The Hollywood Walk of Fame (H.W.O.F) Quiz

Answer: Gene Autry

The Singing Cowboy, Gene Autry was born with the un-cowboy like name of Orvon Grover Autry. He was a best selling Country & Western singer in the radio days of the 1930s and 1940s. His program was called "Gene Autry's Melody Ranch". His TV show was simply called "The Gene Autry Show" and it co-starred his faithful and famous horse, Champion.

Some of his most popular recordings include "Back in the Saddle Again" (1939), "Don't Fence Me In" (1945), and a couple of yuletide tunes, "Frosty the Snowman" (1950) and his number one hit "Rudolph the Red Nosed Reindeer" (1949).

In 1960 Mr. Autry, an astute businessman who owned many radio stations, branched out and bought The Los Angeles Angels American League baseball team. He died October 2, 1998, just a few weeks after the passing of another great western actor and singer, Roy Rogers.

The star he got for Live Theater (a fairly broadly interpreted category) was for "Rodeo". His star for that bit of showmanship can be found at 7000 Hollywood Boulevard.

Answer: Mitzi Gaynor

My birth name, Francesca Marlene de Czanyi von Gerber was a bit long for a marquee, hence the name change. In 1954 talent agent Jack Bean won my hand in marriage and became my manager as well. We were married for 52 years before his death in 2006. He guided me through over 15 films including "Anything Goes" (1956) and my best known role of Nurse Nellie Forbush in "South Pacific" (1958), which won the Oscar for Best Sound.
In the 1960s I trotted out my talents playing often in Las Vegas. I have also starred in 10 TV specials. I was honored to receive a Golden Laurel for my 1957 flick, "Les Girls".
I was awarded the star for my work in Motion Pictures February 8, 1960. You can find it at 6288 Hollywood Boulevard.

Answer: Tony Martin

For 60 years Tony Martin, born Alvin Morris on Christmas Day 1913, was married to the leggy Hollywood hoofer Cyd Charisse, who was born Tula Finklea. As for Sinatra, "Old Blue Eyes" was engaged to, but never married dancer Juliet Prowse. Tony Martin was a popular big band singer and a frequent guest with the zany duo of George Burns and Gracie Allen on their radio show.

He had his own TV program, "The Tony Martin Show" which ran from 1954-1956. A few of his more popular recordings are "Fools Rush In" (1940), "I Get Ideas" (1951) and "Stranger in Paradise" (1954). Over the course of 46 years he appeared in more than 35 movies, starting with "Foolish Hearts" (1936) and bringing down the curtain with "Dear Mr. Wonderful" (1982).

A couple of his other films were "Follow the Fleet" (1936) with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers and "The Big Store" (1941) with The Marx Brothers. My four stars are equally divided, with two on Hollywood Boulevard and a pair on Vine Street.

Answer: Ray Bradbury

Bradbury, who was born August 22, 1920, is the author of over 500 short stories and 30 books. His best-known novel is "Farenheit 451" (1953), which was turned into a 1969 movie. Another novel, "The Illustrated Man" (1951) made it to the big screen in 1966. He is also the author of a series of short stories which became a TV mini-series, "The Martian Chronicles", starring Rock Hudson in 1980.
Sheldon was a writer for TV (I Dream of Jeannie" (1965-1970) and "The Patty Duke Show" (1963-1966) as well as an Academy Award winner for Best Screenplay for "The Bachelor and the Bobby-Soxer" with Cary Grant (1947). Then after turning 50 he became a best selling author of over 15 novels including "Master of the Game" (1982) and "Windmill of the Gods" (1987). His star, unveiled in 1988, can be viewed at 6739 Hollywood Boulevard.
Ray Bradbury received his star April 1, 2002 for his work in Motion Pictures.
If you'd like to take a gander head over to 6644 Hollywood Boulevard.

