Wednesday, August 18, 2004
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Strip to get Walk of Stars

Organization seeks celebrity honorees for new tourist attraction

Tourists taking in the Strip typically set their eyes on neon lights, roller coasters, fountains and world-famous volcano and pirate shows.

And for the few who gaze downward during their walk along the Strip? Clark County is creating a tourist attraction for them, too.

Celebrity stars similar to those embedded in the sidewalk along Hollywood Boulevard will soon be planted along a four-mile stretch between Sahara Avenue and Mandalay Bay.

County commissioners on Tuesday voted to allow the Las Vegas Walk of Stars, a nonprofit organization created by the Motion Picture Hall of Fame Foundation, to embark on their project.

"This is a tremendous project for all tourists and Las Vegas," said Robert Alexander, president of the organization. "This is the entertainment capital of the world. More stars have played here than anyplace else in the world."

As many as 3,000 stars could eventually line both sides of the Strip on a total of eight miles of sidewalk.

The foundation is looking for honorees who have "contributed to the charm, worldwide prominence and name recognition of Las Vegas."

It won't be a difficult trying to identify the first few dozen stars. Names floated shortly after commissioners gave the project the go-ahead included Siegfried and Roy, Elvis Presley, Liberace and Wayne Newton.

Clark County Commissioner Mary Kincaid-Chauncey had her own nominee: "I hope Mel Torme is the first one to get on the Walk of Stars." Torme is the late brother of Commissioner Myrna Williams.

Williams can nominate her brother, but if the Las Vegas Walk of Stars committee chooses Torme, she'll have to come up with a significant chunk of change. Those who submit successful nominations must pay the organization $15,000.

The fee covers the cost of the 180-pound, polished granite star as well as shipping and embedding it. It also pays for a party to celebrate the star, the sound system needed for that party, publicity for the party and liability insurance. Honorees will be invited to the party.

The first star is expected to be sunk into the cement within 30 days.

A pitch for a nominee must be written on an application form and cannot be longer than 500 words. By the end of next week, interested parties can obtain a form by e-mailing lvwostars@aol.com.

In the meantime, the Walk of Stars organization can be reached by calling 655-7827.

A committee assembled by the Las Vegas Walk of Stars organization will accept and review nominations.