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Chinese Theatre Handprint Ceremonies 211 images Created 3 Oct 2019

There have been many stories about the origins of the hand/footprints at the Chinese Theatre, and all but one can be dismissed as folklore. As legend has it, during construction, Sid Grauman was crossing the forecourt when suddenly confronted by his chief cement mason, Jean Klossner, who scolded him for walking in the freshly laid cement. After making peace with Klossner, Sid asked Douglas Fairbanks, Mary Pickford and Norma Talmadge to immediately come to the theatre. Upon their arrival, he asked them to place their feet in the new curbstone but it was nearly dry, so the impressions were too faint. Three weeks before the completion of construction, Pickford & Fairbanks were invited back to formally place their signatures and prints in the center of the forecourt. A few days later, Sid invited Talmadge to make her impressions next to theirs. Knowing the theatre's grand opening was set for May 18, 1927, she scribbled that date above her signature.

Today, there are nearly 200 prints and autographs in the theatre's forecourt. Variations of this honored tradition are imprints of the eye glasses of Harold Lloyd, the cigars of Groucho Marx and George Burns, the legs of Betty Grable, the fist of John Wayne, the knees of Al Jolson, the noses of Jimmy Durante & Bob Hope, the guns of Western stars William S. Hart & Roy Rogers, the hoofprints of famous horses beside the prints of the stars who rode them, and the magic wands of Harry Potter.

