Photos of Hand and Footprints at Grauman’s Chinese Theater

There are many stories regarding the origin of the hand and footprint ceremonies at Grauman’s Chinese Theater.  At this point, we will probably never know the truth.  One thing is for certain -- Jean Klossner was hired to install the cement in the forecourt of the Chinese.  Previously, he had formulated an extremely hard and lasting concrete that he later used when installing celebrities’ hand and footprints in the forecourt. Klossner never revealed his formula for his extremely hard cement.  Also, for certain, is that Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks were the first people to place their hand and footprints in the forecourt.  In April, 1927, just three weeks before the theater’s grand opening. Sid Grauman asked Pickford and Fairbanks to initiate the hand and footprint tradition.  A few days later, Grauman had Talmadge make similar impressions next to those made by Pickford and Fairbanks. Knowing that the theater's grand opening was to occur on May 18, 1927, Norma Talmadge scribbled that date above her signature instead of the actual date she made the impressions. The largest collection of hand and footprint photos is on the  hollywoodphotographs.com. web site

Klossner performed the famous footprint ceremonies until 1957 when Michael Tartaglia took over the function. He did so for thirty-four years.  Since the beginning, scores of celebrities have had their hand and footprints and signature enshrined in the famous courtyard.  Stars such as Jean Harlow, Steve McQueen, William Powell, Sophia Loren, Marilyn Monroe, Jack Lemmon and Sidney Poitier have been honored at the Chinese Theater. 

All the hand and footprint photos at hollywoodphotographs.com are available for purchase.