Finding Aid for the Collection of photographs from Grauman's Chinese Theatre ceremonies, ca. 1937-1969 (bulk 1937-1954)

Processed by Arts Special Collections staff; machine-readable finding aid created by Sue Hwang, Julie Graham and Caroline Cubé.

UCLA Library Special Collections

Performing Arts Special Collections

Room A1713, Charles E. Young Research Library

Box 951575

Los Angeles, CA 90095-1575

spec-coll@library.ucla.edu

URL: http://www2.library.ucla.edu/specialcollections/performingarts/index.cfm

Descriptive Summary

Title: Collection of photographs from Grauman's Chinese Theatre ceremonies,

Date (inclusive): ca. 1937-1969,

Date (bulk): (bulk 1938-1954)

Collection number: 245

Extent: 1 box (.5 linear ft.)

Abstract: The Grauman's Chinese Theatre was developed by showman Sid Grauman and architect Raymond Kennedy. The theatre held a grand opening on May 18, 1927. The collection consists of 139 black and white photographs taken at Grauman's Chinese Theatre imprint ceremonies, primarily from 1938 to 1954.

Language: Finding aid is written in English.

Repository: University of California, Los Angeles. Library. Performing Arts Special Collections.

Los Angeles, California 90095-1575

Physical location: Stored off-site at SRLF. Advance notice is required for access to the collection. Please contact the UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Administrative Information

Restrictions on Access

COLLECTION STORED OFF-SITE AT SRLF: Open for research. Advance notice required for access. Contact the UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections Reference Desk for paging information.

Restrictions on Use and Reproduction

Property rights to the physical object belong to the UCLA Library, Performing Arts Special Collections. Literary rights, including copyright, are retained by the creators and their heirs. It is the responsibility of the researcher to determine who holds the copyright and pursue the copyright owner or his or her heir for permission to publish where The UC Regents do not hold the copyright.

Preferred Citation

[Identification of item], Collection of photographs from Grauman's Chinese Theatre ceremonies (Collection 245). Performing Arts Special Collections, Charles E. Young Research Library, UCLA.

Histriography

The Grauman's Chinese Theatre was developed by showman Sid Grauman and architect Raymond Kennedy. The theatre had a grand opening on May 18, 1927 and opened to the public on the following day. Grauman held a one-third share in the theatre with his partners Howard Schench, Mary Pickford, and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. On April 30, 1927, Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks, Sr. were the first Hollywood stars to imprint their hands and footprints in the forecourt of the Chinese Theatre. Since then, select celebrities have been invited to share their imprints at movie premieres and ceremonies.

Scope and Content

The collection consists of 139 black and white photographs taken at Grauman's Chinese Theatre imprint ceremonies. The photographs date primarily from 1938 to 1964. Individuals pictured include Anne Baxter, Linda Darnell, Joan Fontaine, Betty Grable, Gene Kelley, Hildegard Neff, Ezio Pinza, Edmund Purdon, Clifton Webb, Richard Widmark, and Monty Woolley, among others.

Organization and Arrangement

The photographs are arranged alphabetically by last name.

Indexing Terms

The following terms have been used to index the description of this collection in the library's online public access catalog.

Subjects

Chinese Theatre (Los Angeles, Calif.) -- Photographs.

Motion picture theaters -- California -- Archival resources.

Genres and Forms of Material

Photographs.

Ameche, Don [1938]

Barrymore, John [1940]

Baxter, Anne [1949]

Note