The legendary TCL Chinese Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard is a stunning portal to the golden age! Masterminded by Sid Grauman, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, this spectacular Meyer & Holler pagoda opened in 1927 with The King of Kings (and even hosted three 1940s Oscars).
You will feel the magic standing beneath its 90-foot bronze roof, coral-red columns, and a 30-foot stone dragon. Guarded by original Ming Dynasty Heaven Dogs, this masterpiece remains the perfect destination for curious movie buffs!
On October 31 a new way of experiencing movie soundtracks presents itself at TCL Chinese Theatre, with a special tribute to one of the world’s most famous movie composers and another to Halloween classics.
Hear your favorites by the light of thousands of candles in the ornate theatre as a live string quartet pays homage to the spirit of the silver screen and the spooky season one after another.
31 October 2026 18:00
TCL Chinese Theatre
31 October 2026 20:30
TCL Chinese Theatre
The Forecourt of the Stars: An Accidental Masterpiece
While the building’s architecture is stunning, the theater’s most famous attraction lies right outside its front doors. The Forecourt of the Stars is arguably the most exclusive piece of real estate in Hollywood.
While the nearby Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches for miles and boasts over 2,700 stars, the Chinese Theatre’s forecourt contains fewer than 250 concrete blocks. Securing a spot in this courtyard is considered a significantly rarer and more prestigious honor.
The origin of this legendary plaza is shrouded in a bit of Hollywood mythmaking. According to the most popular legend, silent-movie star Norma Talmadge was visiting the construction site in 1927 and accidentally stepped into a patch of wet cement.
Grauman supposedly saw the footprint, realized the promotional goldmine sitting right in front of him, and started the tradition. However, there are competing stories: Grauman himself claimed he was the one who accidentally stepped in the cement, while another version says Pickford and Fairbanks started the tradition intentionally to promote the theater’s grand opening.
Whatever the true origin, Pickford and Fairbanks were the first official stars to purposefully leave their marks in April 1927.
Today, you can find the imprints of classic legends like Marilyn Monroe and John Wayne, right alongside modern stars recently inducted in 2025 and 2026, such as Gary Oldman, Ice Cube, and Glenn Close.
Wands, Noses, and Droids: The Most Unique Imprints
While traditional handprints and footprints are the standard, props and costumes have created some of the most memorable slabs. Daniel Radcliffe, Emma Watson, and Rupert Grint pressed their Harry Potter character’s wands into the cement.
Silent film comedian Harold Lloyd pressed his iconic wire-frame eyeglasses into his square, while George Burns left an imprint of his ever-present cigar.
Eleanor Powell left the distinct marks of her tap shoes, and Roy Rogers not only left his own prints but also pressed in his revolver, right alongside the hoofprints of his famous horse, Trigger.
Other celebrities have famously utilized different body parts to leave their mark. WWII pin-up girl Betty Grable famously imprinted her leg. Comedians Jimmy Durante and Jackie Chan both imprinted their noses—Durante honoring his famous “schnozzola” and Chan immortalizing his frequently broken nose.
Whoopi Goldberg pressed one of her dreadlocks into the cement, and John Barrymore pressed the side of his face to honor his industry nickname, “The Great Profile”.
The forecourt has also seen its share of humor and fiction. In a famous prank, comedy legend Mel Brooks wore a prosthetic sixth finger on his left hand when he did his print in 2014, just to see if anyone would notice.
Human stars aren’t the only ones honored, either. Visitors exploring the plaza can find the tire tracks of Herbie the Love Bug, the robotic feet of C-3PO, the footprints of Donald Duck, and the tread marks of R2-D2.
Originally known as Grauman’s Chinese Theatre (and later Mann’s Chinese Theatre), the venue took the name TCL Chinese Theatre in 2013 after the electronics company bought the naming rights.
This partnership funded major technological upgrades, transforming it into a cutting-edge venue. It now boasts the largest IMAX auditorium in the world and features MX4D Motion EFX seats that move in sync with the action on screen, complete with special effects like wind, fog, and water.
By pairing its legendary history with modern immersion, the TCL Chinese Theatre remains a vital part of the Hollywood experience.
