10 Fun Facts about the Hollywood Walk of Fame! It’s a gift from the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce and it’s one of Hollywood’s greatest tourist attractions! That’s right, we’re talking about the famous Hollywood Walk of Fame with all those big silver stars on the sidewalks along both sides of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. Here are 10 Fun Facts about the Hollywood Walk of Fame that you may not know: 1. The first star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame was dedicated to legendary cowboy actor William S. Hart in 1927. 2.
1) Only 31 percent of stars are women
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce acknowledges that only 18 percent of working film writers and directors are women, but less than one-third (31 percent) of celebrities given stars on the Walk of Fame are women. This includes producers, directors, costume designers, cinematographers and more. So why aren’t more women represented? The answer to that question is a complicated one. Some have speculated that it could be because there is still a very real glass ceiling for women in film and television.
2) The Walk started in 1958 with 1,595 names
Inspired by a similar sidewalk in New York City, Sid Grauman (who owned several theaters on Hollywood Boulevard) got City Council approval to create a star walk along Hollywood Boulevard. The first stars were unveiled in 1958, at a ceremony attended by over 300 people and covered by all three major Los Angeles newspapers. Since then, more than 2,400 people have been honored with stars—that’s 14% of those who’ve ever appeared in films!
3) New names are added twice a year
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce selects new celebrities to receive stars in even-numbered years. The stars are installed in odd-numbered years, with more than one being installed on the same day. For example, 24 names were added in 2016.
4) Over 2,400 stars have been added since 2004
In 2004, there were around 2,400 stars on The Hollywood Walk of Fame. Today, there are nearly 2,800 stars. Over 10 years, that’s nearly 600 new stars being added to The Hollywood Walk of Fame each year. Currently, there is enough room on The Hollywood Walk of Fame for over 24,000 more honorees.
5) There are more than 2,600 stars on the walk today
1,558 are in recognition of contributions in the field of motion pictures; 672 acknowledge achievements in television, radio and live performance. There is one star each for recording and posthumous awards.
6) The newest star is posthumous – Dolores del Rio (2017)
The newest posthumous star will be added to the Hollywood Walk of Fame on December 12, 2017. Her daughter Ana del Rio-Bachmann told E! News: She did so much in film, stage and television that it was only fitting that her name and work were immortalized on one of America’s most beloved streets. The Mexican actress is best known for her performance in Around The World In 80 Days (1956). She died in 1983 at age 81.
7) There are multiple types of stars and each symbolizes something different
When people are asked what they know about the walk of fame, most people immediately say that it’s where celebrities go to see their name in gold. And while that is partly true, there are some very interesting facts you may not know. The different types of stars include: Live performances, Motion pictures/Television, Recording, Radio broadcast and Video games. Each star represents a different industry and has its own area on Hollywood Boulevard.
8) The largest star is for Gene Autry – 7 feet tall and 138 pounds
The star for Western singing cowboy Gene Autry is a whopping 7 feet tall and 138 pounds. The largest star belongs to Gene Autry, at 7′ 1 and 138 pounds. The heart-shaped pink terrazzo star was dedicated on February 8, 1960 and also holds his name in gold lettering. It is located at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard. (Source: Gene Autry Star On The Walk Of Fame. Retrieved 10/28/2010.)
9) The smallest star is Vin Scully’s which measures 12 inches wide by 12 inches high
Most stars on The Hollywood Walk of Fame are around 6 to 8 inches wide by 6 to 8 inches high. However, Vin Scully’s star is only 12 inches wide by 12 inches high. He earned his in 2008. It may be small, but it’s still a big honor for one of sports’ best-known announcers and announcers across all fields.
10) A star costs $30,000 to create but over $1 million per year to maintain
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce pays for all upkeep to stars. The average cost to maintain one star per year is $30,000 and it takes nearly $40,000 just to replace one star with another one. These costs make a walk along Vine Street a very expensive affair indeed. You could buy over 50 years worth of hamburgers from McDonald’s for what it would cost you to have just two stars on your sidewalk! Perhaps Ronald should get in on that business too…?