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See pictures, get details about the Hollywood Walk of Fame! Updated January 19, 2008. Related info--- HOME :: Latest News :: Hollywood Attractions :: Kodak Theater and Hollywood & Highland Center :: Grauman's Chinese Theater :: El Capitan Theater :: Disney Soda Fountain :: El Capitan Theater Past Premieres :: The Hollywood Bowl :: Hollywood Walk of Fame/Hollywood Sign :: The Doors Star :: Hollywood Blvd Family Activities :: Hollywood Blvd Costumed Characters Have fun star hunting on theHollywood Walk of Fame!
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a world-famous tribute to outstanding achievements in the fields of theater, music, and radio. Honorees also include those "behind the scenes," such as the producers, directors and music moguls who were the movers and shakers working to bring talented individuals to the attention of the public.
The "Hollywood" sign, a Hollywood landmark even more obviously visible than the Walk of Fame is a second tourist attraction that nearly all visitors to Hollywood, California want to see and experience for themselves. On this page, we'll be talking both about the Hollywood Walk of Fame AND the Hollywood Sign. You can discover fun facts about the history of these landmarks...plus find out the details you need to turn your trip plans into the happy memories you're hoping to look back upon for years to come.
Hollywood Walk of Fame -- History
Though it seems like the Hollywood Walk of Fame has "always been there," its introduction to the Hollywood scene is actually rather recent. The Walk of Fame project was conceived in the late 1950's, and the first actual star-placing ceremony wasn't held until February of 1960. (Who was that lucky first recipient? Paul Newman's wife, Joanne Woodward!)If you've read the other articles in this section, then you already know that Hollywood Boulevard was brand-new and a "white hot attraction" in the 1920's and 1930's. Even during the 1940's, Hollywood Boulevard continued on as a popular theater district...and was even the center for World War II fund-raising efforts and USO shows put on for military personnel by various celebrities. By the 1950's, though, the theaters of Hollywood Blvd were waning in popularity. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce was well aware that their area was no longer a "hot ticket" type of place...and wanted to do something to put Hollywood "back on the map," as the saying goes. That's when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce came up with the "Walk of Fame" idea to boost tourism to the Hollywood Boulevard area...and the plan soon became reality. From my own perspective, I do feel that the Chamber's Walk of Fame idea caught fire quickly after its introduction. No, it didn't restore Hollywood Boulevard to its former glory; that accomplishment just happened in the last decade. But, the Hollywood Walk of Fame did help to put Hollywood, California attractions back on every tourist's "want to do" list. In the early 1960's, I was a young girl growing up in greater Los Angeles. Whenever we had company visiting from out of town, the Hollywood Walk of Fame was an attraction that my parent's guests always wanted to see, quite definitely. The Hollywood Walk of Fame today
Today, the Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremonies continue...and are still one of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce ongoing projects. The years 2006 and 2007 have seen the installation of many interesting new stars on Hollywood Boulevard...and 2008 Walk of Fame ceremonies have already started being held. In general, one or two star-unveiling ceremonies are held each and every month. Therefore, it's quite likely that you'll be able to attend a Walk of Fame ceremony during your vacation to Los Angeles, if you desire!
A list of recent 2007 and 2008 Walk of Fame star recipients makes for interesting reading. If you'd enjoy discovering just who's got a new star, please use the following link to visit the "Recent Walk of Fame Ceremonies" page of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce website.
Each placement of a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame starts out by someone---likely a fan, a fan club or a star's manager---placing an application with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. There are, as you might imagine, an inundation of Walk of Fame star applications made to the Chamber of Commerce. In fact, the Chamber has limited each application period to 60 days per year, to help ease the burden. (If you're interested in making an application, you may use the link I've provided in the next section to get more details at the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce official website.) Every year, under 2 dozen celebrity names are chosen to receive a star. (Most often, the sponsoring individual or group must make an application to the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce several years in a row before their favorite celebrity's name is selected.) Winners each year are spread out among the 5 performance categories honored by the Walk of Fame stars. These are---
Are the recipients of new stars added to the Walk of Fame always living? Once again, the answer is "no." Every year, at least one star is added posthumously to a star who was unlucky enough to have passed to the other side before getting to see his or her Walk of Fame star placed! Each celebrity selected for the Hollywood Walk of Fame must agree to attend the star-unveiling ceremony. (Well, after all, the purpose of the Chamber's Walk of Fame program is to draw visitors to Hollywood...and what better way to draw locals and tourists alike than to offer them the chance to view celebrities?) In addition, a $25,000 fee must be paid by the sponsoring group. This $25,000 goes towards upkeep of the terrazzo-and-brass star throughout its lifetime...and pays for security measures, as well. (Believe it or not, there have actually been a few of the Hollywood Walk of Fame stars stolen! These days, security cameras monitor the Hollywood Boulevard Walk of Fame continually to help guard against theft.) Hollywood Walk of Fame -- Map, List, Directions
The Hollywood Walk of Fame lies along the tourist area of Hollywood Boulevard in Hollywood, California. You actually won't have to go out of your way in order to see much of the Walk of Fame---because it runs right in front of the most popular Hollywood tourist attractions. If you're headed to Grauman's Chinese Theater, the Kodak Theater, the Hollywood and Highland Center, the El Capitan Theater, the Guiness Book of Records, the Hollywood Wax Museum, the Egyptian Theater, the Ripley's Believe It or Not "Odditorium," the Hollywood Museum...and other interesting Hollywood Boulevard attractions, then you can't miss the Walk of Fame. You'll be walking directly on top of it! To get a better idea of where the "Walk of Fame" section of Hollywood Boulevard is located, use the following link to see a Google map to the Hollywood Walk of Fame area of Hollywood, California.
