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THE CHINESE THEATRE
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Here's an account of both ceremonies according to the book Hollywood At Your Feet: The Story of the World-Famous Chinese Theatre (available online from Pomagrante Press). (Jean) Harlow's first square contained the inscription "To Sid Grauman - With Sincere Appreciation." Also included were her two footprints (made in high heels), her handprints, and her signature. It is not known whether or not the sqaure contained the date or any other imprints.Harlow placed her prints in a wet cement slab that had been wheeled on to the actual stage of the theatre - the result of Sid's first attempt to have the foot-printing ceremony held inside before a live -- and paying -- audience. This attempt failed, as the cement dried too quickly. While it was being moved, one half was dropped to the floor and smashed into bits in front of the audience. Harlow was honored with another ceremony at the Chinese Theatre four days later. Jean Harlow's second square -- the first one never made it into the forecourt -- is tinted gray and contains the inscription "To Sid -- In Sincere Appreciation." Also included are the date ("Sept-29-33"), her two footprints (made in high heels), two handprints, and her signature, plus three black pennies she embedded in the cement for good luck. The pennies have since been pried out.Harlow agreed to participate in another hand a footprint ceremony so that the new square could replace the block that had been shattered four days earlier when the attempt to hold her ceremony on the stage inside the Chinese Theatre before a ticket-buying audience failed. Unlike the first attempt to record her prints, Harlow's second ceremony took place outside in the forecourt of the theatre before an enthusiastic (and non-paying) crowd. |
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Jean Harlow Ceremony #23: September 25, 1933 |
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Jean Harlow Ceremony #24: September 29, 1933 |
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| The family of cement artist Jean W. Klossner has a different account of this ceremony that is entertaining, but apocryphal. According to the Klossner family, Harlow arrived wearing sandals, shoes not appropriate to leave the desired prints. A search was made among the crowd to find her proper shoes. Klossner's own daughter was present. A Hollywood High School student at the time, she doffed her saddle shoes, and Harlow made her impressions in them. However, photographs of Harlow at both her ceremonies clearly show that her prints were made in high heels. | ||
