LOS ANGELES — As throngs of tourists swarm to Los Angeles’ revered Hollywood and Highland complex to check out the popular celebrity imprint and autograph attraction, one thing will be missing for them to do.
The TCL Chinese Theatre, formally known as Grauman’s, will be closed because it’s getting an overdo makeover.
The infamous LA hotspot for moviegoers is about to undergo an internal transformation that will turn the iconic auditorium into an updated modern theater with cutting-edge technology.
IMAX announced a partnership with the venue on Friday and revealed they will launch a redesign of the building for the first time in 85 years.
The theater will soon have 986 chairs, making it the world’s largest IMAX theater in terms of capacity.
“As we embark on our much-anticipated renovation of the TCL Chinese Theatre, IMAX will play a key role in rejuvenating this historical landmark,” Alwyn Hight Kushner, TCL Chinese Theatre President and C.O.O. stated in a press release.
“We believe that IMAX’s unparalleled entertainment technology, coupled with its blockbuster portfolio of films, will usher in a new era of movie-going at our famed theater that will strengthen our business by delivering a premium viewing experience for our guests,” he said.
The theater has long been celebrated by Hollywood’s elite since its grand opening in the late 1920s and is the home of the exclusive club known as the Forecourt to the stars. This is where a select few are invited to participate in the handprint and footprint ceremonies, which allows them to leave their mark on Tinseltown forever.
The revamp will begin May 1, and the theater will be closed during construction. However, it will reopen for business by late summer.