One of the
wonderful things this new complex achieved was the refurbishment of the
Chinese Theater. (It is joined to Hollywood and Highland via a
newly cut doorway into the forecourt.) The exterior of the theater has
been restored to its 1920's splendor, with the removal of neon marquees
that were added in the 50's.
Inside the projection
booth was moved up and the snack bar inside was built out, expanding the
lobby area. New more plush and roomier seats were put in, carpets were
replaced, and projection equipment (already top notch) was replaced with
state of the art.
One of the most
interesting things they did was restore the original name of the theater
- it again is named Grauman's Chinese. All signage was changed and
advertising now carries the new moniker.
It's fitting that they
gave the theater its original name back - where else but in the famous
forecourt can you see the imprints of such classic Hollywood names as
Joan Crawford (above) and Jimmy Stewart (below)...
...and new stars such as
Tom Hanks (below). Nowhere else can you actually touch (or just walk
over) history such as this.
Hollywood and Highland is
a terrific addition to Hollywood - and finally gives the hundreds of
thousands of visitors who come to the area something worthwhile to see,
as well as offering a refurbished Chinese Theater.
There are
some problems though that should have been better dealt with. For
one, access throughout the complex is more more confusing than it needed
to be. There are a lot of hallways and corridors everywhere that can be
maze-like at times. Bathrooms are difficult to find, and there are not
enough of them. If you do find one, then you have to deal with too few
facilities within them - they obviously did not design them for the
typical crowds now visiting the area.
Parking is a major problem
- it runs $10 if you use the structure below the building - and most
other lots in the area have raised their prices to match it.
(Validations are all over the map dollarwise - so it's best to call in
advance the locations you plan to visit to see if they offer a big
enough validation.) The city has also restricted parking even more
severely in the surrounding neighborhoods by either shortening meter
times or creating new permit parking zones. One alternative is to park
behind (not to the side, but directly behind) the El Capitan Theater,
where parking is limited to $6 tops.
If you're
planning a visit, keep in mind that the area is still a bit rough around
the edges, in particular late at night. While the complex has
helped improve things, this part of Hollywood still has a long way to
go.
If one also visits the
Ripley's and Hollywood Wax Museums nearby, and if the Debbie Reynolds
Hollywood Motion Picture Collection finally opens on the top floor of
the Hollywood and Highland complex, (it is rumored to be quite amazing)
it is easily conceivable a visitor can spend the majority of a day in
the area. It is also easy to combine a visit here with a visit to nearby
Universal Studios - the subway especially makes things easy for visitors
without cars.
Hollywood and
Highland information
Phone: (323) 960-2331
Website: www.hollywoodandhighland.com
A customer service desk is
available to answer questions, sell gift certificates, offer courtesy
wheelchairs & stroller rentals, lost & found and faxing
services. Hours of operation are usually 10 AM to 10 PM Monday through
Saturday, 10 AM to 7 PM Sundays, and valet parking is also offered.
Next
we'll drive a few blocks east and south, and visit the new
and rather dramatic ArcLight movie theater complex - which was built
around (and incorporates, as well as restores) the Cinerama Dome.
Al Lutz may be e-mailed at
al@mouseplanet.com - Keep in
mind the volume of e-mail he receives may not allow for a personal
response.
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