MOVIES TO STAR AT HALL.Byline: Dana Bartholomew Staff Writer He looks like Oscar, shines like Oscar and may be as smooth as the glamorous Academy Awards icon. But his name is Max - a bald-headed, gold-plated figurine that movie industry entrepreneurs hope to become the ``maximum honor'' award for a proposed Motion Picture Hall of Fame. A roomful of Hollywood stars gathered with promoters Tuesday to announce the $25 million hall planned for the historic Broadway building at Hollywood Boulevard For uses other than the original street, see Hollywood Boulevard (disambiguation). Hollywood Boulevard is a boulevard in Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, United States, beginning at Sunset Boulevard in the east and running northwest to Vermont Avenue, where it straightens out and Vine Street
``Another great day in Hollywood,'' said Johnny Grant Johnny Grant is a radio personality, television producer and the honorary mayor of Hollywood, Los Angeles, California, which is an unpaid and unelected ceremonial position with no legal status, given that Hollywood is not a city, but rather a district within the City of Los Angeles. , honorary mayor of Tinseltown and emcee of an event held inside the 75-year-old former department store before an estimated 250 guests. ``People have talked about doing this for years and, finally, it's happening.'' Tuesday's star-filled lineup included Mickey Rooney, Martin Landau, Ann Rutherford and Red Buttons Red Buttons (February 5 1919 – July 13 2006) was the stage name of American comedian and actor Aaron Chwatt. He won an Academy Award as Best Supporting Actor for his portrayal of Airman Joe Kelly in Sayonara (1957), a rare dramatic role. , as well as City Councilman Eric Garcetti Eric Garcetti (born 1971) is the son of former Los Angeles county district attorney Gil Garcetti, and was elected to the Los Angeles City Council in 2001. He was reelected in 2005. . ``Hollywood is alive, thank God,'' said Rooney, 82, of Westlake Village, who received a standing ovation before saluting the likes of Fred Astaire, Clark Gable and Judy Garland. ``I'm very proud to be here.'' The 45,000-square-foot hall of fame, pending city permits, is slated to open in 2004 to honor film greats and to educate the public about movie- making. The museum, said to be a ``multimillion-dollar multimedia experience,'' will be home to science fiction, horror, comedy and other film memorabilia. A restaurant and screening room for films and lectures are also in the works. Beginning next summer, the Motion Picture Hall of Fame will annually honor two actors, actresses and films for induction, along with one director, writer, producer and movie composer. The public will choose inductees from a list of candidates picked by a nominating committee A nominating committee is a group formed usually from inside the membership of an organization for the purpose of nominating candidates for office within the organization. It works similarly to an electoral college, the main difference being that the available candidates, either of film critics. Promoters aim to amass the largest movie collection on Earth. ``Our mission is to preserve and honor the legacy of those who have excelled in and had a profound impact on the motion-picture industry,'' said Robert Alexander
Many said the hall would help boost a city block marred by sex shops, strip clubs, tattoo parlors and empty storefronts. Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences officials expressed doubt the group could afford an expensive film archive, or manage a Hollywood museum, after numerous earlier attempts had failed. As for Max, said AMPAS AMPAS Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences (since 1927; Beverly Hills, California) spokesman John Pavlik, ``We would definitely like to take a look to see if it infringes on our copyright. We try to protect the little bald guy - I'll go tell the Oscar police right now.'' Others questioned the timing of the hall's announcement - exactly one week before the vote on a secession bid by Hollywood. ``This is nothing more than a dog-and-pony show dog-and-po·ny show n. Slang An elaborate presentation orchestrated to gain approval, as for a policy or product. [From the razzle-dazzle of trained animal acts at circuses.] ... a cheap campaign tactic,'' said Gene La Pietra, president of the Hollywood Independence Committee. Others simply didn't recognize the generation of stars emerging from the building. ``We came from Europe and we thought we could see someone famous,'' said Marian Gerads of the Netherlands. ``We saw Pat Boone ... I don't know Don't know (DK, DKed) "Don't know the trade." A Street expression used whenever one party lacks knowledge of a trade or receives conflicting instructions from the other party. what he sang.'' CAPTION(S): photo, map Photo: Johnny Grant, honorary mayor of Hollywood, hosts a press conference Tuesday announcing plans for a new Motion Picture Hall of Fame at the corner of Hollywood and Vine. Phil McCarten/Staff Photographer Map: Proposed Motion Picture Hall of Fame |
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