Las Vegas Walk of Stars

Las Vegas Walk of Stars
Map
Established2004
LocationLas Vegas Strip, Paradise/Winchester, Nevada
TypeEntertainment walk of fame
WebsiteOfficial website

The Las Vegas Walk of Stars is a walk of fame along the Las Vegas Strip, located in the unincorporated towns of Paradise and Winchester, Nevada. It was established to honor prominent Las Vegas figures, including entertainers. Wayne Newton was the first to receive a star on the Walk of Stars, in a ceremony taking place on October 26, 2004.

Other stars have since been added for entertainers such as Elvis Presley, Frank Sinatra, Sammy Davis Jr., David Cassidy, Liberace, Rich Little, and Siegfried & Roy. As of 2022, the Walk of Stars had issued over 100 stars, although more than half of these had been removed several years earlier, when the county installed security bollards along the Strip.

History

[edit]

In October 2003, the city of Las Vegas entered an agreement with Clear Channel Entertainment, in which the latter would produce events to celebrate the city's centennial anniversary in 2005. Among the proposals was to create an attraction in downtown Las Vegas inspired by the Hollywood Walk of Fame,[1][2][3] although this ultimately went unbuilt. During 2004, a different walk of fame project along the Las Vegas Strip was negotiated between Clark County and the Motion Picture Hall of Fame Foundation. The latter oversaw the Palm Springs Walk of Stars and would also do so for the proposed Las Vegas Walk of Stars.[4]

Singer Jenni Rivera's star, 2014
Singer Don McLean's star, 2019

The project was approved by the Clark County Commission in August 2004.[5][6] It would honor important figures associated with Las Vegas history, including prominent entertainers.[7][8] The project would add stars along both sides of the Strip sidewalk, from the Sahara resort at the north end of the Strip to Mandalay Bay at the south end.[5][9] At the time, each star and its accompanying ceremony cost a total of $15,000, a fee covered by sponsors such as friends, family, and fan clubs. The stars are made of polished granite and weigh 180 pounds.[4][5][9] Exact site selection along the Strip is chosen by the sponsors for each star.[10] A committee met monthly to propose potential new stars for the project.[9][11] The star fee had increased to $25,000 as of 2022.[12]

Singer Wayne Newton was the first person to receive a star on the Walk of Stars, in a ceremony taking place on October 26, 2004.[13][10] Entertainer Liberace and female impersonator Frank Marino were the next to receive stars, both in February 2005.[11] In 2010, Marino became the first person to have earned induction into the Walk of Stars twice,[14] while Cuban-American musicians Gloria Estefan and Emilio Estefan were the first couple recognized, who shared a star. In 2011, Mexican power couple Jenni Rivera and Esteban Loaiza were the second to be recognized by the attraction.[15]

A county project began in November 2017 to install security bollards along the Strip sidewalk, removing 49 of 82 stars in the process, including those of Newton, Liberace, and Marino. The cost to put the stars back in place would have been $250,000. Efforts were underway to seek out a permanent location for the Walk of Stars project,[16][17] and financing was later sought to return the missing stars.[18]

Bob Alexander, president of the Las Vegas Walk of Stars since its inception, died from pneumonia in September 2020, at the age of 77. His role was taken over by vice president Marilyn Ball, mother of actress Lindsay Wagner.[12][19] As of 2022, the Walk of Stars had issued more than 100 stars.[12]

