Rain doesn't dampen spirits on carpet

Gray clouds floated over the red carpet as limousines began delivering early guests to the Kodak Theatre tonight, but the hint of rain didn’t diminish the enthusiasm of spectators on Hollywood Boulevard as the likes of Maggie Gyllenhaal, James McAvoy, Al and Tipper Gore and Melissa Etheridge passed by.

‘‘You can feel the excitement building,’’ said Kyle Wilson, 45, an events planner for a nursing home in San Diego who had been in the bleachers for about eight hours. ‘‘This is when the wait is all worthwhile.’’

Celebrity chef Wolfgang Puck walked the red carpet showing off specialties created for the post-show Governors Ball: Oscar-shaped smoked salmon with caviar, mini-cheeseburgers, and gold-colored desert chocolates shaped like Oscar statues.