Joanne Woodward Gets First Hollywood Walk of Fame Star

# February 8, 1960: The Hollywood Walk of Fame Receives Its First Star

On February 8, 1960, Hollywood officially began immortalizing its greatest talents in concrete and brass when the first star was placed on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The inaugural honoree? Joanne Woodward, the acclaimed actress who had recently won an Academy Award for her riveting portrayal of a woman with multiple personality disorder in "The Three Faces of Eve" (1957).

What makes this moment particularly delightful is that Woodward wasn't even present for the ceremony! She was busy working on a film, which feels rather appropriate for someone being honored for their dedication to the craft. The star was installed at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, and while eight stars were actually laid that day as a symbolic gesture, Woodward's was designated as the "first" official star of what would become one of the entertainment industry's most recognizable landmarks.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame was the brainchild of E.M. Stuart, who served as the volunteer president of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in 1953. Stuart envisioned creating a monument that would capture Hollywood's golden legacy while also serving the practical purpose of rejuvenating the neighborhood, which had begun to decline in glamour. After years of planning, fundraising, and political wrangling, the project finally came to fruition in 1960.

The original concept called for 1,558 stars to honor performers from five categories: motion pictures, television, radio, recording, and live theatre. Each star would cost approximately $1,250 to install, funded through various means including community donations and sponsorships. The terrazzo and brass stars would be embedded in charcoal-colored terrazzo squares, creating the iconic look we know today.

Woodward's selection as the first honoree was fitting. Beyond her Oscar win, she represented the serious, method-acting approach that was transforming American cinema in the late 1950s. She had studied at the Actors Studio and brought psychological depth to her roles. She was also married to Paul Newman, forming one of Hollywood's most beloved power couples—though Newman would have to wait until 1994 to receive his own star!

The ceremony on that February day was modest compared to the spectacles that Walk of Fame unveilings would later become. There were no massive crowds, no elaborate press conferences. It was simply the beginning of a tradition that would eventually encompass more than 2,700 stars stretching along fifteen blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street.

Today, receiving a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame remains a significant honor, though not without controversy. Recipients (or their sponsors) must pay a $75,000 fee, and the selection process can be mysterious. But none of that diminishes the magic of that first day, when Joanne Woodward's name was permanently etched into Hollywood history, quite literally paving the way for countless others to follow.


Some great Deals https://amzn.to/49SJ3Qs

For more check out http://www.quietplease.ai

This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI