This particular night – February 9, 1934 – would have been a big one for Grauman’s Chinese Theatre and MGM as it was a premiere for “Queen Christina” starring Greta Garbo. To the right of the theater behind the movie fans we can see huge letters lit up: “GARBO.” Usually the readerboard features the name of the movie, but Garbo was such a big star that simply her surname sufficed. Above her name was also “Sid Grauman Prologue” which refers to the five-scene live 40-minute prologue that preceded the movie during its six-week run. Oh, and audiences were also treated to a Walt Disney cartoon short called “The Grasshopper and the Ants.” Movie-goers sure got their money’s worth. You can get more information on graumanschinese.org
Apparently Garbo’s name is all you really need. The movie’s title is MUCH smaller in this ad than her name. And get a load of who was there that night!
And here is a day-time shot of Grauman’s Chinese taken during the run of “Queen Christina”:
I was looking at this picture and enjoying how open it all looks, and I noticed that building on the hill behind the theater. The one just to the right of the highest (tower?) part of Grauman’s. I’m pretty sure that’s the building that’s now Yamashiro restaurant. At that time, it was still a very cool Japanese private home. The Magic Castle would be right below that, but it’s not visible in this photo.
Yep, Paula, well spotted! That’s Yamashiro!