Paved with stardust

The Hollywood Walk of Fame, a sidewalk shrine to the immortals of the entertainment industry, draws an estimated 10 million stargazers annua...

The Hollywood Walk of Fame, a sidewalk shrine to the immortals of the entertainment industry, draws an estimated 10 million stargazers annually from all over the world.

Nearly 2,300 five-pointed medallions radiate underfoot from the fabled crossroads of Hollywood and Vine, paying tribute to celebrities big and small.

Onlookers sometimes puzzle over unfamiliar names or notice the absence of a favorite marquee topper.

The brass-and-terrazzo stars don8217;t fall randomly out of the sky, say the people in charge. There are rules that must be followed. But the results can be a little unpredictable.

Who qualifies to be included on the Walk of Fame?

A star recipient must have five years of professional achievement in one of five categories: motion pictures, television, live theater, recording or radio.

The walk embraces an eclectic mix. Legends such as Humphrey Bogart, Clark Gable, Elizabeth Taylor, Bob Hope, Orson Welles, Nat King Cole and Elvis Presley share space with more topical celebrities, including TV personality Leeza Gibbons, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner and Baywatch star David Hasselhoff.

Who are some 8220;missing8221; luminaries?

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Clint Eastwood, Julia Roberts, Robert Redford, Howard Hughes, Mel Gibson, Jane Fonda and Francis Ford Coppola do not have stars.

Why do some people have stars and others don8217;t?

The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, which oversees the Walk of Fame, chooses one to two dozen new recipients a year.

Celebrities must agree to be nominated. Some, such as Julia Roberts, do not want to be on the Walk of Fame, said Mary Lou Dudas, selection committee member and a former A038;M Records vice president. 8220;They say, 8216;why would I want my name to be walked on?8217; But, on the other hand, it8217;s something that is here to stay.8221;

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In some cases, celebrities are chosen but don8217;t follow through. The rule is that the honoree, if still alive, must attend a dedication within five years. Singer John Denver, who died in 1997, was selected in 1982 but never arranged to appear. Nor did singer Paul McCartney, who was chosen in 1993.

Some celebrities have more than one star. Director Alfred Hitchcock, for example, has two stars, one for his achievements in motion pictures and the other for his work in television. Gene Autry is the only person to have a star in each of the five categories.

The Apollo 11 astronauts have round stars at Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street. They were honored in the television category for the first moon landing, which longtime Walk of Fame emcee Johnny Grant acknowledged is a bit of a stretch.

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