Today being Ayn Rand’s 106th birthday, I was reminded of an idea I had some time ago. Ayn Rand admirers should get together and get her a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Rand was, of course, a true movie fan, first in Russia (where her first publication was an article about film) and then in the U.S. where she came in hopes of becoming a screenwriter. She ended up moving to Hollywood, working for Cecil B. DeMille, became an extra in King of Kings and other movies, married a small-time movie actor, and wrote several screenplays and treatments, including the screenplays for Love Letters, You Came Along, and of course for The Fountainhead. So she certainly has the resume for it. And, come on—she would have loved it. A postage stamp was one thing (she collected stamps and would have been delighted) but a star on the Walk of Fame? It would have thrilled her to death.
Now, the rules for getting a star: it’s done by fans, and Hollywood only does one star per year for a deceased person. It costs $25,000, and you have to prepare an application that goes to a committee. Obviously it would be difficult to get a controversial person through the committee, but many Hollywood stars are Rand admirers, so it shouldn’t be impossible. And petitions by fans would help.
I think this is something an energetic Ayn Rand admirer ought to take up.
