Footprint Ceremonies at Grauman's Chinese Theatre

Grauman's Chinese Theatre is a popular stop for Hollywood tourists. Everyone likes seeing the hand and footprints of Hollywood idols in the forecourt, and many like to compare their own hands and feet to the prints. The tradition started in 1927, when then-superstars Mary Pickford and Douglas Fairbanks created the first of more than 200 prints.

Empty spaces are getting scarce these days, but a few times a year, a new star gets their shot at cement-imprinted fame. The ceremonies are open to the public, and if one is scheduled during your visit, it's well worth planning the rest of your activities around it.

Ceremony Schedule

Ceremonies are infrequent, reserved for the biggest of stars and usually scheduled around a new movie release. One of the best sources for schedules is Seeing Stars.

These events are definitely set up for the media, and you will probably not be able to see the ceremony itself very well. However, if you're in a decent spot, you will get to see the celebrity being honored as well as their friends who come to say nice things about them.

Footprint Ceremony Tips

If you go, these hints will help you enjoy the ceremony:

• Arrive early. The more fans a star has, the earlier. For Anthony Hopkins, people were three deep 45 minutes before the scheduled start, but the Tom Cruise crowd was so big that organizers started the ceremony early before it got out of control.

• Taking photographs can be difficult, even if you arrive early enough to get a place in the front of the crowd. While you're waiting, be sure your camera is set up for the lighting conditions and ready to go with plenty of media and fully-charged batteries. Take lots of pictures and hope a few of them turn out. If you have a digital camera, use its highest resolution setting so you can crop out the important subjects later.

• The press will get the best view of the event. The best place for everyone else to stand will depend on the setup. Check out the layout and try to find a spot with an unobstructed view.

• The cement is covered to cure after the ceremony, so don't plan to get a peek right away.

• If no footprint ceremonies are scheduled during your visit, you might also enjoy a star ceremony on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which happen more often.

Getting to Grauman's Chinese Theater

Grauman's Chinese Theater
6925 Hollywood Boulevard
Hollywood, CA
(323) 463-9576
Grauman's Chinese Theater Website

Grauman's Chinese Theater is at the northeast corner of Hollywood Boulevard and Orange Drive. From US 101, take the Highland Avenue exit and go south. The Hollywood and Highland parking lot is most convenient. The entrance is on the right about half a mile down the hill.

The Los Angeles MTA (Metro Transit Authority) Red Line Hollywood and Highland stop is just steps away.