You may use the following link to visit a Hollywood Walk of Fame website which features a
list of Hollywood Walk of Fame addresses of the stars.
Another famous Hollywood landmark -- The Hollywood Sign
What would Hollywood be without its famous "HOLLYWOOD" sign? There would seem to be something glaringly missing!Even though the world-famous Hollywood Sign is true landmark nowadays, it began its "life" as just a real-estate advertising gimmick! In the 1920s, when this section of Los Angeles was being built, its real estate developers erected a sign steering people towards the new construction site, in hopes of selling more homes. And, what a sign it was! The letters were 50 feet high and 30 feet across! Its goal was to advertise homes in the then-brand-new Hollywoodland subdivision. Therefore, originally the sign didn't say "Hollywood"---it said "HOLLYWOODLAND"...just like the name of the housing development. Well, of course, as time passed, the new homes sold out...and the developer just abandoned its maintenance of the sign. For a decade, it sat lonely and unattended. Finally, in 1949, one of the letters of the Hollywoodland sign blew down...and through experiencing sorrow at the letter's loss, the people of Hollywood realized just how much they had grown attached to their distinctive local monument! A restoration project was begun. During this process, the length of the sign was cropped to say just the word "Hollywood"...and the rest is history. Of course, just the one restoration project in 1949 hasn't been enough to keep the Hollywood Sign looking sharp. Several restorations have taken place since that original project. The very latest restoration project was recently accomplished, in 2005 and 2006. The sign went through a thorough cleaning and rust-removal process, and was then coated with an ultra-modern protective paint that should keep the Hollywood Sign looking shiny and white for years to come. Personally, I like to drive up Beeachwood Canyon Drive to view the Hollywood Sign---that's a spot where you can come the closest to the sign by automobile. Sadly to say, though, you can only admire the famous Hollywood Sign from afar. No one is allowed to drive up to the sign or even WALK up to it! (Warning to would-be hikers: the Hollywood Sign has its "no-visitors policy" enforced by security cameras! You may hike in the hills...and get some really good views. But, no, you can't climb onto the sign, pose for pictures on the sign, etc.) But, a drive up Beachwood will give you some good views of the Hollywood Sign, PLUS you'll find other historical things to see in this area. You can see the "gates" of the Hollywoodland subdivision, which are still standing. Plus, you'll the Hollywoodland Realty Co. office. You can admire the fantasy-inspired architecture of the 1920's Hollywoodland homes. These older homes often have rounded, turret-like features and almost remind me of the castle illustrations seen in fairy-tale books! The more-modern homes in the area are delightful to look at, as well. Many of the subdivision's streets are narrow, twisty and winding...which makes for a very interesting drive. (Note: Do you have an extra million or two USD sitting around? Then one of these homes can be yours!)
The Hollywood Sign -- Map, directions, more infoTo learn more about the history of the Hollywood Sign, learn various fun facts and trivia, get a "virtual tour" of the sign, AND see live web cam pictures of the Hollywood Sign, you'll want to visit the sign's official website. (Yes, it has one!) Use the following link, then, to see the Hollywood Sign official website. Are you curious to what happened during the December 2006 Hollywood Sign restoration project?There's even a website available on the internet that will show you all the restoration project photos, and fill you in on all of the project's details. Use the following link to see the website showing photos of the recent restoration project. 
NEXT PAGE OF HOLLYWOOD SECTION ---> Use the button above to take a fun, photo-filled tour of HOLLYWOOD PAGES on this website. Follow the glitzy gold buttons & you'll end up back here at this page! Backwards Links: Back HOME :: Back to top of "Hollywood Walk of Fame/Hollywood Sign" :: Select a different Hollywood attractions page: Hollywood Attractions :: Kodak Theater and Hollywood & Highland Center :: Grauman's Chinese Theater :: El Capitan Theater :: Disney Soda Fountain :: El Capitan Theater Past Premieres :: The Hollywood Bowl :: Hollywood Walk of Fame/Hollywood Sign :: The Doors Star :: Hollywood Blvd Family Activities :: Hollywood Blvd Costumed Characters
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Are recipients of the stars always human beings? Believe it or not, the answer to that question is "No!" Two dogs have stars along the Hollywood Walk of Fame---Lassie and Rin Tin Tin. Also, several animated characters have stars...Mickey Mouse, Donald Duck and Big Bird!
You can view the Hollywood Sign from a number of places in town. If you're at the Hollywood & Highland Center, it can be seen from the upper levels. You'll also be able to view the Hollywood sign quite well from the Griffith Park Observatory.
