QandAs: Buzz

Who decides which stars get a star on the Walk of Fame?

Answer:
The Hollywood Walk of Fame committee meets each

June to review a year worth of nominations and determine which stars will be honored through the course of the next year. Stars are then notified of their selection and a ceremony is planned. Star ceremonies are open to the public.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame stretches along the sidewalk from Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street in Hollywood to La Brea Avenue. More than 2,000 stars comprise the Walk of Fame, which was created in 1958. In the beginning, stars could receive multiple stars for separate performances, but today the Walk tends to honor stars not previously found on the Walk. These days, an average of two celebrities are awarded a star each month.

The Walk of Fame was designated a Historic Landmark in 1978, and millions of tourists visit the Walk of Fame each year to photograph the stars of their favorite celebrities. The first star was awarded to to Joanne Woodward on February 9, 1960. Each star includes the name of the honoree in bronze along with an emblem designating the medium for which the celebrity is being honored. The emblems include a motion picture camer for film, TV set for television, phonograph record for musicians, a microphone for radio and the comedy/tragedy masks for stage acting.

Recent construction around the Walk of Fame has made it necessary to remove certain stars, which are being stored in an undisclosed location until they can be returned to their places on the Walk of Fame. Security cameras watch over the Walk of Fame, but such security measures have not prevented thefts. To date, four stars have been stolen, including those of Jimmy Stewart, Kirk Douglas, Gene Autry and Gregory Peck.

Stolen stars have been replaced, and maintenance of the Walk of Fame is undertaken by the Hollywood Historic Trust.

The most recent honoree was actor Roger Moore, who received his star on Oct. 11, 2007. Moore is best known for starring in seven James Bond films from 1973 to 1985. Moore's star, appropriately, is located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard.