RIP Walter Grauman

[Trevor]

I only found out this morning that the director of 633 Squadron and the terrifying Crowhaven Farm passed away in March this year: the dude was 93! RIP, Mr G and thank you for scaring the *beep* out of me when I was a kid!*

*But hugs and rest well.  

[akiratubo]

Oh, wow!  I remember seeing that on TV once when I was little.  It was definitely creepy.  I need to track it down and give it a watch.

[BoyScoutKevin]

I knew the last name was familiar.

Walter's father's 1st cousin was Hollywood showman Sid Grauman, who built both the Chinese and the Egyptian theaters in Hollywood in the 1920's. While the Chinese Theater has under gone a number of name changes . . .

Grauman's Chinese Theater
Mann's Chinese Theater
and now TCL Chinese Theater.

Both are still in use today as film theaters.  Film festivals being shown at the Egyptian by the American Cinematheque, while the Chinese is probably best known for the handprints and footprints of the stars that still can be seen in the forecourt of the theater. Both theaters also being on the list of L.A.'s Historical and Cultural Monuments.

And as proof that you can take the family out of the theater, but not the theater out of the family, Walter's father also owned a number of film theaters. This in Milwaukee (Wisconsin.)

A veteran of WWII, Walter survived over 50 flights in the skies over Europe, as a pilot with the USAAF. For which service he was awarded the Distinguished Flying Cross.

R.I.P. Walt. You will be missed.