Thursday, July 26, 2018

Giant at Grauman’s



When I saw this image from December 1956 I just about lost it. The Grauman’s Chinese Theatre marquee for the film “Giant,” starring James Dean, Elizabeth Taylor, and Rock Hudson.



Throw in a vintage bus, Christmas decoration, and cheap parking in Hollywood...what more could a guy ask for?



Here's another vintage shot of Grauman's from 1951.



Looks like “Half Angel” is playing. Starring Loretta Young and Joseph Cotten, this comedy's posters screamed “Confessions of a lady SLEEPWALKER!”



This building is long gone.



Thanks to eagle-eye reader Ken for reminding me that "this building" was the Hollywood Hotel.



See more Grauman’s photos at my main website.

4 comments:

beachgal said...

I remember going to see Giant there. Elizabeth and Rock's footprints were new then in the forecourt.

Nanook said...

I don't think I've ever seen an image of Grauman's from when "Giant" was playing there. This image is a beauty.

And what a good eye discerning that "Half Angel" poster-! And as "Half Angel" only played for one week there - it turns out we can date the image even further, as being from sometime between Friday, May 11, 1951 - Thursday, May 17, 1951.

Daveland said...

Nanook you are awesome! Thanks for the date info!

Chuck said...

Aside from the Hollywood Hotel, there's something else that's in the 1951 photo that's not in the 1956 image - overhead wires for Pacific Electric Streetcars. The last "Red Car" rumbled down Hollywood Boulevard on 26 Sep 1954. Ahhh, progress...

Note the Flxible VL100 Vista Cruiser on the right with a couple of 1950, 1951, or 1952 Plymouths parked behind it in the 1956 photo. I'll take one of each, please.

Great find, Dave! Thanks for sharing it with us!