Even as new inductees arrive, some Tinseltown historians say the legendary Hollywood Walk of Fame has lost its luster.The iconic strip that began with a groundbreaking ceremony in 1960 and now spans 15 blocks of Hollywood Boulevard and three blocks of Vine Street has experienced physical neglect.Many of the 2,852 five-pointed brass and terrazzo stars honoring entertainment industry achievements are dirty, cracked and covered in grime.They sit in Hollywood’s commercial center full of discount souvenir shops, panhandlers and pushy vendors.
Trash and unpleasant odors are common, while the general overall condition of the boulevard leaves the area feeling neglected and far from glamorous.Christina Applegate attends a ceremony honoring Christina Applegate with a star on the Hollywood Walk Of Fame on Nov.14, 2022, in Los Angeles, California.
(Emma McIntyre/Getty Images for Netflix)CHRISTIAN SLATER OPENS UP ABOUT ‘WEIRD’ REALITY OF FAME AFTER 5 DECADES IN HOLLYWOOD"It’s really tough today because of what Hollywood has become… there’s very aggressive people on the street," author and pop culture historian Chris Epting told Fox News Digital."Unfortunately, Hollywood’s been allowed to fall into a really sad state.
It’s outright dangerous in many parts."Epting, who remembers going to the Walk of Fame as far back as the 1970s when he was a kid, noted that when Hollywood as a place began falling apart, it took the Walk of Fame right along with it."There’s no way to separate the two," he added."I think a lot of people lament the fact that part of Hollywood — really most of Hollywood — is not that friendly or inviting the way it once was and the stars on the sidewalk pay that price as well."Epting, who co-authored the 2017 memoir "Change of Seasons: A Memoir" with musician John Oates of the R&B band Hall & Oates, recalled being with Oates the day he and Hall received their star right in front of the Musicians Institute."It’s kind of cool to be p...