Chinese Theater Lacks Name Recognition

I was amused at the to-do about the lack of women’s footprints in the forecourt of the Chinese theater (“More Women at Mann’s?” March 22). What’s really missing is the proud name of the visionary who actually built the place, a master showman who was a founding member of the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences.

Sid Grauman’s name was taken off his showplace and replaced in the ‘70s. The new owner wasted no time in making his mark on the world-renowned theater. He ripped out the trees, filled in the fountains and installed the teeny little plastic signs that whine his name over the majestic flashing neon dragon display marquees.

And if that desecration wasn’t bad enough, the new corporate owners are mulling installing new slabs for Jack Lemmon and Walter Matthau, apparently gleefully unaware that Lemmon is already there.

CARLO PANNO

Tarzana