Here we have a shot of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre taken in June 1929 during the run of MGM’s “The Hollywood Revue of 1929.” We can see the title of the picture in huge letters on the eastern wall of the building on the extreme right. It was a big deal at the time because it was one of MGM’s first sound films. It ran for 13 weeks and was an enormous hit. With prices ranging from 50 cents to $1.50, moviegoers were treated to a Fox Movietone Newsreel, a short film called “Follies of Fashion,” an overture called “Highlights of Hollywood” by the Grauman’s Chinese Symphony Orchestra, and then they saw the movie. I’d say they got their money’s worth.
In 1974 saw “Earthquake” there with my Dad. Remember the “Sensurround” sound effects developed for the film. The low-frequency sounds were more felt than heard, making viewers “feel” the quake. Really quite something and “cutting edge” technology for the time.
Also recall looking up and seeing a very large net stretching the length & width of the ceiling! Management must have been worried the low frequency sounds would jar loose some of the ornate ceiling gingerbread! Also recall my Dad walking out of the theater getting “nervous” walking around the buildings he’d just seen destroyed in the film!
Here we have a shot of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre taken in June 1929 during the run of MGM’s “The Hollywood Revue of 1929.” We can see the title of the picture in huge letters on the eastern wall of the building on the extreme right. It was a big deal at the time because it was one of MGM’s first sound films. It ran for 13 weeks and was an enormous hit. With prices ranging from 50 cents to $1.50, moviegoers were treated to a Fox Movietone Newsreel, a short film called “Follies of Fashion,” an overture called “Highlights of Hollywood” by the Grauman’s Chinese Symphony Orchestra, and then they saw the movie. I’d say they got their money’s worth.
In 1974 saw “Earthquake” there with my Dad. Remember the “Sensurround” sound effects developed for the film. The low-frequency sounds were more felt than heard, making viewers “feel” the quake. Really quite something and “cutting edge” technology for the time.
Also recall looking up and seeing a very large net stretching the length & width of the ceiling! Management must have been worried the low frequency sounds would jar loose some of the ornate ceiling gingerbread! Also recall my Dad walking out of the theater getting “nervous” walking around the buildings he’d just seen destroyed in the film!
It should look like that today!
It looks so clean and clear, doesn’t it?