Egyptian Theatre

Egyptian Theatre

In the hazy, golden rays of twilight, beneath the towering queen palms of the peristyle, the entrance to Grauman's Chinese Theatre feels like a portal to Old Hollywood. The Egyptian Revival-style façade, with its hulking columns and sculpted guardian figures, is far removed from the crowded grit of Hollywood Boulevard both literally and figuratively. As host to the first Hollywood movie premiere in 1922, the theater's courtyard is a graceful testament to its red carpet days.

Originally built by Sid Grauman, the Egyptian opened in 1922 just as the movie business was shifting from Los Angeles to Hollywood. The theater's design capitalized on a public fascination with archeological excavations in Egypt, which uncovered King Tut's tomb that same year. In 1927, Grauman left the Egyptian to concentrate on the Chinese Theatre just a few blocks away. Though the Egyptian continued operating through the 1960s, by the 1980s it was in complete disrepair. A $12 million renovation in the 1990s restored its former glory, designated it a historic monument, and opened its doors to the public in December of 1998.

In revamped condition, the Egyptian again rolls out its carpets for A-listers like Nicole Kidman and Robin Williams, who come to discuss their films and bask in the limelight of a true Hollywood relic. As a state-of-the-art cinema, the theater showcases classics, documentaries, and independent films of all eras. The Egyptian is also accessible via private and public tours, which take guests on a historical promenade behind-the-scenes and into theater dressing rooms. These can be combined with a viewing of Forever Hollywood — a documentary narrated by Sharon Stone and including interviews with a slew of celebs — which is a permanent fixture on its screens. What better way to welcome yourself to the movie capital of the world than with a star-studded film at one of its premier theaters?

- Amber Troutman