[dropcap]I[/dropcap]F you happen to be stopping by the TCL Chinese Theatre (formerly and famously known as Grauman’s and later Mann’s) in the future, there is now a cement square bearing the handprints and footprints of Mel Brooks to check out in the theater’s forecourt. You might have to do a double-take upon seeing it, however, because the comedy legend subtly added some humor to his square by leaving 11 fingerprints in it.
Brooks, 88, took part in the time-honored tradition on Monday and stayed true to his silly comedic form by adding a prosthetic finger to his left hand for the occasion. He later stopped by “Conan” to chat and left it on for the interview, getting a big laugh out of O’Brien and the audience.
“I wanted to do something just a little different, I didn’t know what,” Brooks said. “So I got another finger.” He also joked about what unsuspecting tourists might think about that extra digit, to which O’Brien quipped, “He grew up near the nuclear plant.”
Stars have been leaving their handprints at the theater since the 1920s and so far there are nearly 200 people immortalized in cement there. There are several other quirky stones in the collection, such as those displaying imprints of Groucho Marx’s cigar, Betty Grable’s famous legs, the wands of the three main “Harry Potter” movie stars, and even John Barrymore’s face (he was nicknamed “The Great Profile”).
The ceremony was held this week to coincide with Tuesday’s release of Brooks’ classic movie “Young Frankenstein” on Blu-Ray in honor of the film’s 40th anniversary. The movie first premiered in theaters on December 15, 1974 and was nominated for two Oscars. It was later adapted into a musical, which ran from 2007-2009 on Broadway. Brooks, who also happens to be an EGOT, is scheduled to talk about the movie at a screening tonight along with stars Cloris Leachman and Teri Garr and producer Michael Gruskoff.