Answer: Remington Steele

Pierce Brosnan starred in "Remington Steele" from 1982-1987. His co-star was Stephanie Zimbalist who played a P.I. (private investigator) named Laura Holt. Because of her gender, Laura was not able to snag a large following. Prospective clients had little faith that a woman could get the job done. She decided if the agency was to succeed, she would have to bring a male P.I. into the business with her. Enter Brosnan, who played an ex-thief/grifter who assumed the sobriquet of "Remington Steele".
Brosnan's star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame at 7083 Hollywood Boulevard was first displayed November 26, 1997.

Interesting note: Stephanie's father, Efrem Zimbalist, has a star on the H.W.O.F. for his work in Television. It's at 7095 Hollywood Boulevard.

Answer: Williams

Keeping up with the Joneses and beating them to it are the Williamses.
One member of the clan, Tex, won his award in the Radio category. A pair of them won for their work on TV: Cindy and Bill. For their work in the field of Recording, six Williams' were awarded stars. They are Andy, Hank, Joe, Paul, Roger and Vanessa. The half-dozen thespians are Billy Dee, Earle, the swimming Esther, Guy, Kathlyn, and of course the wacky Robin.

Interesting fact: I must admit I never heard of Kathlyn and I'm going to guess that not many of you have either. It turns out she was a film star during the silent picture days and later made only five "talkies".

Her star at 7038 Hollywood Boulevard was dedicated February 8, 1960.

Answer: Muhammad Ali

Muhammad Ali was born Cassius Marcellus Clay, Jr. January 17, 1942. In 1964 he announced he had become a member of the Nation of Islam and changed his name to Muhammad Ali. He was a three time heavyweight champion and compiled a ring record of 56 wins and seven losses.
The film of his life "Ali" (2001) starred Will Smith as "The Greatest".
Muhammad didn't want people walking on his Islamic name and so his is the only star that has a vertical placement. It adorns a wall of The Kodak Theatre on Hollywood Boulevard. The dedication ceremony was held on January 11, 2002.

"The Joe Louis Story" (1953) starred journeyman boxer Coley Wallace as "The Brown Bomber".
Rocky Graziano's story was told in "Somebody Up There Likes Me" (1956) and starred Paul Newman.
Robert DeNiro won the Academy Award for Best Actor for his portrayal of Jake LaMotta in "Raging Bull" (1980).

Answer: Sophia Loren

Sophia Loren was born in Rome, Italy on September 20, 1934. She won the Best Actress Oscar for her extraordinary performance in "Two Women" (1960). Her star was unveiled February 1, 1994. You can visit it at at 7050 Hollywood Boulevard.

Swedish born Ingrid Bergman won two Best Actress Awards. Her first was for "Gaslight" (1945) and later for "Anastasia" (1957).
Olivia de Havilland, born in Japan (I was surprised too!) also captured a pair of Academy Awards for Best Actress. She won for "To Each His Own" (1946) and "The Heiress" (1949).
The beguiling beauty from Belgium, Audrey Hepburn won the Oscar for her role of Princess Ann in "Roman Holiday" (1953). Her star was placed at 1652 Vine Street.

Answer: Marilyn Monroe

Double M sits atop the landmark clad in the famous skirt she wore in "The Seven Year Itch"(1955). As in the film, the garment is billowing up as the result of her standing above a subway grate. The actresses on the four columns were chosen to celebrate the multi-ethnicity of Hollywood's glamorous women.
They are Dorothy Dandridge, Delores Del Rio, Mae West and Anna May Wong. Each of them also has her own individual star on the famous strip.
The structure was commissioned in 1993 and dedicated February 1, 1994.

MM's personal star is situated at 6774 Hollywood Boulevard.

Answer: No performer can be given a star without his or her consent.

There was a "mass induction" in 1960 with no specific star being recognized as the first.
Francis Albert Sinatra has three stars but Jerry has only two.
Constuction was started in 1958 but two years of lawsuits and delays pushed back the official groundbreaking until February 8, 1960.

Interesting fact: Joanne Woodward was the first celebrity to pose at her star for the benefit of the press. It's located at 6081 Hollywood Boulevard.