Most Tourists Have No Idea About These 11 Hollywood Walk of Fame Facts

There’s More to the Walk of Fame than Names

The Hollywood Walk of Fame travels 15 blocks from Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks through Vine Street. Since 1960, it has honored outstanding achievements in entertainment with over 2,700 stars embedded in the sidewalk.

Around 10 million people pay tribute in five categories: movies, television, radio, recording, and live theatre. Here are some surprising details about this famous landmark that few people know about.

Began With An Idea About Caricatures

The original idea came from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce’s volunteer president E. M. Stuart in 1953 and it wasn’t until January 1956 that an official proposal was submitted to the Los Angeles City Council.

It took a while to settle on a concept and color scheme. Among the renderings put forth were a star that included a caricature of the honoree, planted along brown and blue sidewalks.

Only Four Types of Inductees

Records show that though today there are five categories of inductees, back then in the earlier days, only 4 were sanctioned. That being Motion Pictures, Television, Recording or Music, and Radio.

It wasn’t until 1984 that a category for Theatre/Live Performance was added. To drum up excitement for the endeavor, only eight stars were unveiled (temporarily) to the public on August 15, 1958

Two Lawsuits Delayed Construction

Construction on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was supposed to start soon after the first eight stars were revealed. However, two lawsuits delayed the project.

The first lawsuit came from nearby property owners who were upset about a $1.25 million tax charge for the Walk’s construction.

The second lawsuit was filed by Charlie Chaplin Jr., who asked for $400,000 because his father didn’t receive one, though this was later dismissed in 1960.

How the Star Design Was Created

The stars weren’t always shaped like they are today. The designers first thought about using squares and circles instead of the five-pointed star shape. They chose the current design, a pink star with brass symbols, after testing different materials for six months.

The stars are made from terrazzo—a composite material consisting of chips of marble or granite embedded in cement—and brass.

Anyone Can Nominate a Celebrity

Getting a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame requires more than just talent. While anyone, even a fan, can nominate a celebrity for a star, as long as they have at least five years of experience in their field.

The nominator on the other hand must submit a long list of details, including a letter of agreement from the nominee or their manager.

Cost of Getting a Star on the Walk of Fame

Getting a star requires more than just being famous. In 1980, the fee was just $2,500 to install (equivalent to ~$9,541 today). Today, it costs $75,000 in total, some of which goes to the Hollywood Historic Trust for maintenance.

Usually, the celebrity’s movie studio or fan club pays for the star, though some celebrities pay for it themselves. Even if someone pays the fee, they might not get a star because the selection committee turns down half of all applications each year.

Started With Just a Few Real Stars

Filmmaker Stanley Kramer (director of It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World) was the first honoree to have his star laid on March 28, 1960. Right after, 1,558 stars were installed and assigned to honorees like Walt Disney and Marilyn Monroe.

Tourists often stop to take pictures near the handprints and footprints that sit near the famous Chinese Theatre, while the others are spread out along Hollywood Boulevard.

Theft and Protection of Stars on the Walk of Fame

Though each star weighs as much as a refrigerator (300 pounds (140 kg), some have been stolen, like in 2005, when someone took Gregory Peck’s star from 6100 Hollywood Boulevard using a concrete saw.

And it costs plenty to repair one. For instance, repairing vandalized stars like Donald Trump’s has cost over $9,000 in some cases. Now, the Walk has better security, including cameras watching the stars all day and stronger materials holding them in place.

Plaques Shared by Multiple People

The Apollo 11 astronauts have circular plaques located at the four corners of the Hollywood and Vine intersection honoring Neil Armstrong, Buzz Aldrin, and Michael Collins in the early 1970s after the moon landing.

Several groups share stars on the Walk of Fame, including The Beatles, Fleetwood Mac, The Munchkins from The Wizard of Oz, and fictional characters (e.g., The Simpsons).

Stars Were Removed Due to Construction

In 1994, about 450 stars, including those of celebrities like Elvis Presley, Marilyn Monroe, Walt Disney, Bob Hope, Groucho Marx, Gene Kelly, Arnold Schwarzenegger, and Charles Chaplin, were temporarily removed.

They were stored away for around three years to make room for the construction of two new subway stations on Hollywood Boulevard.

Time Capsules Under the Stars

There’s a time capsule buried underneath the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 2010 to commemorate its 50th anniversary between Hollywood and Highland Avenue.

The time capsule has specific items, such as a script from “Casablanca,” a DVD of Oscar telecasts, and playbills from productions like Wicked and The Lion King. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce manages the time capsule, which will be opened in 2060.