Stepping On Stars: A Stroll Along The Hollywood Walk Of Fame

Some that you recognize, some that you hardly even heard of; People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame, some people who succeeded, and some who suffered in vain..."

- The Kinks, "Celluloid Heroes"

It stretches 18 blocks through the heart of the entertainment capital of the world, honoring the renowned and the unfamiliar with a tribute as prestigious as any Emmy, Grammy or Oscar - bestowed in recognition of life-long achievement and peer appreciation.

Lining Hollywood Boulevard, the Walk of Fame was envisioned in 1958 as a way for the community to acknowledge the artists and craftsmen who exemplified the glamour and image of the show business industry.

Groundbreaking for the expansive landmark took place on February 9,1960 with the first eight stars dedicated to Joanne Woodward, Burt Lancaster, Louise Fazenda, Ronald Coleman, Edward Sedgwick, Olive Borden, Preston Foster and Ernest Torrence.

Making your way along the walk, tucked between such luminaries as Pierce Brosnan, Alfred Hitchcock and Julie Andrews you'll encounter scores of unknowns like Bronco Anderson and Nils Asther, Not household names to be sure, yet significant behind the scenes players who in their own way contributed to the aura and charm of Hollywood.

Being selected to receive one of the bronze, star-shaped plaques set in pink and charcoal terrazzo squares can be an arduous process. Persons who meet the criteria of achievement, professional longevity of five years or more, or significant contribution to the community are reviewed by the Walk of Fame Committee, who select up to fifteen qualified individuals per year.

Beneath each name is a distinctive round emblem signifying one of five categories for which the recipient has been honored - Motion Pictures, Radio, Recording, Television, or Live Theatre.

Prolific celebrities may be awarded multiple times, with legendary singing-cowboy Gene Autry claiming the the most with five stars in each of the above categories.

The selection process also makes for some rather whimsical choices. Game show hosts Alex Trebek, Pat Sajak and Bob Barker have their own stars, as do Big Bird, Pee Wee Herman and Thomas Edison (inventor of motion pictures).

Other off-beat honors have been paid to canine performers Rin Tin Tin and Lassie along with cartoon characters Mickey Mouse, Bugs Bunny, Snow White and the Simpsons.

Devoted fans often place flowers or trinkets upon the star of a favorite celebrity who has just passed away and admirers of John Lennon gather at his star each year to commemorate the anniversary of his death.

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