On October 18, 1922, Sid Grauman (who hadn’t yet built his famous Chinese Theatre) opened Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre at 6712 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood. King Tut’s tomb was discovered at around that time, so anything and everything Egyptian was all the rage. The movie chosen to open the venue was “Robin Hood” starring Douglas Fairbanks. This atmospheric photo was taken during the film’s six-month run.
Opening of Grauman’s Egyptian Theater, as reported in the Exhibitors Herald from November 14, 1922:
(Click on the image to see a larger version.)
This is that same view in February 2021. Until recently, the theater was run by American Cinematheque, but I believe is now owned by Netflix and is currently undergoing renovation.
Atmospheric photo, eh!!!??
When I was a kid (1942-ish) my grandmother treated me on special days (birthdays or first day of vacation) by treating me to a movie at the Egyptian, preceded by a “ladies lunch” at the Pig n Whistle cafe next door. We always had a fruit salad for granny and a chicken salad sandwich for me. In the picture you showed of the entrance to the theater, the restaurant would have been to the right. Granny always treated us to a box of ‘mint patties’ (little chocolate covered mints) to eat at the movies. She always dressed up for these outings, wearing (even in summer) her fox scarf…with tails hanging down in back, and a fox face gripping a front paw in the front. Oh Lordy did I love that scarf!
What wonderful memories, Elizabeth! Thanks for sharing them with us!