Hollywood Walk of Fame

To make it big in Hollywood it’s not just a matter of getting your name up in lights. You need your name set in concrete as well. More accurately, it has to be embedded in brass and set inside a coral-pink, terrazzo five-pointed star.   

The Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of the few sidewalks where pedestrians aren’t in a hurry to get anywhere. Instead, they move slowly and turn their eyes and camera lenses downward to take in film, television and music history.

This glittering stretch of pavement covers 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and a few neighboring streets.

Since 1960, the city has been hailing its achievers with a star-studded slice of sidewalk immortality, a practice that started as a gimmick to lure visitors to an area that was losing its lustre.

The first eight stars included Burt Lancaster and Joanne Woodward. To date, the city has added more than 2,400. Some names have faded from public consciousness while others stand the test of time.

Many stars commemorate people who have worked behind the scenes. Below the name of each honoree, you’ll find one of five symbols representing the part of the entertainment industry where the honoree made his or her contributions: a motion-picture camera, a television set, a radio microphone, a theatrical mask or a music record.

You’ll also notice the stars don’t all face the same way. This design strategy helps visitors walking in both directions easily see them.
 
As you follow the star tracks of your favourite icons, you may find your walk slowed by celebrity impersonators and panhandlers, all competing for your tourist dollars.