Famous Paving - The Hollywood Walk of Fame

The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches along 15 blocks of the Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks on adjacent Vine Street. It is a pavement comprised of more than 2500 stars each inscribed with the name of someone who has made a contribution to cinema, radio, theatre, or the recording industry. 

The idea was conceived in the late 1950s as an attempt to draw more tourists onto the Hollywood Boulevard. A list of 1558 celebrities was drawn up and a sample of eight stars were commissioned to be cast in Terrazzo and Brass. The famous charcoal and coral colour scheme was settled on - but the project nearly faltered before the first slab was laid. 

Two lawsuits delayed the project. The first was brought by local businesses who were angry at the $1.25million tax levy that they were being forced to pay for the installation. The second was brought by Charles Chaplin Jr, son of the silent movie star, who was angry at his father’s exclusion. It seems astonishing when glancing through the list of stars that were included, many of whom have faded into obscurity, that the man who would come to represent the silent era of cinema did not make the grade. However, this was the 1950s, the height of the Red Scare and Chaplin’s left-leaning principles, now largely forgotten, were still controversial. He was finally awarded a star in 1972.

Over the decades since, many more stars have been added. Some with only tenuous links to the world of entertainment. The Apollo 11 astronauts each have a ‘moon’ instead of a star, and are included for services to Television! There has also been some natural erosion (and some vandalism). In 2008 a project to restore the Hollywood Walk of Fame was initiated. 778 stars were listed as in need of replacement and a budget of $4.5million dollars raised to do the work. We would happily put in a bid for that contract!

Perhaps you would like to install your own ‘walk of fame’ or maybe you are inspired by the coral and charcoal colour scheme of the Hollywood Boulevard? For more information on all paving work, pathways, driveways and patios, give us a call on 01603 360548.