How It Works

The Black Auditorium.
After you pass through our Hollywood crypt you enter an auditorium that pays tribute to showman Sid Grauman’s first movie palace on Hollywood Blvd, Grauman’s Egyptian Theater. Completed in the days before talking movies, this silent screen palace hosted its Grand Opening with the first-ever Hollywood premiere, “Robin Hood” starring Douglas Fairbanks, on Wednesday October 18, 1922. There are pictures of the theaters opening night on the auditorium’s walls with signs that say “Sid Grauman, Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford Welcome You”. This was one of the first films reputed to have a production cost of over $1,000,000. The admission price to the premiere was $5.00. One could reserve a seat up to two weeks in advance for the daily performances. Evening admission was 75¢, $1.00 or $1.50. The film was not shown in any other Los Angeles area theater during that year. Over three tons of décor were shipped to our theater from overseas to adorn these now sacred walls. Sarcophagus, papyrus, cartouches, scarabs, Tut & Neffretiti, Ramses & Imhotep, Horus, & Anubis, even some mummies from the 20th Century Fox prop department – the ancient gang is all here! (Click on thumbnails to view larger photos)