Anaheim OKs Walk of Stars - Orange County Register, 3/29/06

[Darkbeer]

http://www.ocregister.com/ocregister...le_1076819.php

QuikQuote: The stars will be placed in front of Disneyland along Harbor Boulevard and extend toward the Convention Center. The Walk of Stars eventually could stretch as far out as the Platinum Triangle along Katella Avenue, Alexander said.
"It will totally enhance the tourist experience at no cost," Alexander said.
Usually, fan clubs and friends pay for the stars, Alexander said. There will be no impact on the city's budget.

[Alex S.]

Ok, that seems kind of lame to me. Is there really a fan club of Anaheim's first school teacher that is going to pay $15,000+ for one of these?

[olegc]

1st - sue the Angels...
2nd - thinking about eminent domain on land to build throughways for "new transportation"
3rd - Tout GardenWalk as the "Next great entertainment district"
4th - Have a "Walk of Fame"

for some reason the folks at Anaheim City Hall think very highly of themselves - to the point of creating things that seem to be for their own egos...

if it works - more power to them. However, in the past I seem to recall what this turns into is half-baked execution and finger pointing at "lack of support" by community leaders and business interests...

[TP2000]

While it's wonderful that a small city would want to honor it's home town heros and "stars", I can't help but....

BWAHAHAHA! According to Anaheim elected officials quoted in the story this is going to "enhance the tourist experience"??? People will "come right from Hollywood to see our stars"???

Yet another perfect example of how ridiculous the Anaheim City Council is. Next thing you know, they'll give the 5th permit extension in 8 years to the developers of GardenWalk. Oh, wait.

[Wesley815]

Even if it wouldn't cost the city money... the people spending their money on the "stars" sure could do something else much better with it.

JMO though, I guess the city of Anaheim thinks this is the best idea in the world.

[Opus1guy]

I can't wait to have my picture taken squatting over Fred William Kuelp's star (Anaheim’s first schoolteacher)!

Pinch me!!!

Now I know where that guy that produced "Superstar Limo" found employment.

[SandraVB79]

Did they at least include Mickey Mouse or Walt Disney in their list? Without those, roughly no one except for some locals would know Anaheim exists....

[Darkbeer]

Did they at least include Mickey Mouse or Walt Disney in their list? Without those, roughly no one except for some locals would know Anaheim exists....

From the original article...

Some proposed honorees

Show business:
Walt Disney, creator of Disney
Gene Autry, actor, former Angel baseball team owner
Josh Schwartz, creator and executive director of The O.C.
Gwen Stefani, lead singer of No Doubt, grew up in Anaheim
Rudolph Valentino, silent-film star who owned a house in Laguna Beach

Sports:
Bartolo Colon, Angel pitcher, 2005 Cy Young Award winner
Dennis Rodman, former NBA player who owns a Newport Beach home
Vladimir Guerrero, Angel outfielder, 2004 Most Valuable Player

Literature:
John Steinbeck, author, wrote Tortilla Flats while living in Laguna Beach

Pioneers/civics:
Frank Jao, a developer of Little Saigon
Fred William Kuelp, Anaheims first schoolteacher

Looks like Mickey Mouse doesn't qualify, as they decided to honor only human beings. (Well, with Dennis Rodman on the list, that is questionable

[tod]

And don't forget Mel Blanc, whose train announcer on "The Jack Benny Program" used to refer to "Anahem, Azusa, and Cu-camonga"

--t

[Opus1guy]

And don't forget to give a huge star to Carl Karcher...creator of Carl's Jr. hamburger joints, whose first Carl's Jr. store was in Anaheim and whose logo just happens to be a happy Star!

Can't wait to squat over that baby, too!

I must be dreaming. Can I have fries with it?

Anaheim better approve several more new hotels toot-sweet, to accomodate the huge increase in visitors this project will generate.

[Another Dimension]

As a long time Anaheim resident...
I consider this proposed Anaheim Walk of Fame .. pointless!

[Alex S.]

That's because you're not a tourist. As a tourist I can assure you that I plan my vacations around an ability to see Walks of Fame whereever I go.

Why, on my trip to Singapore one of the highlights was the Capitol Records Wall of Fame outside their building in that fine citystate. All those famous Chinese recording stars were only augmented with the unexplained presence of Debbie Gibson in the middle of them all.

[Another Dimension]

That's because you're not a tourist.

No.. but I am a long time and quite proud Anaheimer (proud of the city, it's celebs minus Gwen,it's offerings and it's accomplishments).. and as a resident I feel the effort (even the collaberation efforts) would be much better spent doing something useful for the city, it's residents, the community and/or the Resort.

If the Disneyland Resort, the Anaheim Convention Center complex, Anaheim Stadium, Arrowhead Pond and many other wonderful world class Anaheim offerings haven't already been enough to bring multiple tens of millions of tourists to Anaheim annually.. I really don't see any more professionally decorated cement filling that many, if any more, hotel rooms...

[Alex S.]

Just in case it wasn't clear, I was being sarcastic (though the Debbie Gibson thing is true).

I think it is a pretty lame idea.

[ghoofie]

Well let's get the campaign started to get a star for Maynard.

[Another Dimension]

Just in case it wasn't clear, I was being sarcastic (though the Debbie Gibson thing is true).

I think it is a pretty lame idea.

Hehe. Well I kinda thought you were.. but the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Rock Walk are very popular and do attract millions a year themselves. I wasn't sure if you actually thought the Anaheim 'Stars' would draw the same (or any real) attention or not.. or even be worth glancing down for when walking up and down Harboring.

[barely]

Im a tourist. Orange County Walk Of Stars? Blah! Blah! Blah!

[Opus1guy]

And don't forget Mel Blanc, whose train announcer on "The Jack Benny Program" used to refer to "Anahem, Azusa, and Cu-camonga"

I was at Azusa Pacific University yesterday, and after having lunch in the old downtown section, I took a stroll about town looking at the old buildings. Out behind the current Police Station I found the old Azusa Santa Fe Train Station of Mel Blanc/Jack Benny Show fame.

I whipped out my cell phone and took a couple of shots (especially for tod) of the once famous but now sadly neglected and long boarded up station of old radio and television fame.

http://pictures.aol.com/ap/viewShare...bBXiXp6w%3d%3d

(Click on the "View Album As Guest" button, and then on the next page either "View" or "Slideshow")

Next time I'm out Ontario way...I'll try to see if Cucamonga's old station is still standing. I know Anaheim's is still there and it's still in use by passenger trains today. Perhaps I'll do a Blanc/Benny photo trilogy!

[WITron]

Where in Azusa is the station? I grew up in the area and have never seen it.

[Opus1guy]

Where in Azusa is the station? I grew up in the area and have never seen it.

It's at the train tracks just one block north of the intersection of Hwy 39 (Azusa Ave) and Route 66 (Foothill Blvd). This places it just behind the current Police Headquarters and the Civic Center of Azusa.