Reopening after extensive renovations in September 2013, the TCL Chinese Theatre proudly became the first, and currently only, IMAX® theatre in Hollywood, California. Equipped with all of the technological marvels of The IMAX Experience®, including ground-breaking, crystal-clear laser projection, cutting-edge laser-aligned sound technology and an enormous, curved screen spanning both from floor to ceiling and wall to wall, providing moviegoers visiting this historic site with one of the world’s most immersive cinematic experiences.
Honored as a Los Angeles Historical Landmark in 1968, the TCL Chinese Theatres’ management has striven to preserve the integrity and timeless cultural heritage of the Theatre, evolve the cherished venue back to a new height of Hollywood glamour reminiscent of when showman-founder Sid Grauman first opened the Chinese Theatre in 1927, and ensure the storied movie palace’s exciting new lease on life – to allow theatre-goers a much improved, truly world-class cinematic experience.
With the blessing of both the Los Angeles Historical Theatre Foundation and Hollywood’s Historic Resources Group, the TCL Chinese Theatre partnered with IMAX Corporation to introduce one of the largest IMAX® auditoriums in the world. Our revitalized cinema luxuriously seats 932 people, and hosts the third largest commercial movie screen in North America, joining an exclusive class of theatres along with cinemas such as the Metrodome IMAX® theatre in San Francisco and Lincoln Square IMAX® theatre in New York City.
Peyton Hall, a senior executive with Hollywood’s Historic Resources Group
said “Grauman’s Chinese Theatre is one of our city’s most important cultural properties, and one of the most popular destinations for visitors to Los Angeles from all over the world. Having worked on a substantial restoration of the building that was completed in 2001, we are gratified by the important new support for the site. The improvements at the Chinese protect the history of the place as a building while updating Sid Grauman’s original purpose: promoting screening for everyone the best that the American movie industry has to offer.”
Images courtesy of Bob Freeman.
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