Honorees

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Name Nationality Specialty Date Ref.
Wayne Newton  United States Singer October 26, 2004 [20]
Frank Marino  United States Female impersonator February 1, 2005 [21]
Liberace  United States Singer February 1, 2005
Rich Little  Canada Voice actor February 15, 2005
Line Renaud  France Singer October 24, 2005 [22]
Dick Jensen  United States Live performer November 5, 2005
Mel Larson  United States Former NASCAR racer January 9, 2006 [23][24][25]
Toni Hart  United States Entertainer and humanitarian April 26, 2006 [23][26]
John Stuart  United States Founder of Legends in Concert May 30, 2006 [27][28]
Wayne Allyn Root  United States TV celebrity August 15, 2006 [23]
Siegfried & Roy  Germany Magicians October 3, 2006 [29]
Society of Seven  United States Variety Troupe November 28, 2006
Sammy Davis, Jr.  United States Singer February 15, 2007 [30]
Bobby Darin  United States Singer May 14, 2007 [31]
Tony Sacca  United States Television Personality February 17, 2008
Trini Lopez  United States Singer May 15, 2008 [32]
Elvis Presley  United States Singer September 26, 2008 [33][34]
Raúl De Molina  Cuba
 United States		 Television personality November 3, 2009 [35]
Lili Estefan  Cuba
 United States		 Television personality November 3, 2009 [36]
Dean Martin  United States Singer February 22, 2010
Frank Sinatra  United States Singer February 22, 2010
Frank Marino  United States Female Impersonator February 25, 2010 [21]
Emilio & Gloria Estefan  Cuba
 United States		 Singer and Producer April 29, 2010 [37]
Fernando Vargas  United States Boxer January 28, 2011
Jenni Rivera  Mexico
 United States		 Singer July 1, 2011 [15]
Esteban Loaiza  Mexico Baseball pitcher July 1, 2011 [15]
Engelbert Humperdinck  England Singer July 20, 2011 [38]
Frankie Valli and The Four Seasons  United States Music band March 21, 2013
Regulo Caro  Mexico Singer October 22, 2014
Pete Vallee  United States Singer February 27, 2017 [16][39]
Yuya (Mariand Castrejón Castañeda)  Mexico YouTuber September 15, 2018 [40][41]
Frank Shankwitz  United States Founder Make A Wish Foundation June 15, 2019 [42]
Greg S. Reid  United States Motivational Speaker, Author June 15, 2019 [43]
Don McLean  United States Singer June 15, 2019 [44]
Donny and Marie Osmond  United States Brother and sister singing duo October 4, 2019 [45][46][47]
David Cassidy  United States Musician April 12, 2022 [12][19]
Cook E. Jarr  United States Longtime local singer April 12, 2022 [12][19][48][49]
Nick Nanton  United States Director and producer July 30, 2022 [12]

