Glittering Stars in Hollywood

Today the Hollywood Walk of Fame consists of over 2,690 five-pointed terrazzo and brass stars that have been embedded in the sidewalk. The sidewalk stretches for 15 blocks along Hollywood Boulevard and for three blocks of Vine Street in Hollywood, California.

Before the Hollywood Walk of Fame became a reality it started off as a marketing tactic by the Chamber of Commerce. Today it has become one of the most famous tourist attractions in Los Angeles. There were more stars added and among them was my favorite, Minnie Mouse.

The idea dawned in 1953 before any construction began. The Los Angeles City Council got the actual proposal in 1956. Some of the ideas that came were adding caricatures of the stars beside brown and blue sidewalks. Today there are five categories of inductees but in the past, there were only four – Motion Pictures, TV, Music or Recording and Radio. Then in 1984, the category for Theater/Live Performance was added.

On August 15, 1958, the public got a sneak peek which included eight stars for – Olive Borden, Ronald Coleman, Louise Fazenda, Preston Foster, Burt Lancaster, Edward Sedgwick, Ernest Torrence and Joanne Woodward.

I know many of you just like me are now thinking who about many of these old-time stars so let me clarify things about the least known names:

Olive Borden was an American film and stage actress during the silent movie era. Her nickname was “The Joy Girl”.

Ronald Colman was an English-born actor who emigrated to the U.S.

Louise Fazenda was part of the comedy silent movies.

Preston Foster was a multi-talented American actor of film, stage, TV, radio and also as a vocalist.

Edward Sedgwick was an American director, producer, writer and actor.

Ernest Torrence was a Scottish film character actor who appeared in different Hollywood movies.

Most of you should recognize the two best-known names Joanne Woodward and Burt Lancaster.

The Price You Pay

When it was time for constructing the Hollywood Walk of Fame the prices were quite steep. In stepped Charlie Chaplin Jr. demanding $400,000 in damages just because his famous dad was not chosen as an honoree. The courts dismissed the case in 1960 and Charlie Chaplin got his star in 1972 as well as an honorary Oscar.

Construction on the walk began on February 8, 1960, and when it was done on March 28, 1960, Director Stanley Kramer was the first to get a star. He directed such movies as “The Defiant Ones” and “Judgment at Nuremberg” among others.

Most of the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame belong to movies stars. In 2002 they decided that boxing was a live performance so Muhammad Ali got his star. His star is the only one that no one can step on. He chose to have it installed on the wall of the Dolby Theater. The athlete made this choice because in his opinion he did not want people who did not respect him to step on his star.

No matter who you are famous or not or just a fan you can nominate someone for a star to be installed on the Walk of Fame. The only catch is that your nominated star or their manager must agree to have his or her own star expressed by a Letter of Agreement.

The stars in the sky might have no price tag but the stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame come with a hefty price tag. Of course, the money might not matter to the owner of the star but nevertheless, it has to be paid. Each star is made of terrazzo and brass and to create, install and maintain a star the cost is $40,000.

Each year there are 24 nominees for stars and one of them is given posthumously. In order to honor, the deceased with a star he or she must have been dead for at least five years.

Multiple and Stolen Stars

On the Hollywood Walk of Fame when a star is to be unveiled the person who is to be honored must be in attendance. There was an exception to this rule and that was well-known actress and singer Barbara Streisand. She was not present when her star was unveiled in 1976 because she was not comfortable around large crowds. Might I ask what is wrong with this statement? It must mean that when she performs the crowds can be in front of her but not too close and not surrounding her.

However, in 1996 when her husband James Brolin’s star was unveiled she was there to support him. Here, I have a sad smile on my face because I can say that when my late husband was alive I could go anywhere and do almost anything as long as he was by my side and I could hold his hand.

When two new subway stations were being constructed in 1994 it meant removing about 450 stars. These were packed up and put into storage for three years until construction was complete. I guess the more popular you are the more you are cherished. Since multiple stars are allowed Roy Rogers, Mickey Rooney, Bob Hope and Tony Martin each have a total of four in individual categories.

Others have three among them Dean Martin, Bing Crosby, Frank Sinatra and Jack Benny. Legendary Gene Autry an American singer, songwriter, actor, musician, rodeo performer, who was known as a singing cowboy has a star in all five of the Walk of Fame categories.

Then there are those who have the same name but are not one and the same. In 1960 silent film actor Harrison Ford got his star and in 2003 Harrison “Hans Solo” Ford got his. In 1984 both radio personality Michael Jackson and Michael Jackson the King of Pop got their stars. Unfortunately when in 2009 the King of Pop died a large crowd of fans gathered around the wrong star.

On the Hollywood Walk of Fame, you’ll find 16 fictional celebrities with Mickey Mouse being the first to get a star in 1978. Finally, his wife Minnie gets her star. . The others are Bugs Bunny, Snow White, Woody Woodpecker, Big Bird, The Simpsons, Rugrats, Kermit the Frog, Donald Duck, Godzilla, Winnie the Pooh, The Munchkins, Shrek, Tinker Bell, The Muppets and Snoopy. It is interesting to note that Kermit the Frog and Big Bird actually have two stars each.

Meanwhile, fans have been busy and in 2005 Gregory Peck became the fourth celebrity to have his star stolen. It was replaced but the original was never found. It makes one think about what that person did with the star. Other stars stolen have been those of Jimmy Stewart and Kirk Douglas and later found at the house of a construction worker. Gene Autry had one stolen but with a total of five, he had four to spare.