Broadway "Walk of Stars"

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 12:56pm

When we visit friends in Hollywood, we often find ourselves in the "Walk of Fame" area.  It's fun to look at the stars for celebrities.  I've seen references to a foundation for a "Broadway Walk of Stars," but are there actual stars of celebrities anywhere in the sidewalks?  If so, where?

[dramamama611]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 1:40pm

No. Thank goodness. 

[JSquared2]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 2:03pm

The closest thing NYC has is the Playwrights Sidewalk outside the Lortel Theatre.

https://lortel.org/playwrights-sidewalk/

 

And of course there's also the Theatre Hal of Fame lists inside the Gershwin.

 

 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 2:12pm

There was talk of one many years ago and Carol Channing actually did a square of her hands and footprints. A big to-do was made of it at the time but nothing else ever materialized. In all probability it was just a publicity stunt by her then-husband, Charles Lowe. 

I do have a contact I could ask about this. I'll report back.

 

[jagman1062]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 2:19pm

I remember reading a while ago about creating one similar to stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame for Broadway. It was supposed to start in Times Square. I try to avoid Times Square when I'm in the City, so I haven't seen any "stars," but I don't think it ever materialized. 

[Bill Snibson]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 2:20pm

I suppose the Sardi’s caricatures would be the theater equivalent. 

[Dollypop]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 2:25pm

Okay, my friend got back to me faster than I imagined:

He said "the event never took place" and "the idea of a walk never caught on" but he admits he would have to check his notes for anything more specific.

[Highland Guy]

Posted: 7/18/22 at 3:36pm

Thanks for the responses.  There was just one time that I went in search of a specific star in Hollywood (for Jeanette MacDonald).  When I came to the address where her star was located, the sidewalk was torn up and it had been removed.  Not sure if it was ever replaced.  I was quite disappointed not to find it.

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 7/19/22 at 12:33pm

I imagine such an installation would be difficult to find support for now:

Until recently, there was a small Fashion Walk of Fame just south of Times Square as it turns into the garment district. Medallions were laid into the ground for the likes of Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Bill Bass, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, etc. With brief descriptions of their work/achievements and an accompanying image of a design concept. 

Then one fool slipped on one of the medallions during a rainstorm and sued. The building next to the walk would subsequently put out big bright yellow "caution" signs over each and every medallion on the walk if it was even sprinkling. But then I think the person won their lawsuit and the walk was removed. The official line is that the walk is removed for "redesign" (perhaps replacing the medallions with statues, or some type of objects that are not in the ground) but that was back in 2019 and nothing has been heard about it since.

If we were going to have a Broadway walk of Fame, I would suggest it all be congreted in one area (perhaps Duffy Square) rather than spread out through the theater district (a logistical nightmare to install at this point. Plus there would be stars in ugly looking places). But I think fear of lawsuits would prevent this type of walk from getting funding.

 

[uncageg]

Posted: 7/19/22 at 1:44pm

MayAudraBlessYou2 said: "I imagine such an installation would be difficult to find support for now:

Until recently, there was a small Fashion Walk of Fame just south of Times Square as it turns into the garment district. Medallions were laid into the ground for the likes of Oscar de la Renta, Anne Klein, Bill Bass, Ralph Lauren, Marc Jacobs, etc. With brief descriptions of their work/achievements and an accompanying image of a design concept.

Then one fool slipped on one of the medallions during a rainstorm and sued. The building next to the walk would subsequently put out big bright yellow "caution" signs over each and every medallion on the walk if it was even sprinkling. But then I think the person won their lawsuit and the walk was removed. The official line is that the walk is removed for "redesign" (perhaps replacing the medallions with statues, or some type of objects that are not in the ground) but that was back in 2019 and nothing has been heard about it since.

If we were going to have a Broadway walk of Fame, I would suggest it all be congreted in one area (perhaps Duffy Square) rather than spread out through the theater district (a logistical nightmare to install at this point. Plus there would be stars in ugly looking places). But I think fear of lawsuits would prevent this type of walk from getting funding."

 

when did this happen? Must have been within the past 3 years as I have seen the names in the sidewalk leading up to that button and needle sculpture.

 

[MayAudraBlessYou2]

Posted: 7/19/22 at 2:43pm

I believe they were removed in 2019. The needle and button sculpture still stands, but all the medallions have been removed from the sidewalk.

[Wee Thomas2]

Posted: 7/20/22 at 10:37am

Highland Guy said: "Thanks for the responses. There was just one time that I went in search of a specific star in Hollywood (for Jeanette MacDonald). When I came to the address where her star was located, the sidewalk was torn up and it had been removed. Not sure if it was ever replaced. I was quite disappointed not to find it."

I believe those are generally sponsored ("bought and paid for" in recent years, so if someone paid for it in the first place I expect it would have to be replaced after construction was done.

 

NYC also has the Canyon of Heroes, where many scoundrels are honored