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When one thinks of Los Angeles, one word that commonly comes to mind is “Hollywood.” After all, the city is the place for arts and motion pictures, the place where thousands of prospective actors and actresses flock to for a chance at stardom, and the place where millions visit for entertainment and good weather on the West Coast. Especially in the neighborhood of Hollywood, Los Angeles capitalizes on the glitz and glamor that has made stars out of ordinary people, and where dreams are made of.

Hollywood is both a neighborhood and a metonym associated with Los Angeles’s entertainment industry. It’s located in the central part of the county, about 7 miles/11 km west from Downtown Los Angeles and 18 miles/29 km northeast from LAX airport. The area is a busy intersection part of town, as it borders many affluent neighborhoods like Hancock Park, Melrose, Hollywood Hills, and West Hollywood (which is actually it’s own city, not a part of Hollywood itself). It’s also important not to confuse North Hollywood as being part of Hollywood, either, as it’s its own city located 8 miles/13 km out in the San Fernando Valley.

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Incorporated into Los Angeles in 1910, Hollywood experienced an economic boom shortly thereafter in 1912, when much of the entertainment industry moved from the East Coast to sunny California. There was the Golden Age of Hollywood from the 1920’s to 1960’s with 800 films being produced every single year. It wasn’t until the early 1950’s that the idea came to create a Walk of Fame to honor the legends in the film industry, and soon expanding to music, television, and theatre. After the Walk of Fame committee (which included tycoon Walt Disney) selected over 1500 honorees in 1957, construction began on Hollywood Boulevard to pave way for the brass stars to be embedded into the ground. The first Hollywood star reportedly to be laid down was that of Joanne Woodward, an actress since the Golden Age (and as of 2023, is still alive!).

Currently, there are over 2700 Hollywood stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The walk is on a busy pedestrian street that stretches 15 blocks at over 1.3 miles/2.1 km. It can take easily over an hour just walking from beginning to end without stopping, but of course, it’s necessary to slow down and pick out the famous names from the stars on the ground. From classic film stars like Charlie Chaplin and Jimmy Stewart to musicians like Michael Jackson and Mariah Carey, you could spend hours perusing the many stars while trying to find your favorites.

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A few notable Hollywood stars include boxer Muhammad Ali’s, which is the only star that’s not embedded on the floor, but rather against the wall inside the Dolby Theatre (reason due to Ali requesting not to have his name trampled on for the sake of the Prophet Mohammed). There’s also a star of Donald Trump, which has been repeatedly vandalized especially during the 2016 presidential elections and onwards. Another Hollywood star is in tribute to the cartoon character Mickey Mouse, an icon in the Disney empire and industry.

Visiting the Hollywood Walk of Fame is an overwhelming (and underwhelming) experience. It’s crowded with tourists, traffic on Hollywood Boulevard, and the various costumed characters looking to earn a quick buck with naïve visitors. Yet, even though the Walk of Fame is busy, it can also be a letdown, as there really isn’t much to see beyond the Hollywood stars and maybe the Grauman Chinese Theatre and Dolby Theatre. Locals don’t bother hanging out here due to its touristy and kitschy vibe, and it’s unlikely you’ll run into an actual celebrity in this part of town.

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I actually didn’t visit Hollywood until I was 26, during when my cousin came to visit me in Los Angeles. We didn’t spend too long here, as we simply walked the Walk of Fame, popped into a few souvenir shops, and dodged shady costumed characters. I didn’t have the best, pleasant experience, but despite my tepid time in Hollywood, I would suggest that, if you’re interested in exploring the entertainment side of Los Angeles, it’s worth a stop on the Walk of Fame for photo opportunities before heading out to other, more noteworthy spots like the Griffith Observatory or even for the Hollywood hike (to the back of the sign itself). Overall, it is what you make of it, for a glimpse of that Hollywood glam and stardom that’s synonymous with the city itself.

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Thanks for reading, and have a good day! 🙂

— Rebecca

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Published by Rebecca

Blogger, world traveler, poet, foodie, part-time penguin. Welcome!

49 thoughts on “Lost in LA: Hollywood Walk of Fame”

  2. It seemed to me that visiting Hollywood boulevard and the sign on the hill are necessary steps on a first visit to LA, I would have blamed myself for not doing so, then there are indeed so many other places to visit.

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    1. It’s not imperative to visit Hollywood, since as you wrote there are so many other spots to visit in LA. If one happens to be in the area, then I’d suggest a quick in-and-out for Hollywood!

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  3. Many years ago, my family and I caught a special bus from the front of Grauman’s that took us to a taping of the TV game show, Family Feud – that was a fun, spontaneous activity! While I’ve been to Hollywood a few times, I have yet to do the hike up to the famous sign in the hills! I agree with what you said about the unlikelihood of seeing an actual celebrity there. But TV and movies make it appear as though they are just walking around everywhere in Hollywood!

