REVIVAL OF CELEBRATION FOR STARS BEING WEIGHED.Byline: Cynthia Teed Daily News Staff Writer Western fans may be one step closer to the first revival in six years of Downtown Newhall's Western Walk of Stars celebration and awards banquet. The walk immortalizes western stars in bronze and terrazzo terrazzo Type of flooring consisting of marble chips set in cement or epoxy resin that is poured and ground smooth when dry. Terrazzo was ubiquitous in the 20th century in commercial and institutional buildings. tile plaques along the sidewalks of San Fernando Road San Fernando Road is a major street in the city and county of Los Angeles. It starts off in Castaic as The Old Road, passing through Santa Clarita and the Newhall Pass, where upon its intersection with Sierra Highway near the junction of the Golden State (I-5) and the in downtown Newhall. But no stars have been added since 1993. Now members of the Newhall Development Committee, directing the renovation of Santa Clarita's original downtown, are discussing the possibility of reinstating the traditional celebration and considering options for its new location, method of ticket sales and resulting costs. But this week there are no guarantees. And the fate of the popular event honoring Western stars such as Sam Elliott, Katharine Ross and Jack Palance still remains undecided, Mayor Jo Anne Darcy said Wednesday. No definite plans are in the works - just a drive to bring back a popular hometown event. ``I'm still doing research at this point,'' said Andree Walper, volunteer coordinator for community services for the city Parks and Recreation Department. ``Nothing is even in the planning stages. After all, the event, if held, wouldn't be for some time - late summer or even next spring, possibly to coincide with the Cowboy Poetry and Music Festival. But it may not be; we haven't picked a place or time yet.'' Long a supporter of cultural affairs in Santa Clarita Santa Clarita, city (1990 pop. 110,642), Los Angeles co., S Calif., suburb 30 mi (48 km) NW of downtown Los Angeles, on the Santa Clara River; inc. 1987. Situated in the Santa Clara valley and nearby canyons, Santa Clarita includes the former towns of Canyon Country, , Walper said that reinstating the event would add to tourism and benefit the redevelopment of Downtown Newhall. Some of the options committee members have considered include discussions over possible banquet locations: either the Hyatt Valencia or the new Hart Pavilion under construction in William S William, crown prince of Germany William or Frederick William, 1882–1951, crown prince of Germany, son of William II. In World War I he commanded (1914) an army on the Western Front and was nominal commander in the German attack . Hart Park. ``Or we may have to go out of the area,'' Darcy said. In it's heyday, the annual installation of Western stars into the local walk of fame attracted Western fans sporting everything from western duds to formal gowns - with lots of cowboy hats and handmade hand·made adj. Made or prepared by hand rather than by machine. handmade Adjective made by hand, not by machine Adj. 1. boots. Darcy said it is up to the City Council to decide whether to revive the event. Money is an issue - the sponsor would have to cover the costs of new plagues for those inducted. And that can be expensive, said Darcy, who has been involved with the celebration almost since its inception in 1981. The walk was formerly called the Newhall Western Walk of Fame - the name was changed in 1989 when the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce complained that they owned the rights to the name Walk of Fame. Now the Western Walk of Stars, the event was created by longtime Newhall residents Tony Newhall and the late Milton Diamond Milton Diamond (born 6 March 1934 in New York, New York) is a professor of anatomy and reproductive biology at the University of Hawaii. He has had a very long and productive career in the study of human sexuality. Diamond graduated City College of New York with a B.S. to honor stars, many of whom appeared in movies filmed in the Santa Clarita Valley The Santa Clarita Valley is the valley of the Santa Clara River in Southern California. It stretches through Los Angeles County and Ventura County. Its main population center is the city of Santa Clarita. The valley was part of the 48,612-acre (19,672. . Plaques honoring early Western screen greats such as William S. Hart, Tom Mix and Gene Autry can be found along the walk on San Fernando Road in Newhall. Darcy said organizers tried to choose entertainers with ties to the area - with Hart, the late silent-screen star who built his home in Newhall, as the first inductee in 1982. Earlier inductees include John Wayne, Roy Rogers
Leonard Franklin Slye (November 5, 1911 – July 6, 1998), who became famous as Roy Rogers, was a singer and cowboy actor. , Dale Evans, Amanda Blake Amanda Blake (February 20 1929 - August 16 1989), was an American actress best known for the role of the red-haired "Miss Kitty" on the longest-running television drama, CBS's Gunsmoke series (1955-1975). , Jane Russell Jane Russell (born June 21, 1921) is an American actress and sex symbol. Early life Born Ernestine Jane Geraldine Russell in Bemidji, Minnesota, she was the only daughter of Roy William Russell (January 5, 1890 – July 18, 1937) and Geraldine Jacobi (January and Virginia Mayo. CAPTION(S): PHOTO Plaques honoring screen greats can be found along the WesternWalk of Stars in Newhall. Hans Gutknecht/Daily News |
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