The Hollywood Walk of Fame features over 2,500 stars, laid out along 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street. The number of classical musicians included — and who's missing from the lineup — may surprise you.
On my first (and only) visit to Los Angeles, a friend helped us do "the tourist thing," in their words. It was certainly fun. We saw the Hollywood sign from the Griffith Observatory ...
... visited the Gene Autry museum ...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iRV6JszMXoo
... drove down Hollywood Boulevard and saw where Route 66 ends at State Route 1 in Santa Monica ...
... and spent some time checking out stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
When you first arrive, you immediately begin searching for favorite stars, especially from the Golden Age of Hollywood — Cary Grant, Katharine Hepburn, Spencer Tracy, Jean Harlow, Charlie Chaplin, Greta Garbo.
It wasn't until recently that I became aware of how few classical musicians are represented. Out of those 2,500 stars, not even 60 are classical musicians.
In my opinion, if Mary Hart, whose main claim to fame is hosting Entertainment Tonight, can get a star, how is it that composer John Williams, whose music has graced the silver screen for decades, and Aaron Copland, the most American of American composers, are not included?
Really?
Gustavo Dudamel is slated to be added this year. Leroy Anderson and Arthur Fiedler, who are kind of joined at the musical hip, are there, but George and Ira Gershwin are not.
Last year, composer Ennio Morricone was honored with a star. He will be joined this year by fellow composer Jerry Goldsmith, who receives his star posthumously.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PBwFbv78pPk
That said, you may find the list of classical music stars on the famous walk interesting, as well as who's missing.
