On Hollywood Boulevard: from Gower Street to La Brea Avenue, and on Vine Street: from Yucca Street to Sunset Boulevard.

T he lyrics of "Celluloid Heroes"*, a song by The Kinks, tell us:

"You can see all the stars as you walk down Hollywood Blvd "

Well, most days you are unlikely to see any real movie stars here on the Boulevard, but if you look down at your feet, you'll see the kind "stars" Ray Davies sang about: the bronze star-plaques, embedded in pink & charcoal terrazzo squares on the world's most famous sidewalk: the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

T hese renowned sidewalk "stars" salute the celebrities who made Hollywood great - from the silent film stars of yesteryear to the modern action heroes of today's blockbusters. As the song says, you'll see the names of:

"...Some that you recognize, some that you hardly even heard of; People who worked and suffered and struggled for fame, Some who succeeded, and some who suffered in vain..." *

These sidewalk "stars" honor not only movie actors, but radio, TV, & stage performers, directors, singers, songwriters, and other well-known show-biz personalities.

Right below the name of each celebrity on the five-pointed stars is a small, round emblem which illustrates the celebrity's category, with one of five symbols: a motion picture camera (for movie stars & directors), a television set (for those in the television industry), a phonograph record (for singers, songwriters, and recording artists), a radio microphone (for radio luminaries), and the twin theatrical masks of comedy & tragedy (for live stage performers).

T he celebrity with the most "stars" on the Hollywood Walk of Fame is singing-cowboy Gene Autry, who earned five different "stars," one in each of the above categories. His five stars are located at 6644, 6520, 6384, 6667, and 7000 Hollywood Boulevard,

While the limited space at the Grauman's Chinese Theatre forecourt is precious, and is reserved for true Hollywood royalty, one needn't be a superstar to earn a "star" here on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The Walk started out in 1960 with over 2,500 "stars,", 948 of which were blank, and 1,558 of which were dedicated to past Hollywood greats. About 2,400 of the stars have been dedicated so far - with more being added recently to the Walk's west end. "Stars" on the Walk of Fame have been awarded to minor TV personalities, local radio deejays, animated characters, and even to two dogs: Lassie and Rin Tin Tin.

The selection process is sometimes confusing. Game show host Bob Barker has a "star." So does Pat Sajak (host of "Wheel of Fortune") and Thomas Edison (who invented motion pictures), as well as Big Bird, Pee Wee Herman and Mabel Taliaferro! Yet some major movie stars, such as Robert Redford, Mel Gibson, Jane Fonda and Clint Eastwood, still haven't been awarded "stars" on the boulevard.

I t has become traditional for fans to place flowers on the "star" of a celebrity who has just died. Sometimes, the "star" even serves as a gathering place for concerned fans. In 1993, for instance, when Michael Jackson was accused of child molestation, fans left notes of support on Jackson's "star" in front of the Chinese Theatre. And Beatles fans gather each year at John Lennon's star to commemorate the anniversary of his death.