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Following up on our earlier post, covering Babe Ruth’s 1924 appearance at Grauman’s Million Dollar Theatre, we have this Los Angeles Times news piece from the week. In what might be a contender for most underwhelming reporting, we learn one of the most famous people of the day “does stuff” on stage and this primarily […]

Following up our piece on theatre celebrity appearances, we have this unique memento from George Herman “Babe” Ruth’s 1924 promotional appearance at Grauman’s Million Dollar Theatre. By 1924 Babe Ruth had moved beyond mere baseball superstar and in to the realm of pop culture icon. Drawing intense media coverage and large crowds wherever he went, […]

New theatre openings have become somewhat scarce in recent years, with exhibitors tending to favor remodeling existing venues and acquiring competition, as a means for expanding their presence. In Turn, these facility upgrades and transfers in ownership rarely garner more than a “blink and you’ll miss it” public notice of the change. However, back when […]

Staying in the holiday spirit, today’s picture is of a 1941 Fox West Coast Theatres’ “Christmas Theatre Ticket”. Due to the gift certificate like appearance, I would normally assume these were purchased from F.W.C. theatres as gifts. However, given the very limited seasonal window for use (December 14 – 27), they may have been distributed […]

After an unexpectedly long break, I wanted to pop in and wish all of you a happy holiday season. Pictured above is a 1939 photo of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre during Hollywood Boulevard’s month long “Santa Claus Lane” transformation. The “Santa Claus Lane” promotion was created by businessman Harry Blaine in 1928, as a way to […]

Today’s photos depict the ushers of Santa Ana’s West Coast Theatre, circa 1934. Originating from a photo album sold at an Altadena estate sale, the pictures were alleged to have been taken by the theatre’s owner. By 1934, the West Coast was under the ownership of Fox West Coast Theatres, so the ownership reference may […]

Anyone who has visited Grauman’s Chinese has surely taken notice of the wax figures which stand watch at the theatre. If you’ve taken the official tour, you may have even been told of the many celebrities who have rubbed the figures’ sleeves for “good luck” and been afforded the opportunity to partake of the tradition […]

In recognition of this evening’s 86th Academy Awards ceremony, here is a picture of Sid Grauman being awarded his honorary Oscar for “raising the standard for film exhibition of motion pictures” at the 21st Academy Awards, held on March 24, 1949 (roughly a year before his death on March 5, 1950). In addition to being […]

Sid Grauman in the Chinese Theatre forecourt (photo courtesy of Jefferey Hawkins).

The glowing screens and electronic chirp of cell phones are a uniquely modern disruption to the movie going experience. However, as this cinema slide (circa 1915) illustrates, theatre patrons of a century ago faced their own unique disruption.