he original Chinese Theatre was commissioned following the success of the nearby Grauman's Egyptian Theatre which opened in 1922. Built by a partnership headed by Sid Grauman over 18 months starting in January 1926 the theatre opened May 18 1927 with the premiere of Cecil B. DeMille's film The King of Kings.3 It has since been home to many premieres including the 1977 launch of George Lucas' Star Wars as well as birthday parties corporate junkets and three Academy Awards ceremonies. Among the theatre's most distinctive features are the concrete blocks set in the forecourt which bear the signatures footprints and handprints of popular motion picture personalities from the 1920s to the present day.