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    1. Honestly, the only celebrities in Hollywood are just the stars themselves (on the ground, that is!). Doing a taping at Grauman’s is pretty cool, though; that’s worth a stop in the area. The Hollywood sign hike isn’t the easiest, but it’s the most rewarding!

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  4. A very interesting account! As you say, Hollywood isn’t just a place…… but a concept formed over time constucted from the glitz and glamour of the stars, a kind of temple to the famous gods of the cinema. Interesting how the religion of fame and fortune can be materialized through the altar of stars on a pavement.

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    1. You make a good point! If anything, Hollywood is a concept that’s almost like a religion, almost cult-like in that it attracts people to the idea of fame and fortune, even if it’s nearly a pipeline dream…not for everyone, that’s for sure!

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  5. Thanks for sharing, Rebecca, visiting this part of LA was a lot of fun. We found the best Thai restaurant ever by chance, it looked like a crampy garage/storage place with the view on the parking lot. Best food ever! I also found a pink Seven Day Adventist church quite amazing due to it’s architectural design and strange location. I used to be a part of the church long time ago, so seeing it in Hollywood was pretty surreal. It was like a practical joke that I never expected to happen

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    1. Sounds like you explored more of the neighborhood than I did– that’s so cool! The Walk of Fame isn’t the greatest, but the sites surrounding it are lovely, Thai food and pink Seven Day Adventist church included!

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  8. Interesting read, Rebecca. I know I’d probably not enjoy the crowded Hollywood Boulevard, however, I’d definitely visit it because it would be a once in a life time thing and it would definitely be a quick in and out thing, ha. I’d love to do that hike to the Hollywood Sign.

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  9. This is such an interesting read, Rebecca. While I’m not curious about celebrities or the entertainment industry, you can’t deny that Hollywood has the single most incredible collection of movie talent in the entire world. And for anyone who’s a film buff, going on the Warner Brothers Studio Tour would be a must. I for one would love to go on a hike around the Griffith Observatory for a spectacular view of Los Angeles. It would also be fun to look through the observatory’s telescopes for a peek at the night sky. Thanks for sharing and have a good day 🙂 Aiva xx

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    1. I actually really enjoyed the Hollywood sign more than the Walk of Fame. Hollywood isn’t a place I’d love to return to, but if the occasion arises, it wouldn’t be a bad thing. Thanks for stopping by!

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  12. Some interesting observations on Hollywood and the walk. I feel I would probably spend a bit longer here than most, seeking out various spots and stars. Even though I’m generally not one for crowds and kitsch. I would love to see a flick at Grauman’s and a tour of The Dolby Theatre.

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    1. Compared to the other comments, sounds like you’d like to spend time on the Walk of Fame! It can be fun searching for your favorite celebs’ stars while taking in the hectic, urban atmosphere. Hope you can come to LA some day, Leighton!

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  16. When I think of (downtown) Los Angeles, I think of driving to get everywhere, traffic and homelessness. At least that’s what I got out of researching and reading on LA, hoping to travel there at some stage 😄 I’m not really into celebrity and glitz and glamour but Hollywood and the Walk of Fame is definitely something I’d check out for the experience. Don’t think I’ll spent all day there though, as you mentioned, it is quite touristy and crowded which are things I try to avoid. I agree with you that such experiences are what you make of it as these places are synonymous with LA itself. If I do encounter any of those shady costumed characters, I think I’d walk away as fast as possible!

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    1. Truer words have never been spoken, Mabel. It’s true that LA has a serious homeless problem (trust me, I experience it first-hand in my work) and that traffic is awful to the point that sometimes it isn’t worth going out too far in the city…heck, even the Hollywood Walk of Fame isn’t even worth an hour of one’s time. But I will say that this is all due to folks wanting to come to LA to experience the sights and sounds of this cosmopolitan city, filled with good weather and plenty of opportunities in business and entertainment. I encourage people to give LA a chance before making one’s judgement on it, as it does have something to offer to everyone!

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  17. Yes, I imagine it’s nothing special but still it’s so fascinating to me when you say that you haven’t been there until your cousin visited you. were you never curious to see it before?

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    1. Honestly, I’d never been completely interested visiting Hollywood: many of my friends and acquaintances had informed me it was an underwhelming place, so I never bothered until my cousin came to visit and wanted to check it out. Not like it isn’t totally worth not going to, but there are definitely other more worthy places to check out while in LA.

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  22. Great post, and I’d say it really reflected the experience I had there! While I didn’t expect much, I did find it very kitschy and both over- and underwhelming ahah! I’d also say it is a bit of a “necessary” stop, but definitely not my favourite in LA! Looking at the stars was a lot of fun though!

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    1. You put it into words very well, Juliette! Glad to hear about LA from a visitor’s perspective; it’s refreshing! Hollywood is “a bit of a necessary stop,” as you put it, but not for a whole day! Hope you can return to LA someday! 😊

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