Alabama Walk of Fame

The Alabama Walk of Fame was created to honor famous Alabamians in a fashion similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame. The original idea was suggested by Michael Gene Pierce. It is composed of stars of rose-colored marble in the sidewalk located on the south side of 3rd Avenue North, between 18th Street North and 19th Street North. It is no coincidence that this is also the location of the Alabama Theatre.

Inductees

The original group of inductees were:

• Phillip Alford, actor, To Kill a Mockingbird
• John Badham, director
• Mary Badham, actress, To Kill a Mockingbird
• Tallulah Bankhead, actress
• Pat Buttram, actor
• Nell Carter, actress
• Truman Capote, author
• Fannie Flagg, actress and author
• Louise Fletcher, actress
• Polly Holliday, actress
• Kate Jackson, actress
• Dean Jones, actor
• Harper Lee, author, To Kill a Mockingbird
• George Lindsey, actor
• Jim Nabors, actor
• Wayne Rogers, actor

Many of them attended the induction ceremony in person. Not all the inductees were born in Alabama, notably John Badham and Truman Capote, but all were raised in Alabama.

Only one person has been added to the Walk of Fame since the opening ceremony: Stanleigh Malotte, house organist of the Alabama Theatre from the 1930's to the 1950's. When the Walk debuted in 1989, the star directly in front of the Alabama was inscribed "Alabama Walk of Fame." It was replaced by Malotte's and presented during a special tribute at the Alabama Theatre on October 19, 1991.

Induction ceremony

The induction ceremony for the first and only group of honorees was held September 9, 1989 at the Alabama Theatre. The event was part of the Alabama Reunion, a two-year promotion created by the Alabama Department of Tourism. It was hosted by Catherine Gee, Elizabeth Fischer, Janet Hall, Gene Lively, and Neilan Tyree and featured entertainment by Alabama Celebration, a song and dance group created especially for the Alabama Reunion.

Selection committee

The Walk of Fame selection committee came from a variety of sources. It included:

• Bob Carlton, entertainment writer for The Birmingham News
• Mary Jean Parson, communications writer, teacher, and consultant
• John Ray, theatrical and special events promoter
• Judy Stone, executive director of Alabama Public Television
• Mark Stricklin, director of the Alabama Film Office
• Gail Trechsel, Alabama State Council on the Arts
• Cecil Whitmire, president of Birmingham Landmarks

References

• "Stars Fell on the Alabama Reunion" program (1989).