Last night I went to an event at Larry Edmunds Bookshop for the release of Elisa Jordan’s impressively myth-busting book on Marilyn Monroe, “Hello Norma Jeane.” It’s a block or two down Hollywood Blvd from the newly renovated, newly reopened Grauman’s Egyptian Theatre, so I took some shots.
Elisa Jordan with her book on Marilyn Monroe, “Hello, Norma Jeane”
Photo credit of Elisa with her book: Darrell Rooney
Welcome Back to the Egyptian!
Yes indeed Welcome Back!!!
Martin does it pretty much look the same now as back in the day? I notice the big palm trees are no longer the middle but I don’t think they were there in the 20s either?
I don’t know if the artwork is *exactly* the same but they’ve certainly kept the feel of the place.
You are correct that the palm trees weren’t original to the theatre, John. The center aisle/forecourt was used for movie premieres, with seating sometimes and elaborate movie advertisement displays. I believe MT posted one recently of a full size locomotive in the center with Indians sitting on it. I do, however, wish they’d retained the palm trees, they were a nice addition.
Photo two momentarily freaked me out. Until I refocused it appeared to say Starbucks. Saved by the bell!
I visited the Egyptian last Saturday afternoon to see a screening of Maestro. They have some exhibits on either side of the lobby with photos and some artifacts of the theatre over the decades. The Egyptian theme is back in full force. The theatre now holds 500 plush green seats, with leg room, and a fantastic sound system. The balcony, which I don’t think was ever that big, I never cared to sit up there, has been removed and is now part of the projection room. Being part of the American Cinematheque, the theatre needs to be able to project all sorts of film stock, as well as digital. 100 years ago the theatre had held somewhere north of 1300 seats!
The theatre employees were all smartly attired and attentive and the new snack bar serves the usual refreshments and also a chocolate bar with two Egyptian themed wrappers.
I look forward to returning there. Maestro was quite good, by the way. If people have access to the NetFlix app, NetFlix has an 11 minute documentary about the restoration and reopening of the theatre, and a little history thrown in. They show a photo of the back of the theatre, an exterior from the side street, taken in 1994 after the Northridge Earthquake. I had no idea it was damaged as badly as it was. There’s a huge open hole in the side of the building.
The theatre had closed in 1992. It had been showing movies for $1.50 and I recall anytime you went inside it smelled very musty. Barry Levinson filmed inside of it for his 1994 release Jimmy Hollywood. A character in the film, Joe Pesci I believe, is a squatter living inside the theatre. I recall a scene where rain was leaking from the roof into the theatre. If anyone wants to see what it was like before the American Cinematheque bought it for $1,
see this movie. It seems to me we’re lucky this theatre has been saved several times.