Charged with the task of giving Hollywood a face lift in 1958, local artist Oliver Weismuller came up with the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which began with two thousand blank pink stars embedded in the sidewalk on Hollywood Boulevard. The first star to be awarded went to Joanne Woodward in 1960, and since then the Walk of Fame has spilled over into Vine Street with over 2,300 stars awarded.
Featuring the names of celebrities honored by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce for their contributions to the entertainment industry, each five-pointed star also contains an emblem for either film, television, music, radio, or theatre. Gene Autry is the only person to have been awarded a star for each category. The Chamber of Commerce awards about two stars each month. Star ceremonies are open to the public, so visitors strolling the Walk of Fame may enjoy the added bonus of a celebrity encounter.
