forecourt with the prints is freely accessible; the visits and the screenings follow their own hours and conditions, which vary. It is best to check them before coming.

Why is the TCL Chinese Theatre famous?

For its spectacular architecture inspired by traditional China, with its great pagoda and its dragons, and above all for its forecourt covered with the prints of the hands and the feet of the greatest stars of cinema left in the cement; opened in 1927 by Sid Grauman, it is one of the most legendary cinemas of the world.

Where is the TCL Chinese Theatre in Los Angeles?

On Hollywood Boulevard, in Los Angeles, in the United States.