Taking the meaning of a record set in stone quite literally, the Hollywood Walk of Fame is the crescendo of any entertainer’s career. The unmistakable star of burnished brass fixed onto deep grey terrazzo is a stamp of recognition, a tip of the top hat, from the entertainment community at large. And standing upon them one feels an almost daunting revelry of the sheer scale of talent that is being celebrated along this seemingly endless trail.

An idea that was first pitched in the 50s as a marketing gimmick that slowly gained substance as a gesture imbued with deep meaning; there were only 8 stars as part of the very first unveiling. In fact you may not even recognize these first few names including the rouge-lipped starlets Louise Fazenda and Joanne Woodward. Yet the fact that their names can still be read by the passing wide-eyed tourist immortalizes their captivating presence on the screens. Names that eventually hit the silver jubilee or further are often recalled by this icon, as a testament to the steps they took on earth even when all memory of their flair on stage has been lost.

In fact, between the shop fronts decked in apparel and eats along Hollywood Boulevard and Vine Street, the number of stars has multiplied into the thousands, close to 2500 to be accurate across the five broad categories of motion pictures, television, radio, live theatre and recording. The honor is not lost on the characters of make believe that have captured the hearts and minds of viewers worldwide, with stars dedicated to Snow White and the Muppets. Hunting down physical proof of the true talent of your idol, be prepared to be steeped in awe down the Hollywood Walk of Fame, our enigmatic homage to the greatest entertainers to have both provoked and entertained through their work.