Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/17784
RIGHT: Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president Leron Gubler kicks off the Walk of Fame's 50th Anniversary celebration. Photo: Bob Freeman RIGHT: Jeff Chandler displays a rendering of what the stars on the Walk of Fame would look like. BELOW: Harry Sugarman (right) at the first installations of the stars on Hollywood Boulevard in 1960 Today, Ana Martinez is the public relations wizard at the Chamber of Commerce (her Twitter account is even called @wofstargirl), and after initially starting out as a page at CBS she moved to the Chamber of Com- merce as receptionist. Six months later she became their publicist, and the rest is history: “People are amazed at the type of job I have, as it is the only one in existence!” Ana’s been keep- Joanne Woodward was one of the original group of eight stars to be placed. She was first to pose for the occasion. unveiling of a star for a Starr – Ringo from The Beatles – near George Harrison’s on Vine Street in front of Capitol Records. John Lennon’s star was moved there recently too, and the plan is that Paul’s star will join them to make up the Fab Four. The original idea for the Walk of Fame came from local property owners who wanted some “glamour and excitement”, though many at the time thought it was a cheesy gimmick. Little did they know that half a century later it would be the #1 attraction in Hollywood and one of the biggest in Los Angeles. Caricatures and other color designs were rejected until eight “test” stars were laid at Hollywood and Highland – the “first” being that of actress Joan Woodward. It was such a success that members of the Hollywood Cham- ber of Commerce celebrated the unveiling of the first “official star” – that of producer Stan- ley Kramer – at Hollywood and Gower in 1960. ing the Walk of Fame in the public eye for nearly 25 years, but the ques- tions she is asked have remained the same: “What is your favorite star, why doesn’t so- and-so have a star, why does so-and-so have a star? It’s constant! But we never bend the rules. One time, Johnny Grant, Chairman of the Walk of Fame committee was offered a car - but of course he said no!” Though the June meeting to decide just who will be receiving stars the next year is super- secret, it’s no long, jury room session of argu- ments, empty pizza boxes and coffee cups: “More like cupcakes my 8 year old made, continues FALL 2010 / DISCOVER HOLLYWOOD 17