Walk of Fame celebrates 60 years

In 1953, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce proposed the idea for the Walk of Fame to "maintain the glory of the community." The Los Angeles City Council gave the green light five years later, but two lawsuits by residents who were being called on to foot the bill for the remodeling delayed the project. Ground was finally broken on February 8, 1960.

The stars were initially awarded in four categories: Film, TV, music and radio. In 1984, the field was expanded to include theater/live performance. Potential candidates must be nominated and have been active in their category for five years to receive a star. The Walk of Fame, with its currently more than 2,500 stars, was named a cultural monument in 1978.

Joanne Woodward is often credited as having received the very first Walk of Fame star, but the Oscar-winning actress was actually only the first to be photographed with her star. The first star, completed on March 28, 1960, honors Stanley Kramer, director of the 1961 film "Judgement at Nuremberg."

Charlie Chaplin, famous worldwide, waited decades for a star. In 1952 the British Hollywood actor was denied re-entry to the US for "un-American activities." Conservatives accused him of being a communist. It wasn't until 1972 that he finally got his star. The comedian, who had meanwhile moved to Switzerland, flew in for the honor but stayed away from the unveiling ceremony after death threats.

Gene Autry, a singer, actor and rodeo performer known as the Singing Cowboy, is the record holder on the Walk of Fame — the only celebrity to have been awarded one star in each of the five categories. His first four stars were laid in the famous sidewalk's opening year, in 1960. Autry appeared in dozens of films and hosted his own TV show.

Donald Trump and Ronald Reagan, a cowboy movie actor, are the two celebrities featured on the Walk of Fame who became US presidents. Trump received his star in 2007 for his role in various TV shows. The star has been vandalized repeatedly. Nominees who accept their sidewalk fame are required to pay $50,000 (€ 45,600), with part going to the Hollywood Historic Trust, which maintains the walk.

This gas-guzzler is the first ever vehicle with a star (2019). Chevy Suburban models have had almost 2,000 appearances in films and TV series over the decades, including in "The Sopranos" and "The Walking Dead." Since 1960 the vehicle has appeared in at least one film every year. The Ford Mustang isn't featured on the Walk of Fame, but is said to have appeared in more than 4,500 movies.

Life as a VIP can be tough: shell out tens of thousands of dollars, only to find they didn't get your name right. In 2010 Julia Louis-Dreyfus' star read "Julia Luis Dreyfus." The actress laughed at the lapse, which was corrected shortly after. It was the second spelling mistake. The first happened in 1993, when Dick van Dyke, of "Mary Poppins" and "Diagnosis: Murder" fame, was spelled "Vandyke."

About 10 million visitors flock to Hollywood Boulevard every year, but there is many a name they seek in vain on the sidewalk. Bruce Springsteen, Clint Eastwood, Prince (above) — all were nominated but did not give their consent. Even superstars like Julia Roberts, George Clooney, Madonna, Brad Pitt and Leonardo DiCaprio are not part of the illustrious circle of Walk of Fame stars.

Muhammad Ali was honored in 2002 after the nominating committee decided to add boxing matches to the list of live performances. The iconic boxer's star is the only one not embedded in the pavement but mounted on a wall. Ali, who converted to Islam in 1975, had made the request because he didn't want people trampling on the name of the Prophet Mohammad.