TCL Chinese Theatre

Formerly known as Grauman's Chinese Theatre, inside you will see the iconic footprints of movie legends.

The TCL Chinese Theatre, originally known as Grauman's Chinese Theatre, is one of the most iconic landmarks in Hollywood. Located on Hollywood Boulevard, the theater first opened its doors in 1927 and quickly became famous for its opulent, exotic design inspired by Chinese architecture. It was developed by showman Sid Grauman, who wanted to create an immersive, extravagant movie-going experience.

The theatre is best known for its Forecourt of the Stars, where the handprints, footprints, and autographs of Hollywood's biggest celebrities are immortalized in cement. From classic stars like Marilyn Monroe and Clark Gable to modern icons like Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson, it is a tradition for actors to leave their mark at the theater.

Inside, the theater boasts an impressive interior with red-and-gold décor, towering pillars, and a massive curved screen. Over the years, it has hosted countless movie premieres, including the original Star Wars in 1977. The TCL Chinese Theatre is still a functioning movie theater, featuring state-of-the-art IMAX technology, and it remains one of the most sought-after venues for film debuts.

For both film enthusiasts and history buffs, the TCL Chinese Theatre offers public tours, giving visitors a glimpse into Hollywood’s golden past while still being a key part of its present entertainment landscape. 

Nearby Attractions

See all attractions in Los Angeles
Hollywood Boulevard
Instantly recognisable, it is the city's main artery and home to some of the most famous attractions.
The Walk of Fame
The stars on this world famous pavement celebrate the Hollywood greats, both past and present.
Dolby Theatre
The former 'Kodak Theater' is famed for its architectural elegance and is home to the annual Academy Awards.
Capitol Records Building
The 13 storey tower houses the renowned Capitol Studios and has been featured in various Blockbusters.
The Roosevelt Hotel
The oldest continually operating hotel in LA, the Roosevelt hotel features a glamorous Spanish Colonial revival style, often associated with Old Hollywood.
Hollywood & Highland
It's one of the city's famous intersections - recognizable as being the center of Hollywood, and the place to go if you're looking to get to the theaters.

Related Tours

The Ghosts of Hollywood Boulevard: Private 2-hour Spooky LA Tour

Los Angeles may be best known for its glamorous history as a global hub for the entertainment industry, but did you know it is also a hotspot for ghost stories and paranormal activity? Hollywood Boulevard's association with fame, fortune, and tragedy has led to numerous ghost sightings and other supernatural experiences over the years. The area’s connection to some of Hollywood’s biggest stars, many of whom met untimely or tragic ends, has left an indelible mark, with ghost stories continuing to captivate visitors and locals alike. From haunted hotels and theatres to the spirits of forgotten stars, Hollywood Boulevard offers a unique glimpse into the supernatural side of Tinseltown. Our thrilling private evening tour of Hollywood Boulevard, led by a knowledgeable Los Angeles local, will put you in touch with the most intriguing stories of the ghosts that haunt Hollywood hotspots.

On your private ghost tour, you will:

  • Embark upon an in-depth exploration of Hollywood Boulevard with a passionate Los Angeles local;
  • Enjoy plenty of entertaining stories of prominent Hollywood characters like Rudolph Valentino, the original silent film heartthrob;
  • Learn about the spirits who are said to haunt the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, including Marilyn Monroe;
  • Unearth the murder mystery at the TCL Chinese Theatre;
  • Pass by Musso & Frank Grill to spot Charlie Chaplin’s favourite booth, where regulars insist they’ve seen his ghost;
  • Get the lowdown on the Hollywood Wax Museum seances and hear about how one intrepid journalist spent a terrifying night there;
  • See the Warner Pacific Theatre, where, according to legend, one of the Warner Brothers still showed up to work, even after his untimely death;
  • Discover the Knickerbocker Hotel, where they hosted a seance for Harry Houdini's wife to try to receive a message from him from beyond the grave;
  • Understand how the Vogue Theatre became a hotbed of ghostly activity after tragedy struck in the early 1900s;
  • Decipher the terminology used by Hollywood ghost hunters, such as cold spots, ghost light, residual haunting and energy readings;

Your tour will begin outside the legendary Dolby Theatre, where your charismatic local guide will be ready to take you on an immersive trip through the dark side of old Hollywood, with a myriad of stories worthy of a blockbuster movie. This Art Deco auditorium is one of the most important buildings on Hollywood Boulevard, where the Oscars ceremony takes place every year. As you take in the unique architecture of the building, designed by celebrated architect David Rockwell, you will get acquainted with your private guide, a Los Angeles local with a passion for the supernatural phenomena of the City of Angels. You will have the guide all to yourself and will soon be enthralled by their spine-chilling tales of Hollywood hauntings.

As you stroll down this famous boulevard, you will uncover the haunted past of Hollywood’s most iconic landmarks and the spirits that still linger today. ​​Your guide will regale you with entertaining stories of the most famous Hollywood stars whose ghosts are thought to roam Hollywood, including Rudolph Valentino, the original silent film heartthrob, whose fame and tragic death sent shockwaves around Tinsel Town.  

One of your first stops will be the TCL Chinese Theatre, where your guide can explain why the glitz and glamour of movie premieres are overshadowed by dark secrets. As you continue down the street, you will pass the legendary Musso & Frank Grill and learn how regulars at this iconic eatery still insist they’ve spotted Charlie Chaplin’s ghost sitting at his favourite booth. Throughout the tour, your guide will introduce you to the world of ghost hunting, explaining terms like cold spots, ghost lights, residual hauntings, and energy readings—helping you decipher the paranormal energy that permeates Hollywood Boulevard.

You will venture deeper into Hollywood’s haunted lore with a stop outside the Hollywood Wax Museum, where paranormal investigators have held seances in a bid to connect with the beyond. Your guide may reveal what happened on the terrifying night one journalist spent inside, uncovering Hollywood’s ghostly inhabitants. Later in the tour, you will also go past the Knickerbocker Hotel, which played host to Hollywood’s most infamous seance, when Harry Houdini’s widow attempted to communicate with him from the spirit world.

As you walk further along the Boulevard, you’ll pass the Warner Pacific Theatre, once one of Hollywood’s prestigious cinemas, where you will hear an unsettling story of how the ghost of one of the Warner Brothers is rumoured to roam the halls to this day. Among other spooky stops along the way, your guide will make sure to show you the Vogue Theatre, one of Hollywood’s most haunted spots, where ghostly activity is said to have spiked after a tragedy in the early 1900s. Last but certainly not least, your tour will end at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, known for its glamorous past—and ghostly present. You will discover the spirits said to haunt the hotel, including sightings of the ghost of Marilyn Monroe, who often stayed there during her rise to stardom.

As your tour comes to a close, you will say goodnight to your guide, having enjoyed an immersive and spooky experience highlighting key locations and ghostly encounters along Hollywood Boulevard. Your guide can provide some great recommendations of things to see and do in LA and help you find your way back to your hotel, hopefully without any ghosts in tow.

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