Crowds pack the opening of Sid Grauman’s Million Dollar Theatre, 307 S. Broadway, downtown Los Angeles, February 1, 1918

Crowds pack the opening of Sid Grauman's Million Dollar Theatre, 307 S. Broadway, downtown Los Angeles, February 1, 1918Before Sid Grauman opened his Egyptian Theatre (1922) and his Chinese Theatre (1927) he opened his more prosaically named Grauman’s Theatre at 307 S. Broadway. In this photo, we can see eager fans packing the theater on its February 1, 1918 opening night. The film chosen for the debut was “The Silent Man” with a personal appearance of the film’s director and star, William S. Hart. Ever the showman, Grauman renamed it the Million Dollar Theater one year later, I guess because it sounded classier.

This Million Dollar is still a working cinema. This is how it looked in February 2023.

 

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4 responses to “Crowds pack the opening of Sid Grauman’s Million Dollar Theatre, 307 S. Broadway, downtown Los Angeles, February 1, 1918”

  1. Bill Wolfe says:

    My wife and I have had the chance to see several classic movies here, thanks to the LA Conservancy’s Last Remaining Seats program. It’s a thrill to see the inside.

  2. john says:

    The current marque covers up a good portion of the beautiful arch. Why would they do that? I am glad the building is still there but common get a marque that is like the original one!!!!!

  3. Gordon Pattison says:

    I believe it was named the “Million Dollar” because it cost a million dollars to build.

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