Chinese Theater

The most famous movie theater in the world. Built by Sid Grauman in 1926, the Chinese Theatre closely resembles a Chinese pagoda, with a dragon figure across the front and two stone lions guarding the entrance. The 1920s look on the inside of the Chinese Theatre was beautifully preserved, the 2200 red seats, elaborate wall decorations and Chinese chandeliers are an impressive sight. The theatre itself has appeared in many movies, for instance "Speed" or "Singing in the rain" - it's been around for a while and has been a vital part of Hollywood ever since. The forecourt of the Chinese Theatre is covered with foot and hand prints of stars who left their prints in wet concrete to immortalize themselves here. Since 1927, when Norma Talmadge accidentally stepped in the wet cement, over 200 Hollywood legends had their prints implanted here. Marilyn Monroe, Shirley Temple, Gloria Swanson, Liz Taylor or John Wayne - they're all here, as are countless more celebrities from the past eight decades.

Millions of tourists flock to this unusual memorial every year, and it should definitely be a part of every Hollywood sightseeing program - it's an almost irresistible urge to place your feet next to the prints and compare sizes, note how incredibly small the feet (or shoes, rather) of the 1920s and 1930s divas were! Until today, Grauman's Chinese Theatre is the place where Hollywood holds its most prestigious movie premieres - the glamour hasn't faded. From the forecourt, as well as from the neighbouring Hollywood and Highland complex, you get a good view of the Hollywood sign up on the hills.