'Black Panther' is mainly comprised of black actors
Marilyn Monroe and Jane Russell put their handprints in wet cement at Grauman's Chinese Theatre to promote their latest film, 'Gentlemen Prefer Blondes,' in June 1953.
Ava Gardner steps out onto wet cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in October 1952, around the time she made 'Lone Star' with Clark Gable.
Kirk Douglas, in obvious high spirits, puts his hands in the cement in front of Grauman's Chinese Theater in November 1962. He'd just made 'Lonely Are the Brave,' one of his favorite films.
Peter Sellers was costarring in Stanley Kubrick's 'Dr. Strangelove' (1964) when he visited the theater later that same year. His then-wife, Swedish actress Britt Ekland, was on hand to help the British actor become immortalized in cement.
Sidney Poitier kneels to make handprints in the wet cement during his visit to the famous Hollywood landmark in 1965. That year the actor had appeared in 'The Greatest Story Ever Told.'
The "King of Cool" Steve McQueen, with his then-wife Nelle at his side, displays his palms after dipping his hands in the cement. It was March 1967 and his latest movie was 'The Sand Pebbles' (1966).
Jack Nicholson kneels down and signs his name in wet cement next to his hand and foot imprints in June 1974, the same year 'Chinatown' was released.
The "Man with No Name" signs his autograph in cement next to his handprints on the theater forecourt in August 1984. Eastwood was seen in two films that year, 'Tightrope' and 'City Heat.'
Judy Garland leaves her hand and footprints in cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in October 1939, the year 'The Wizard of Oz' was released. Lending support is actor Mickey Rooney. The pair starred in 10 films together over an 11-year period.
Singing cowboy Roy Rogers (second from right, foreground) and his famous Palomino stallion, "Trigger," are immortalized together outside the theater in April 1949. At left is Rogers' wife, Dale Evans (1912–2001). Sid Grauman is seen fourth from right in background.
Italian opera and screen star Ezio Pinza (1892–1957) shoves Jimmy Durante's nose into wet concrete at Hollywood's Grauman's Chinese Theater, as the "schnozzola," the nickname given to Durante's oversized nose, gets set for posterity in January 1953.
Rock Hudson dries the hands of actress Elizabeth Taylor after her handprint and footprint ceremony outside the theater in September 1956. That same year the pair had costarred in 'Giant,' along with James Dean.
Hollywood's "Blonde Bombshell" Jean Harlow is lent some assistance as she dips her toes in wet cement inside the theater (some of the early ceremonies were conducted on the interior stage). It was 1933, and Harlow had just completed 'Bombshell.'
John Wayne in stetson is aided by Marine Pvt. Inga Boberg (left) and the theater's founder, Sid Grauman (1879–1950), as he puts his foot into the cement in the court of the famed Grauman's Chinese Theater in January 1950, the year 'Rio Grande' was released, a Western directed by John Ford.
Bing Crosby appears somewhat self-conscious posing for the cameras after signing his signature and making handprints in the cement on the theater forecourt in April 1936. He made three musical pictures that year, including 'Pennies from Heaven,' which features Louis Armstrong in a supporting role.
In May 1984 when this photograph was taken, George Lucas (right) and Steven Spielberg were responsible for the six most popular films of all time, movies that included 'Star Wars' (1977) and 'Raiders of the Lost Ark' (1981). The filmmakers are seen placing their hands and feet in cement outside the theater.
John Travolta giving the thumbs up, surrounded by photographers, as he's about to be immortalized in cement. It was June 1980, the year 'Urban Cowboy' was made.
"Old Blue Eyes," hands covered in wet cement, looks like he's thanking his lucky stars after the ceremony in Hollywood, which took place in July 1965.
Olivia de Havilland, pictured here in December 1952, was celebrating 17 years in the movie business when she was invited to leave her mark in Grauman's forecourt.
Paul Newman and his wife Joanne Woodward make a fine double act as they become the 140th and 141st stars to be honored with foot and handprints outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre in May 1963.
Italian actress Sophia Loren was in Hollywood in July 1962 to dip her hands and feet in the famous Grauman's cement.
Betty Grable, whose legs were insured by her studio for US$1 million as a publicity stunt, has her shapely pins embedded in wet cement in July 1943, assisted by a soldier, a sailor, and a marine. During the Second World War, Grable was celebrated as much for her pinup girl status as her film career.
Gregory Peck and Ann Baxter take turns placing their feet in wet cement in the forecourt of the famed Grauman's Chinese Theater in December 1949. Looking on is Sid Grauman, who started his collection of concrete celebrity in-prints in the late 1920s.
In August 1950, Bette Davis stepped into the cement, aided by a uniformed guard of honor. She'd just made 'All About Eve' (1950).
Alan Ladd is perhaps best known for Western movies, particularly 'Shane' (1953). Here he is in May of the following year outside Grauman's with his wife, actress Sue Carol (1906–1982), and children David and Alana.
In 1923, silent movie star Marion Davies was the biggest female box-office star in Hollywood, known for a string of successful films, including 'Little Old New York' (1923). She was among the first to have her handprints and signature set in cement outside Grauman's Chinese Theatre, in May 1929.
Applauded for his swashbuckler roles and romantic leads, Tyrone Power clings onto actress Loretta Young, who appeared alongside him in several movies, including 'Suez' (1938), as he gets his footprint set in concrete in January 1937.
Hayley Mills plants her hands in the forecourt of Grauman's Chinese Theatre in February 1964 as her parents, British actor John Mills (1908–2005) and writer Mary Mills (1911–2005) look on. Mary Mills' novel, 'Whistle Down the Wind,' was adapted as a 1961 film, starring a teenaged Hayley.
And the tradition continues! In 2019, Scarlett Johansson reprised her role as Black Widow in 'Avengers: Endgame,' which is currently the highest-grossing film of all time. As if to celebrate the milestone, she's seen here, hands daubed in cement, outside what today is known as the TCL Chinese Theatre IMAX forecourt, in April 2019.
Sources: (The National News) (Legacy) (Box Office Mojo)
See also: Vintage celebrity autograph signings
Ever since American showman Sid Grauman created his famous Chinese Theatre in 1927 and classic Hollywood films stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford accidentally stepped in wet cement outside the brand new building, cinema's finest have been leaving their handprints, footprints, and signatures in concrete on the forecourt. The tradition continues to this day, but it's the ceremony's early years captured in photographs that are especially poignant and which perfectly convey the glamour and glitz of Tinseltown's golden years. Click through and see the stars set in stone!
Charlton Heston smiles for photographers as he signs his name in cement. The summer 1962 ceremony served in part to promote his latest film, 'El Cid' (1961).
Celebrities at Grauman's Chinese Theatre
Star names set in stone in Hollywood
CELEBRITY Hollywood
Ever since American showman Sid Grauman created his famous Chinese Theatre in 1927 and classic Hollywood films stars Douglas Fairbanks and Mary Pickford accidentally stepped in wet cement outside the brand new building, cinema's finest have been leaving their handprints, footprints, and signatures in concrete on the forecourt. The tradition continues to this day, but it's the ceremony's early years captured in photographs that are especially poignant and which perfectly convey the glamour and glitz of Tinseltown's golden years. Click through and see the stars set in stone!