The Life magazine photographer who snapped this image was standing in the forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre, whose Chinese-themed box office that stood at the edge of the sidewalk. Past it is Hollywood Blvd, and on the far left, we can see the columns of the Masonic Temple (these days, Jimmy Kimmel broadcasts from there.) Strung across the boulevard is a banner with Warner Baxter’s name because the movie playing that week was MGM’s “Robin Hood of El Dorado” which means this photo was taken in May of 1936. My favorite detail of this photo is the well-dressed woman who’s just bought a ticket and is heading to see the double feature with MGM’s “Moonlight Murder” and a Disney animated short called “Three Little Wolves.”
Looking across the forecourt of Grauman’s Chinese Theatre past the box office to Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, May 1936
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Does that box still exist somewhere?
I was just thinking the same thing
Not that I know of, but I doubt that it does, more’s the pity.
There’s also something between the woman and the box office with letters on top, possibly ‘SHOW’. Some sort of extra advertising perhaps, or is that an extension of the box office? And I love the woman too. She even has gloves on. Ah, the days of gracious living!
I have a photograph of my mother of about the same vintage, although it was taken by a street photographer in Columbus, OH. She was also so dressed up … just to go shopping downtown with her littlest sister.
I wish I had my Time Machine to go back and see if that lady liked the picture! So classy looking to go to the movies! Ahhh….another time.
Looks like an ad painted on the side of the building across the street for Signal Gas?