The Hollywood Walk of Fame is well known throughout the world but not many people know who was behind the scenes creating the famous pink stars that catch our eye as we walk down Hollywood Boulevard.
The man with careful attention to details was Bill Paternostro. Whenever the various artists, whether from a television, movie, or singing background, featured on the Walk of Fame gained recognition because of their own talents, Paternostro essentially “cemented” their fame forever.
Paternostro’s process for making each star was never an easy one but could be done within just a few days. He would begin by taking a plain, pink star and basically start from scratch by chipping the empty star away.
Then he would outline the star’s name with brass letters, including a symbol that signified what specific talent made each celebrity famous such as a movie projector to represent the art of film. The pouring of the pink concrete was the final step before sealing the polished star that tourists, and locals, would eventually take pictures of and post on the Internet to share with their family and friends.
It would seem that Bill Paternostro deserved his own Hollywood star on the Walk of Fame and although this is true, he never made one for himself. Even when tourists would ask if they could buy stars with their own names on it, Paternostro refused. An artistic man with respect and dedication to his craft, Paternostro was truly humble. He was quoted by the Los Angeles Times as having rarely attended the unveilings of his stars except for Sylvester Stallone, Dolly Parton, and Julie Andrews.
Paternostro may not have an official star but he is certainly a celebrity in his own right. The Italian-American community of Los Angeles can proudly make their way through the Hollywood Walk of Fame knowing that the studded, pink stars they are walking upon were created by Italian-American hands. Bill Paternostro’s legacy will never chip away as people from all across the globe will come and witness the wonder of Hollywood.
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