During World War II the theatre discontinued installing concrete prints. The tradition later resumed in 1945 with Gene Tierney. The only person not associated with the movie industry to etch their signature and print in the concrete is Grauman's mother, Rosa.
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  • 1938 Don Ameche's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-001.JPG
  • 1966 Julie Andrew's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theatre
    HFP-002-1.tif
  • 1966 Julie Andrews' footprint ceremony
    HFP-002-2.tif
  • 1938 Fred Astaire handprint ceremony
    HFP-003-1.tif
  • 1936 Freddy Bartholomew's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-004-1.jpg
  • 1946 Humphrey Bogart's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-006-1.tif
  • 1977 Mayor Tom Bradley's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-007-1.tif
  • 1936 Joe E Brown's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-008-1.tif
  • 1979 George Burn's footprint ceremony
    HFP-009-1.tif
  • 1979 George Burns' hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-009-2.tif
  • 1979 George Burns' hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-009-3.tif
  • 1977 C3PO's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-010-1.tif
  • 1932 Eddie Cantor's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theatre
    HFP-011-1.tif
  • 1943 Gary Cooper handprint ceremony
    HFP-012-1.tif
  • 1931 Jackie Cooper's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-013-1.tif
  • 1931 Jackie Cooper's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-013-2.tif
  • 1949 Jeanne Crain's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-014-1.tif
  • 1949 Jeanne Crain's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theatre
    HFP-014-2.tif
  • 1949 Jeanne Crain's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-014-3.tif
  • 1929 Joan Crawford's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-015-1.tif
  • 1936 Bing Crosby's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-016-1.tif
  • 1950 Bette Davis' ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
    HFP-017-1.tif
  • 1961 Doris Day's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-018-1.tif
  • 1961 Doris Day's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-018-2.tif
  • 1952 Olivia de Havilland's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-019-1.tif
  • 1941 Cecil B DeMille with Sid Grauman at his hand and footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theatre
    HFP-020-1.tif
  • 1941 Cecil B DeMille with Sid Grauman at his hand and footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-020-2.tif
  • 1946 Irene Dunne's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-022-1.tif
  • 1946 Irene Dunne's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-022-2.tif
  • 1987 Rhonda Fleming's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-023-1.tif
  • 1937 Clark Gable's ceremony at the Chinese Theatre, Sid Grauman at left
    HFP-024-1.tif
  • 1937 Clark Gable's ceremony at the Chinese Theater, Sid Grauman at left
    HFP-024-2.tif
  • 1951 or 52? Ava Gardner's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-025-1.tif
  • 1951 or 52? Ava Gardner's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-025-2.tif
  • 1939 Judy Garland's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
    HFP-026-1.tif
  • 1939 Judy Garland's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-026-2.tif
  • 1942 Greer Garson's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-027-1.tif
  • 1940 Sid Grauman's hand/footprint ceremony at the Chinese Theater
    HFP-028-1.tif
  • 1933 Jean Harlow's hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-029-1.tif
  • 1933 Jean Harlow's hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
    HFP-029-3.tif
  • 1933 Jean Harlow's hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-029.tif
  • 1946 Rex Harrison's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-030-1.tif
  • 1946 Rex Harrison's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-030-2.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-10.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-1.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-2.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-3.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-4.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-5.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-6.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-7.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-8.tif
  • 1951 Susan Hayward's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-031-9.tif
  • 1948 Van Johnson's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-033-1.tif
  • 1948 Van Johnson's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-033-2.tif
  • 1948 Van Johnson's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-033-3.tif
  • 1936 Al Jolson's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-034-1.tif
  • 1936 Al Jolson's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-034-2.tif
  • 1969 Danny Kaye's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-035-1.tif
  • 1969 Gene Kelly's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
    HFP-036-1.tif
  • 1969 Gene Kelly's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-036-2.tif
  • 1969 Gene Kelly's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-036-3.tif
  • 1963 Shirley MacLaine and Jack Lemmon at their hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
    HFP-037-1.tif
  • 1962 Sophia Loren's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-038-1.tif
  • 1962 Sophia Loren's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-038-2.tif
  • 1936 Myrna Loy's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater with William Powell (right)
    HFP-039-1.tif
  • 1936 Myrna Loy's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater with William Powell (right)
    HFP-039-2.tif
  • 1936 Myrna Loy's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater with William Powell (left) and Sid Grauman (center)
    HFP-039-3.tif
  • 1934 Jeanette Macdonald's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-040-1.tif
  • 1972 Ali Macgraw's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-041-1.tif
  • 1972 Ali Macgraw's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-041-2.tif
  • 1964 Dean Martin's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-042-1.tif
  • 1933 Marx's Brothers hand & footprint Ceremony
    HFP-043-1.tif
  • 1936 Victor McLagen's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-044-1.tif
  • 1936 Victor McLagen's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-044-2.tif
  • 1967 Steve McQueen's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-045-1.tif
  • 1967 Steve McQueen's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-045-2.tif
  • 1967 Steve McQueen's hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-045-3.tif
  • 1964 Haley Mills' hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-046-1.tif
  • 1953 Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell at their hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-047-1.tif
  • 1953 Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell at their hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
    HFP-047-2.tif
  • 1953 Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell at their hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
    HFP-047-3.tif
  • 1953 Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell at their hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-047-4.tif
  • 1953 Jane Russell at her hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-047-5.tif
  • 1953 Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell at their hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-047-6.tif
  • 1927 Colleen Moore's hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater with Sid Grauman
    HFP-048-1.tif
  • 1963 Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward at their hand and footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-049-1.tif
  • 1974 Jack Nicholson's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-050-1.tif
  • 1974 Jack Nicholson's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-050-3.tif
  • 1974 Jack Nicholson's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
    HFP-050-4.tif
  • 1974 Jack Nicholson's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-050-5.tif
  • 1974 Jack Oakie's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater with Sid Grauman (left)
    HFP-051-1.jpg
  • 1946 Margaret O'Brien's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-052-1.tif
  • 1946 Margaret O'Brien's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-052-2.tif
  • 1949 Gregory Peck's handprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater
    HFP-053-1.tif
  • 1949 Gregory Peck hand and footprint ceremony
    HFP-053-2.tif
  • 1927 Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks' hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater with Sid Grauman
    HFP-054-1.tif
  • 1927 Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks' hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theatre with Sid Grauman
    HFP-054-2.tif
  • 1927 Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks' hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater with Sid Grauman
    HFP-054-3.tif
  • 1927 Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks' hand/footprint ceremony at Grauman's Chinese Theater with Sid Grauman
    HFP-054-4.tif
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