How Long Is The Hollywood Walk Of Fame
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, or HCC as they are commonly referred to, is an organization that works with the City of Los Angeles to create and maintain the famous “Walk of Fame” in Hollywood.
The organization was founded back in 1927 when many movie studios built their own walking tours for employees to enjoy. Over time, however, more and more people wanted to join the fun so the HCC was formed to organize it all!
Since then, over 1,400 artists have had their work inscribed onto the 2.5-foot by 0.75-foot bronze plaques located along the sidewalks of Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. These include well known names such as Tom Cruise, Meryl Streep, Angelina Jolie, Lady Gaga, and Justin Bieber just to name a few!
Many more remain anonymous but who doesn't know about Judy Garland or Marilyn Monroe? They both now have a place in history due to the efforts of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.
Definition of the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has been honoring individuals with bronze, silver and gold stars on its walkway since 1927. Since then, it has hosted some famous faces!
The first person to be honored was film director Frank Lloyd Wright. He received a star in front of his former home and studio, now known as the Holly-Woo House. Robert Taylor and William Powell were both given a second star after they died, making them members of the Hollywood Walk of Fames. Other notables include singer Barbra Streisand, actor Johnny Carson, and filmmaker George Lucas (for which he later got an Oscar).
However, not everyone loves the design of the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Some feel that it is too commercialized and expensive for what it is. Many believe that it should honor more than just celebrities, but people who make contributions to the community or culture.
There have also been rumors of vandalism and theft occurring under and around the stars. These are very unfortunate events, but things like this happen every day all over the world! It is important to note that none of these things have happened at the location where a new celebrity will get their own star.
Who gets a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The process for getting a walking movie star is not quick or easy, but it is pretty straightforward. You have to prove that you’ve made an extraordinary contribution to the film industry, and then you must stay in the community while asking people to recognize your achievements.
The organization that administers the stars does some research to see if there are any reported issues with the nominee. If there are no red flags, then they send out applications to get the nomination done!
Most people know that celebrities add luster to the walk by their presence, but some might be surprised to learn just how much money most nominees spend to win a designation.
How to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The process to be honored with a walk-of-fame bronze plaque is very rigorous, as there are many steps involved. Producers Association of America (PAA) has organized these steps into what they call the “Steps To Become An Award Winner”.
The first two steps involve completing an application form and then waiting for approval or denial at either the national or local level. Once you have both received that, then comes the nomination process where people who know you and want to honor your work must submit their nominations on line or through PAA’s website.
Then comes the voting stage where members of the organization vote online or in person to determine if it is worthy of a gold or bronze award. If it receives enough votes, then it moves onto the next round which is the presentation ceremony.
This is when the awards are given out to those who won! So make sure to watch TV shows hosted by the organization to see all of the winners announced.
How many stars are on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce has one set criteria for adding a new member to their prestigious collection. This includes a minimum of 250 words, an introductory paragraph, and a conclusion.
The chamber also requires four pictures and three videos, which can be your own creations or ones you find online. These things must clearly depict what the person is known for and how well they spoke about the community.
Famous faces on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce created the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1927 to celebrate those that have made an impact through their work or achievements. It is run by the not-for-profit organization called the City of Los Angeles Department of Cultural Affairs, which oversees all tourism attractions for the city.
The chamber selects nominees for the walk and then voters determine the winners during an election period. A committee reviews each nominee’s contributions before voting takes place, looking at things like career highlights, humanitarian efforts and cultural significance.
While some may argue about what constitutes a worthy candidate, there is one thing that many agree on - the winner should be celebrated and recognized for his or her contribution to the world.
Many people enjoy walking down the famous path alongside the stars and celebrating these important figures. For others though, it can serve as a source of stress due to the constant attention given to the monuments.
Famous movies on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
Many people are familiar with the famous movie stars that get their own walkway on the Hollywood Boulevard, but what many don’t know is how long some actors have been waiting for theirs!
The process to be accepted as an honorary member of the film industry takes years- it isn't easy! It's not just someone walking up to you saying "Congratulations!" and then leaving you alone either - there are public hearings where anyone can attend and speak about your contribution to the field.
At these events, fans often express opinions or even try to drag things out by talking at length about why the person being honored is no longer popular or significant enough to keep their status. This never works in a celebrity's favor unfortunately!
It's hard to say exactly how much time passes between when a candidate accepts an honor and when they finally receive it, but we do know a few cases where it took several years after the initial announcement before the official red carpet event was given.
Popular genres on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
There are several popular movie genre categories that have been bestowed with a place along the famous walkway in Los Angeles. These include Action, Adventure, Comedy, Horror, Mystery, Romance, Sci-Fi, Superhero, and Thriller.
Action movies typically involve large scale mayhem or dramatic situations set in exotic locales. Examples of action films include The Fast And The Furious, Fight Club, Die Hard, Mission Impossible, Spider-Man, and many more!
Adventure movies often feature characters exploring new environments to find out what mysteries they will encounter. This includes everything from zombies to aliens to mysterious caverns and castles.
Comedies focus on humorous scenes with mostly comedic actors. Some examples of this film genre are The Hangover, Bridesmaids, Anchorman, Get Smart, and so on.
Horror is usually characterized by very dark themes and settings. Many people know these types of stories through things like Psycho, Jumper, Dawn Of The Dead, Saw, etc.
Mystery novels and stories follow detectives as they work to figure out who committed a crime. For example, Crime And Punishment, Clue, To Kill A Mockingbird, Grasshopper, and so on.
Sci-fi books and films contain elements suchas robots, space ships, time travel, and other futuristic technology. Star Trek, Avatar, Mars Attacks!, E.T.
Reasons why the Hollywood Walk of Fame is important
The Hollywood Walk of Fame was created in 1927 to recognize individuals, groups, and contributions to the film industry. It is run by the not-for-profit organization called LA’s Historic Street Visions (HSV).
The HSV works with an appointed artist board that reviews nominees and selects new artists. Then, the selected artist creates a proposal, which includes notes about the nominee and their work. If approved, the artist picks a location for the plaque and completes it then gets paid per the committee vote!
There is no fee to be on the walk, but you do need to fundraise or be sponsored by the community if you want to get a recognition tag. People are assigned a position according to their rank - director, producer, etc. Some people may feel like they don’t deserve such a prestigious placement, so supporting the cause is very meaningful.
Celebrities often contribute to this fundraising process too, making the walk even more impressive. Many have done free interviews, held charity events, or made appearances at tributes for those who passed away. A lot of these things come with money, though, so contributing to the fund is also helpful.