The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a tribute to the history of the Hollywood Entertainment Industry. The Walk of Fame
honors those people who have made significant contributions to the fields of radio, television, motion pictures, recording
and live theater. The Walk of Fame is a permanent monument of the past, as well as the present and remains one of the
most popular tourist attractions in the country! The Hollywood Walk of Fame continues today as a superior asset
to the city, perpetuating the aura that has made the name Hollywood synonymous with Glamour.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame was envisioned in 1958 as a lasting tribute to the personalities who made Hollywood the "Land
of Dreams." That same year, southern California artist Oliver Weismuller was hired by the city to give Hollywood a "face
lift." Weismuller designed the distinct Walk of Fame star and construction began on 2500 blank stars. Within sixteen
months, 1,558 luminaries were immortalized on The Walk of Fame in one sweeping installation. The initial installation
disrupted the sidewalk and annoyed local shopkeepers, but in the end the entire community was full of pride upon completion
of the project.
The official Hollywood Walk of Fame dedication ceremony was held on February 8, 1960. The very first Walk of Fame
star was awarded to actress Joanne Woodward in a mass dedication ceremony. Woodward and five other celebrities
who received stars on the same northwest corner of Hollywood and Highland Avenue. Included in this 1st ceremony were
silent screen comedienne Louise Fazenda, leading man Burt Lancaster, director Edward Sedgwick, the beautiful actress Olive
Borden, and the versatile actor Preston Foster.
It would be eight years before another star would be added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. On December 11, 1968
producer and studio executive Richard D. Zanuck received his Walk of Fame star in front of the Grauman's Chinese Theater.
Administered by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, The Hollywood Walk of Fame was designated by the City of Los
Angeles as a Cultural/Historic Landmark in 1978. In 1994, more than 2000 of the original stars had been filled and additional
stars were added to extend the Walk of Fame west past Sycamore to La Brea Avenue. The Hollywood Walk of Fame now extends
to the Silver Four Ladies Gazebo.
The Hollywood Walk of Fame continues today through the Hollywood Historic Trust, a self financing entity, that maintains
the quality of the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the historic lure that is Hollywood. Stars are nominated by the public.
A five member committee meets in June of each year and votes to elect a limited number of nominees to recieve stars.
Approximately 20 to 24 stars are added each year to the Walk of Fame, but even at this rate it will take many years to fill
all of them, assuring the continued presence of the Hollywood Walk of Fame in the media. The Hollywood Walk of Fame
remains the most famous sidewalk in the world!