References

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  1. ^ Squires, Michael (January 13, 2004). "Company outlines plans for city's centennial". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 30, 2004.
  2. ^ Clarke, Norm (March 19, 2004). "Mayor thinks big for centennial". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 13, 2004.
  3. ^ McDarrah, Timothy (June 4, 2004). "Las Vegas stars draw a Walk". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  4. ^ a b "County commission to vote on Las Vegas Walk of Stars". Las Vegas Sun. August 17, 2004. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  5. ^ a b c Packer, Adrienne (August 18, 2004). "Strip to get Walk of Stars". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on October 12, 2004.
  6. ^ Snyder, Susan (August 20, 2004). "A pedestrian effort on the Strip". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  7. ^ Clarke, Norm (January 20, 2005). "Walk of Stars missteps 'glaring'". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 5, 2005.
  8. ^ Weatherford, Mike (April 27, 2008). "Seeing Stars". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  9. ^ a b c Mihailovich, Steven (August 27, 2004). "Gaming: County cements the Strip's Hollywood connection". Las Vegas Business Press. Archived from the original on August 29, 2004.
  10. ^ a b Clarke, Norm (October 29, 2004). "Newton sidesteps Strip star wars". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 5, 2004.
  11. ^ a b "Walk of Stars on Strip to add Liberace, Marino". Las Vegas Sun. January 21, 2005. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  12. ^ a b c d e f Katsilometes, John (August 8, 2022). "Carrie Fisher, Debbie Reynolds to be awarded Las Vegas stars". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  13. ^ Clarke, Norm (October 27, 2004). "Newton 'stars' as first inductee". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on November 6, 2004.
  14. ^ "Frank Marino Awarded, Gets Second Star on Las Vegas Walk of Stars". February 27, 2010. Retrieved January 19, 2014.
  15. ^ a b c Silva, Cristina (July 11, 2011). "Singer Jenni Rivera honored with Las Vegas star". Las Vegas Sun. Associated Press. Retrieved April 5, 2015.
  16. ^ a b Katsilometes, John (March 6, 2018). "Future of Las Vegas Walk of Stars 'in jeopardy,' says founder". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  17. ^ Bartels, Joe (October 2, 2018). "Strip star tributes replaced after disappearance". KTNV. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  18. ^ Katsilometes, John (November 5, 2018). "Las Vegas Walk of Stars honors Judy Tenuta with new spot". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  19. ^ a b c Katsilometes, John (January 26, 2021). "It's a long walk for Las Vegas star attraction". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  20. ^ "Wayne Newton Honoured in Las Vegas". October 28, 2004. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  21. ^ a b "Frank Marino's Divas Las Vegas". www.facebook.com.
  22. ^ Clarke, Norm (October 26, 2005). "Renaud receives a fitting tribute". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Archived from the original on December 27, 2005.
  23. ^ a b c "List of stars" (PDF). Las Vegas Walk of Stars. Archived from the original (PDF) on March 3, 2016.
  24. ^ Katsilometes, John (January 10, 2006). "How Mel Larson was taken by surprise with induction into Las Vegas Walk of Stars". Las Vegas Sun. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  25. ^ "Mel Larson Endowed Chair of Marketing". University of Nevada, Las Vegas. August 27, 2020. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  26. ^ White, Ken (May 1, 2006). "Las Vegas Walk of Stars selects new honoree". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  27. ^ "John Katsilometes reports John Stuart - the John Stuart of 'Legends in Concert' - will be honored in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Sun. April 18, 2006. Retrieved September 16, 2023.
  28. ^ "John Katsilometes on how John Stuart plans to keep up the good fight after getting a Star". Las Vegas Sun. June 1, 2006. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  29. ^ "Illusionists Siegfried and Roy inducted into Las Vegas Walk of Stars". Fox News. October 4, 2006. Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  30. ^ "John Katsilometes on a star-studded event of a different sort celebrated over the weekend in Las Vegas". Las Vegas Sun. February 19, 2007. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  31. ^ "The Darin Lifetime Event 2007". Retrieved January 18, 2014.
  32. ^ "TRINI LOPEZ - ONLINE". www.trinilopez.com. Archived from the original on June 14, 2020. Retrieved January 16, 2014.
  33. ^ Clarke, Norm (June 29, 2008). "Elvis fan club will have star its way". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  34. ^ Clarke, Norm (September 27, 2008). "LV all shook up about Elvis star". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  35. ^ "Raúl De Molina and Lili Estefan". Retrieved January 26, 2014.
  36. ^ "Biography of Llil Estefan (In Spanish & English)". Retrieved January 20, 2014.
  37. ^ "Gloria and Emilio Estefan Receive Star from Las Vegas Walk of Stars". Retrieved January 15, 2014.
  38. ^ "Goodman presents Humperdinck a key to the city". Las Vegas Review-Journal. July 21, 2011. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  39. ^ "Pete "Big Elvis" Vallee Gets a Star on the Las Vegas Walk of Stars". March 2, 2017.
  40. ^ Pasillas, Beto (September 15, 2018). "Lo que acaba de suceder hoy con @yuyacst es un parteaguas. Su vida empodera a las mujeres, une a todos los hispanohablantes y es nuestra motivación a cumplir cada uno de nuestros sueños. Para ella no existe el "No Puedo". Esta increíble historia apenas empieza. ¡FELICIDADES!pic.twitter.com/u2iSr7Gv1z".
  41. ^ "Yuya cries in the delivery of her star on the Walk of the Stars, in Las Vegas". Archy Worldys. September 16, 2018.
  42. ^ "400 Bad Request". bostonchron.com.
  43. ^ "Las Vegas Walk of Stars!". Las Vegas Walk of Stars!. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  44. ^ "Las Vegas Walk of Stars!". Las Vegas Walk of Stars!. Retrieved July 26, 2022.
  45. ^ Berman, Marc. "Donny and Marie Osmond To Be Honored By The Las Vegas Walk Of Stars". Forbes. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  46. ^ Katsilometes, John (October 5, 2019). "Donny and Marie Osmond honored by Walk of Stars on Las Vegas Strip". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  47. ^ "Donny & Marie Osmond Honored by Las Vegas Walk of Stars at Flamingo Las Vegas". VegasNews.com. October 5, 2019. Retrieved October 24, 2019.
  48. ^ Katsilometes, John (August 31, 2016). "Cook E. Jarr in line for a star? It might happen". Las Vegas Review-Journal. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
  49. ^ Lupiani, Joyce (September 1, 2016). "Fan of Cook E. Jarr wants to buy him a star". KTNV. Retrieved October 2, 2023.
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