The Sepia Saturday 69 photo is a portrait of Hollywood legend Mary Pickford posing with a movie camera. I chose the postcard above because it was a Hollywood glamour shot. The unnamed lady in red is kneeling on the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theater and pointing to the block with Jane Wyman's hand and footprints. Just to the right of Jane Wyman's block is the one for the Ritz Brothers. The Ritz Brothers' footprint ceremony occurred on September 22, 1937 and was immortalized in the video at the end of this post.
When I looked up information about Grauman's Chinese Theater, I discovered that there is an even stronger connection between Mary Pickford and the theater. Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks were part owners of the theater and were the first stars to have their footprints imprinted in the forecourt of the theater on April 30, 1927. The picture below (from the Mann Theatres/Grauman's Chinese Theatre website) shows them practicing for the first footprint ceremony. Sid Grauman is the man kneeling and pointing.
When I looked up information about Grauman's Chinese Theater, I discovered that there is an even stronger connection between Mary Pickford and the theater. Mary Pickford and her husband Douglas Fairbanks were part owners of the theater and were the first stars to have their footprints imprinted in the forecourt of the theater on April 30, 1927. The picture below (from the Mann Theatres/Grauman's Chinese Theatre website) shows them practicing for the first footprint ceremony. Sid Grauman is the man kneeling and pointing.
source: http://www.manntheatres.com/chinese/
The grand opening of Grauman's Chinese Theater was on May 18, 1927. The theater still is the most sought-after theater for Hollywood premieres. Fans gather to watch celebrities arriving and walking up the red carpet to the theater. The latest footprint ceremony was Ceremony #202 on March 28, 2011 (Helen Mirren ceremony video here). The Grauman's court with the footprints is visited by millions of tourists each year.
Below are two more postcards showing the footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theater.
Below are two more postcards showing the footprints at Grauman's Chinese Theater.
I get the feeling that the lady in red is more interested in people looking at her than at the prints! Great video, by the way, of the all-but-forgotten Ritz Bros.
ReplyDeleteWasn't Helen Mirren one of the latest to leave her prints. Great post.
ReplyDeleteA Lovely Post. I wonder why was the first to leave their mark there?
ReplyDeleteLove the postcards of the Chinese Theater. Brings back so many memories of going there as a kid and putting my feet in famous star's footprints. I guess everyone does that.
ReplyDeleteNancy
http://ladiesofthegrove.blogspot.com/
Interesting postcards; I am wondering if all the hand- and footprints are really the ones they claim to be. Anyway it does not really matter, it is fun and a good idea.
ReplyDeleteHelen Mirren was added since I looked at the list a few days ago.
ReplyDeleteI was intrigued to hear of a "Chinese" Theatre being built by someone with a presumably Germanic surname, but I guess it was Chinese only in looks, really.
ReplyDeleteWhat a fun postcards and video/
ReplyDeleteOne of the best "I Love Lucy" episodes is Lucy and Ethel stealing John Wayne's prints from Grauman's.
ReplyDeleteIt is a very fun place to visit, if for no other reason than to watch the tourists.
And the theater is quite nice inside.
have been to Graumans and loved this nostalgia....very neat photos!
ReplyDeleteEnjoyed your post, nice looking model, makes no difference if she wasn't well known....
ReplyDeleteVery interesting - and I think the unnamed lady in red has a certain star quality.
ReplyDeleteVery nice cards.
ReplyDeleteAbsolutely lovely post, and the video is so cool...I love how it begins with the man describing as they take of their racoon coats! Awesome...and just imagine how it feels to have your own spot there! It's always been such a bittersweet tradition until the star gets a spot! I really enjoyed your tribute to Mary and her hubby too! Thanks so much!
ReplyDeleteThe cards are great, but you found so much information! Mary was featured by Alan, and then your post led you back to Mary. On top of that, you showed Shirley Temple's square of all that are there, and I posted about the movie Heidi. What's going on around here, lol?
ReplyDeleteThanks for the wonderful post and all of your hard work.
Happy SS,
Kathy M.
Well done on the research, and I remember the I Love Lucy episode too :-) Jo
ReplyDeleteGreat picture. I love her pose, it looks very uncomfortable.
ReplyDeleteGreat post, very interesting and you have some great postcards, too.
ReplyDeleteIntriguing that there are so many postcards featuring Grauman's on eBay, including yours. Also found one obviously taken in the same "shoot" which features the photographer and the model! here What fun!
ReplyDeleteFascinating background information and, of course, great images. I had never even heard of the Ritz Brothers before so yet again Sepia Saturday adds to my understanding.
ReplyDeletelove their rehearsal pic. i also watched helen mirren's vid. love that actress. always classy!! but i laughed when she had her hands in the cement. the process is not really dignified, is it???
ReplyDelete:D~
HUGZ