Grauman's Egyptian Theatre

Grauman's Egyptian Theatre is a historic movie palace located at 6712 Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California, United States. The theatre was built by Sid Grauman and Charles E. Toberman and opened in 1922, with its first film being Douglas Fairbanks' Robin Hood. The theatre's construction was influenced by the discovery of King Tut's tomb in 1922, which sparked a nationwide interest in Ancient Egyptian culture, also inspiring the work of Howard Carter and Zahi Hawass. The theatre's design and decor were also influenced by the work of Imhotep and the architecture of Luxor Temple.

● History

The history of the theatre is closely tied to the history of Hollywood and the American film industry. The theatre was built during the Golden Age of Hollywood, a period that saw the rise of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer (MGM), Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros.. The theatre hosted many famous Hollywood premieres, including the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille's The Ten Commandments in 1956, which was attended by Charlton Heston and Yul Brynner. The theatre also hosted the premiere of Alfred Hitchcock's Vertigo in 1958, which starred James Stewart and Kim Novak. Other notable attendees at the theatre's premieres included Marilyn Monroe, Clark Gable, and Greta Garbo.

● Architecture

The theatre's architecture is a mix of Ancient Egyptian and Art Deco styles, with a large Egyptian-style temple front and a decorative interior featuring hieroglyphics and lotus motifs. The theatre's design was influenced by the work of Frank Lloyd Wright and Louis Comfort Tiffany, and its construction was overseen by Myron Hunt and Harry Oliver. The theatre's interior features a large auditorium with a proscenium arch and a decorative ceiling featuring a star-studded sky. The theatre's exterior is adorned with Egyptian-style obelisks and sphinxes, and its entrance is flanked by large stone lions.

● Preservation

In the 1990s, the theatre underwent a major restoration project, led by the American Cinematheque and the Los Angeles Conservancy. The project aimed to restore the theatre to its original 1922 appearance, and involved the removal of later additions and modifications, including a 1960s-era screen and sound system. The restoration was overseen by Historic Preservation experts, including Martin Weil and Christine Madrid French, and was funded by National Endowment for the Arts (NEA) and the California State Historic Preservation Office. The theatre is now listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is a designated Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monument.

● Film Premieres

The theatre has hosted many famous film premieres over the years, including the premiere of Steven Spielberg's E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial in 1982, which was attended by Henry Thomas and Drew Barrymore. The theatre has also hosted the premiere of George Lucas' Star Wars in 1977, which was attended by Mark Hamill and Harrison Ford. Other notable premieres at the theatre include Francis Ford Coppola's The Godfather in 1972, which starred Marlon Brando and Al Pacino, and Martin Scorsese's Raging Bull in 1980, which starred Robert De Niro and Cathy Moriarty. The theatre has also hosted premieres of films by Quentin Tarantino, including Pulp Fiction in 1994, which starred John Travolta and Uma Thurman.

● Current Use

Today, the theatre is operated by the American Cinematheque, a non-profit organization dedicated to the preservation and promotion of film and film history. The theatre hosts a variety of film screenings and events, including film festivals, retrospectives, and Q&A sessions with film directors and actors. The theatre has also hosted events and screenings in partnership with Film Independent, Sundance Institute, and the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (AMPAS). The theatre's programming includes a mix of classic films, independent films, and foreign films, and has featured the work of filmmakers such as Akira Kurosawa, Federico Fellini, and Stanley Kubrick. The theatre is also available for private events and rentals, and has been used as a location for film and television productions, including The Oscars and Saturday Night Live. Category:Historic theaters in the United States