Grauman’s Chinese Theater, Hollywood, 1964
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The photograph, “Grauman’s Chinese Theater” is from the Dick Whittington Studio.
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2020-11-25T08:02:13-08:00
This photograph, by Dick Whittington, shows the Chinese Theater in Hollywood, which is playing Walt Disney’s Mary Poppins. The Man’s Chinese Theater is a historical landmark in Los Angeles, being the most sought-out theater for film premieres since 1922. I find this photo really compelling because my parents have taken me to the Man’s Chinese Theater since I was a child. This photo feels so familiar, but at the same time so unrecognizable. By looking at the details of the photograph, this photo serves as a type of documentary and historical photography. Although the theater still has some recognizable details today, it does look extremely different. In this photo, the theater stands alone. Today, there are buildings behind and next to the theater, surrounding the entire building. Hollywood Boulevard is bustling with people and tourists. In this photo of the theater, it looks almost like a ghost town. You know there has been a change in times by looking at what these people are wearing and the style of the times. They are dressed more formally, wearing dresses and collared tees. Even the Mary Poppins advertisement looks vintage. It is interesting to compare and contrast Hollywood from the 1960s to today. The photographer stood across the street from the theater to fit the entire building in one single photograph. With documentary photography like this, we can discover changes and the urban development of the communities we live in today.
