How do people get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
“As a child, I used to come down here from Burbank on the bus, no adults. In fact, I was young enough to think these were actually gravestones when I first came here. I realised John Wayne wasn’t buried under that or other people,” said Tim Burton recently while receiving his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. His sentiment mirrored that of the thousands who have come before him, as he spoke about how having a star has always been his dream and that he was honoured.
“I used to come down here and visit the Larry Edmunds bookshop and come here and when I found out it was here, I almost started crying because I’ve been coming here ever since I was a little child and the store hasn’t changed at all,” he said, “So for me, it’s such an honour to have a star but also to have it right here in front of this incredible shop, museum, toy shop, everything… I used to spend my life here; thank you so much.”
The Hollywood Walk of Fame is one of the most popular tourist destinations in Los Angeles. The biggest names in the world line the pavement, making up this iconic landmark. It’s a must-see for people visiting the tourists and is something that celebrities everywhere aspire to contribute towards.
If a celebrity has had a star dedicated to them, then it means that they have contributed massively to the entertainment industry. As a result, it’s not just a bunch of celebrity names; it’s a timeline of entertainment made up of all those who have made Hollywood what it is now.
The Walk of Fame was created in 1958 by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce as a landmark that promoted tourism throughout Hollywood. In 1960, stars started being added to the Walk of Fame. Since then, over 2,600 people have been added to the Walk of Fame. It has opened up a number of debates as some people are deemed not to have done enough to be given a star, while others seem to have done a lot but still haven’t been given one. It begs the question, how do people get a star on the Walk of Fame?
So, how do you get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame?
Specific windows open when people can apply to get a star on the Walk of Fame. To apply, people need to submit a fee of $250. Though Hollywood is widely associated with films, there are six different categories people can be nominated for, which include motion pictures, television, radio, recording, live theatre/performance, and sports entertainment.
When people apply (or nominate somebody), they need to include a photo of the nominee, a brief bio of them, their qualifications, a list of their contributions to their community and civic-oriented participation of the nominee and a letter of agreement from the nominee. Once all of this has been filed, the committee will take their time to choose who they would like to have added to the Walk of Fame.
A number of criteria will be considered when the committee decides whether or not to add somebody. These include the nominee’s professional achievement, longevity in their chosen category (they have to have been operating in it for more than five years), contributions to the community, and a guarantee that if the celebrity were admitted, they would turn up to a ceremony. The final category obviously doesn’t apply to posthumous awards, but these do require a two-year waiting period after the person’s death.
This criteria applies to everyone who hopes to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame to ensure that it continues to be a reflection of the very best in entertainment.
