PACIFIC + SOUTHWEST. Home Decor / Kitchen Decor, Decorative Tray, Souvenir, c. 1950s.
One of the most famous places to catch a flick in the world and set within the most storied capital of movie-making, the Chinese Theatre was the second foreign-themed movie palace built by theatre mogul Sid Grauman along Hollywood Boulevard. Following the success of his Egyptian Theatre (which opened in 1922) and designed in the “Exotic Revival” style, the ornate exaggerated appearance of the Chinese Theatre made it an immediate landmark. It has remained one of the most famous theatres ever since, being known as Mann’s Chinese Theatre across the late-twentieth century, before its modern incarnation as one of the world’s largest IMAX theatres … This hard plastic serving or barware tray with its signature braided rim was a popular style across the mid-twentieth century. Often seen as city-based souvenirs, they were just as often tied to specific sites, the illustrative and colorful prints a most attractive look. This tray is in superior condition with only the normal amount of scratching and wear on its back. But the front of the tray remains pristine, which is all the better to enjoy the fantastic, if purposefully overdone, architectural detail. Conceived and designed by L.A. architectural firm Meyer & Holler, the theatre aimed at a “palace-style.” With the groundbreaking attended by a huge crowd of era celebrities in 1926, including early movie great Charlie Chaplin, the theatre was completed the following year in time to premier Cecil B. Demille’s “The King of Kings.” The landmark site has hosted an untold number of premieres since, including George Lucas’s original “Star Wars” in 1977. The theatre was listed as a cultural landmark in 1968 and finally added (as in “what were they waiting for?!”) to the National Register in 1984.
Condition: Used Very Good. Local / Regional Attractions. Dimensions: 10.75" diameter x 0.5" deep / 5 oz
