Hollywood’s Walk of Fame at 50 – Bright As Ever

Hollywood’s Walk of Fame at 50 – Bright As Ever

Hollywood’s iconic Walk of Fame, that star-strewn stretch along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine, celebrated its golden anniversary in 2010. For the past 50 years, fans from around the world have been drawn to the Walk of Fame — clutching maps, heads bent downward, scouring the pavement for the brass and terrazzo stars of their favorite entertainers.

Since its inception in 1960 (actress Joanne Woodward and producer-director Stanley Kramer were in that first group of honorees), the Walk of Fame has grown to some 2,400 stars. Stars are awarded in six categories: film, TV, radio, music, live performance, and a “special” category that encompasses events or companies that have risen to star status (the 1969 Apollo moon landing, for example). A bit of trivia: The performer with the most stars is America’s “Singing Cowboy” Gene Autry, whose five stars honor his success as a singer, radio personality, film and television actor, and live performer.

For more Tinseltown trivia and star-studded lore, take Red Line Tours’ “Hollywood Behind-the-Scenes” tour. Each guided, narrated excursion covers not only the stars on the Walk of Fame but also nearby landmarks, including the Kodak Theatre (home of the Oscars). Starline Tours’ Movie Stars’ Homes Tour departs from Grauman’s Chinese Theatre on the Walk of Fame and then shuttles riders on a narrated tour of celebrity mansions, Rodeo Drive and the world-famous Hollywood sign. And all your favorite stars of screen and stage will patiently pose for photos at Madame Tussauds Hollywood, whose front door opens directly onto the Walk of Fame.

Happily, the Walk of Fame isn’t reserved exclusively for the entertainment royalty of yesteryear. Each year, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce ushers in a new crop of 15-20 deserving luminaries. 2011’s honorees include Oprah Winfrey, Danny DeVito, Penelope Cruz, Sissy Spacek and Tina Fey.

Grauman's Chinese Theatre