Bone up, and study hard, and you might arrive at TCL Chinese Theatre knowing every actor who has left hand- and footprints in the cement of the landmark cinema's forecourt.
Because being obsessed with Tinseltown isn't just enjoying the entertainment; fans get up inside the numbers, numbers that include how many performers have multiple Oscar nominations and what venues the Academy Awards ceremonies have taken place inside and stats, stats, stats of the starriest kind.
If this is you, then hang onto your Hollywood-loving self: The movie palace that out-movie palaces all other movie palaces everywhere is adding an Oscar-historical dimension to its current VIP Theatre Tour, a walk-around that runs multiple times each hour most every day of the week.
Why the Oscar-focused additions to the tour, beyond that it is That Time of the Year? The stately venue at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard served as the home of the Academy Awards for three years running. (And, of course dear movie buff, you know that they were consecutive years. Say it with us now: 1944, 1945, and 1946.)
By the by, the 1927 theater was the first theater to host the Oscars. And yes, you're right — its neighbor the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel had already performed the honors.
Other Oscar tidbits will fill the tour, include those Best Picture winners that had their premieres at the TCL Chinese. What's that? Did you just blurt out "Titanic" and "The Artist"? You smartie, you're totally correct, but there are others.
And to round it all out: ballots, of course. That Time of the Year here in LA is positively ballot-brimful, with everyone wanting to weigh in, so you'll get your chance to guess/pick what might win. The ballots will be available to forecourt visitors and tour goers alike, and there shall be a drawing for movie passes and such, after the ballot results are announced on Feb. 17.
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But will you be the ultimate winner when you arrive at your friend's Oscar-viewing party on Feb. 22 full of recently acquired knowledge about the ceremony and its ties to the TCL Chinese Theatre? C'mon, that's part of the party: Who knows the most about movies. Better up your game at a certain lore-filled landmark at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard.
