The Hollywood Walk of Fame is located on Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It is a sidewalk that is embedded with over 2,000 stars that feature the names of celebrities — both real and fictional. The names are chosen by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for contributions made to the entertainment industry. The Walk of Fame is actually maintained and financed by the Hollywood Historic Trust. This star-studded section of sidewalk runs east to west on Hollywood Boulevard all the way from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue, and then north to south on Vine Street between Yucca and Sunset Boulevard. This makes the Walk of Fame nearly three and a half miles of walking distance. Each star that you will see is pink and has five-points, rimmed with bronze and inlaid into a charcoal square. The named honoree may be associated with motion pictures, television, phonograph, broadcast radio or live theater. Just like the Oscars and Emmys, nominations for the Walk of Fame are submitted every year and reviewed by a committee.
The Walk of Fame dates back to 1958. Oliver Weismuller was hired by the city to give Hollywood a bit of a face-lift. Originally, honorees could receive multiple stars for various categories. However, in recent times stars have been reserved for individuals not yet recognized. Out of 2,500 blank stars that were first created in 1958, over 1,500 of those stars were awarded during the first 16 months of the Walk of Fame's history. Now there are over 2,000 stars filled, as the committee has reduced honorary mentions down to two stars per month.
Who are some notable firsts among these Hollywood Walk of Fame stars? The very first star was awarded to Joanne Woodward on February 9, 1960. Gene Autry remains the only celebrity to have ever won five stars in each category. The first celebrity star to be placed in a position other than the ground was Muhammad Ali; his star now is displayed on the wall of the Kodak Theater. The youngest celebrities to accept a star are Britney Spears and Melissa Gilbert, both the age of 21 upon acceptance. Disney became the first company to win a Walk of Fame star, while Judge Judy Sheindlin became the first and only TV judge to ever win a Hollywood star.
Need further proof that the Walk of Fame is a Hollywood legend and piece of American culture? The Walk of Fame won its own honorary award in 1978 as the City of Los Angeles designated the sidewalk as an historic landmark. If you are interested in seeing the real Hollywood on your vacation then make plans to see the Hollywood Walk of Fame. There are several low-costing tours that let you view the sidewalk in all its star-stomped glory. Some of these tours include the Hollywood Double Decker Fun Tour, the Hollywood Behind the Scenes Tour and the Los Angeles City Tour by Night. Walk a mile in a celebrity's shoes with the Hollywood Walk of Fame!
