50th Anniversary of the Hollywood Walk of Fame

In 1960, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce created the Walk of Fame to “maintain the glory of a community whose name means glamour and excitement in the four corners of the world.” What wasn’t shared was that this was a genius way to make money.

Today, there are 2,400 stars along the 3.5 mile stretch honoring celebrities, fictional and real, from Mickey Mouse and Kermit the Frog to Madonna and Michael Jackson. Feel free to nominate your favorite artist, comedian, singer, song writer, etc. but know that being selection carries a $25,000 sponsorship fee and in order for a person to get a star on the Walk of Fame, he or she must agree to attend a presentation ceremony.

Honorees can receive a star for their contribution to film, television, recording, broadcast, or live theater.

The first eight stars were dedicated in September 1958, a few months prior to the official ground-breaking so that the entrance would be ready for the opening of the First Federal Savings and Loan of Hollywood building.

Some firsts:

• Actress Joanne Woodward was the first to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
• Gene Autry was the first to receive all five possible stars for his contribution in each of the five categories.
• Michael Jackson was the first to have two stars in the same category, as a solo artist an as a member of The Jackson Five.
• Strongheart was the first of three dogs to receive a star
• The 18-year old Olsen twins are the younger people to receive a star
• Mickey Mouse was the first cartoon charter to receive a star

See the Hollywood Walk of Fame on our Western Teen Tours or Community Service California program. And, happy anniversary to the Walk of Fame.

The Westcoast Blogger

The Secrets Behind the Nazca Lines

So, I was watching the Discovery Channel the other night (it was the Mythbusters marathon!) and saw a commercial that caught my attention for Solving History with Olly Steeds. This evening, at 10 pm eastern time, he’s going to check out the Nazca lines. I had first learned about this area of Peru when we returned from scouting our Peru Community Service and Spanish Language Immersion Program.

Here’s the description from the Discovery Channel’s website:

Carved into the Peruvian desert thousands of years ago, the Nazca Lines have puzzled archaeologists and laypeople alike ever since their discovery 100 years ago. Stretching over hundreds of square miles, thousands of geometric shapes and animal figures mark the desert landscape – some as big as football fields, but all flat as the land itself, making them virtually invisible from the ground. Theories to explain the lines range from giant maps of the stars to alien runways to places for elaborate and bizarre rituals. Why would a people who couldn’t fly have built images that could only be seen from the air? Olly travels to ancient cemeteries and Nazcan cities curiously off-limits to camera crews. He explores underground tunnels used in psychedelic cult initiations and tries to venture into the spirit world himself to unravel the mystery of the Nazca Lines.

And a link to the page.

It looks like its going to be a great show! Here are also a few facts about the lines:

• The Nazca Lines have been designated a UNESCO World Hertigate Site.
• It is believed they were created between 200 BCE and 700 CE.
• The designs were made by removing the natural reddish pebbles and uncovering the light-colored earth beneath.
• There are hundreds of figures. Some are simple lines or geometric shapes. More than seventy are of animal or human figures.
• The purpose of the designs are unknown (this is something the Discovery Channel will touch upon), but many think there is a religious significance.
• The extremely dry, windless, and constant climate of the Nazca region has preserved the lines well.

Defintely tune into the Discovery Channel to learn more!

The Westcoast Blogger

Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Rick Moranis, Martin Short, Stephen Colbert … just to name a few.

The Second City in Chicago boosts quite a few notable alumni who have influenced comedy on stage, in film and on television. This past weekend, the comedy venue celebrated its 50^th anniversary. Rumor has it, big time superstars were on hand and were persuaded to get up on stage and improvise a little bit. What has made this joint so popular? The companies have kept audiences laughing performance after performance.

Between the locations in Chicago and Toronto, one million people see the show each year. The performances feature a mix of semi-improvised and scripted scenes with new material developed during unscripted improv sessions after the second act where audiences offer suggestions. 13,000 students enroll annually in the classes to learn the art of improvisation. Saying you performed with Second City is an automatic foot-in-the-door and resume booster. The performers love what they do and share an intense emotional connection. Famous individuals include Steve Carell, Tina Fey, Amy Poehler, Mike Myers, Chris Farley, Tim Meadows, Bonnie Hunt, Stephen Colbert, Halle Berry, Sean Hayes, Amy Sedaris, Jon Favreau, Hinton Battle, Jack McBrayer, Dave Foley, Kevin McDonald, …

I’ve been twice and must say, I can’t remember the last time I laughed so hard. Want to experience it yourself? Join us on our U.S. Explorer or our Major League Madness: East and Midwest programs.

The Westcoast Blogger

P.S. – Here is a great Wall Street Journal article about the joint.