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Mickey Mouse: first fictional character

Image: Skitterphoto

Mickey Mouse, the iconic character created by Walt Disney, became the first fictional character to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. Honored in 1978, Mickey’s star celebrates his influence on entertainment and his status as a cultural icon.

The ceremony marked the 50th anniversary of Mickey’s debut in Steamboat Willie , a milestone in animation history. The star is located at 6925 Hollywood Boulevard, a fitting tribute to the mouse who built an empire. Mickey's star paved the way for other beloved fictional characters to be recognized. Animation also holds a special place in Hollywood’s heart!

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Joanne Woodward: first to be photographed

Image: Noom Peerapong

The beginning of the Walk of Fame was a process rather than a moment, which is why we cannot appoint a single person as the first one to receive this honor. However, Joanne Woodward, an accomplished actress of the 1950s, was the first person ever photographed with a star on the Walk of Fame.

Awarded in 1960, she was part of the very first group of stars to be unveiled. Her star, located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, honors her remarkable career in film and television, including her Academy Award-winning performance in The Three Faces of Eve . The image of her kneeling beside her star became an iconic moment in Hollywood history and it was the moment that set the future ceremony tradition around the stars!

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Gene Autry: how many?

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Known as the "Singing Cowboy," Gene Autry is the only entertainer with not one, not two, not even three… but five stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame! What an accomplishment, don’t you think?

His stars are scattered along Hollywood Boulevard and each one of them represents his contributions to different areas of entertainment: film, television, music, radio, and live performance. Autry’s career spanned decades, and he was a pioneer in popularizing country music and Western films. With so much on his resume, five stars are suddenly not enough!

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Harrison Ford: which one of them?

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The name "Harrison Ford" appears twice on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, but this is not like Gene Auntry’s case. The two "Ford" stars honor two different individuals. Do you know who they are?

The first star, located at 6665 Hollywood Boulevard, belongs to the silent film actor Harrison Ford, who was active in the early 20th century. The second star, located at 6801 Hollywood Boulevard, honors the modern-day actor known for his roles in Star Wars and Indiana Jones .

Despite sharing the same name, these stars commemorate different careers. It’s a quirky detail that adds an intriguing layer of Hollywood history to the Walk of Fame, don’t you think?

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Bugs Bunny: what’s up, walk of fame?

Image: Nate Biddle

What’s up, doc? Bugs Bunny hopped onto the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1985, making him one of the most famous cartoon characters to get a star. Voiced by the incredible Mel Blanc, Bugs is known for his snappy comebacks and carrot-chomping swagger.

His star, located at 7007 Hollywood Boulevard, celebrates his role as the ultimate animated troublemaker. Bugs is so much more than just a cartoon character, he has brought laughter and joy to many generations. His star is a fitting tribute to the bunny with brains, who said the Hollywood Walk of Fame was just for real-life entertainers?

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Ray Bradbury: writing his way to the stars

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Just as fictional characters can have a great impact on Hollywood, so can writers. After all, writers and their work have inspired many movies and series. True as that can be, only two writers have stars on the Walk of Fame.

Ray Bradbury, the literary genius behind Fahrenheit 451 and The Martian Chronicles , got his own star on the Walk of Fame in 2002 . Bradbury’s imagination took us to distant planets and dystopian futures, and Hollywood couldn’t help but take notice. His star at 6644 Hollywood Boulevard honors his profound influence on movies and TV through his books. Only two novelists have stars on the Walk, and Bradbury’s spot is well-deserved. Curious about the other novelist with a star? It’s Sidney Sheldon!

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Disneyland: a magical addition

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If you thought a fictional character receiving a star was a bit unusual, wait until you find out that even some corporations have their own star! But it’s for a good reason, trust us!

Disneyland, the happiest place on Earth, got its own star on the Walk of Fame in 2005. Though it’s not technically on the Walk (city rules, go figure), the star sits right next to it, near Disney’s Soda Fountain on Hollywood Boulevard.

Opened in 1955, the park is a cornerstone of entertainment history, which is why it has received a star. Even without a spot on the official Walk, Disneyland’s star shines just as bright. It’s the ultimate fairy-tale ending!

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Julia Louis-Dreyfus: a star with a funny twist

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Now, you haven’t heard the quirkiest detail. The Hollywood Walk of Fame is a place of honor, but that doesn’t mean it’s free of mistakes.

In 2010, Julia Louis-Dreyfus, the comedy queen from Seinfeld and Veep , received her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. But here’s the kicker: They misspelled her name as "Julia Luis Dreyfus" at first!

The mistake was quickly fixed, and it became a hilarious story. But a star for a comedian like her couldn’t go without a funny anecdote. Now, her star at 6250 Hollywood Boulevard is spelled correctly and honors her amazing TV career.

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Dick Van Dyke: spelling erratum

Image: Annie Spratt

Dick Van Dyke, the man who made us all want to sing and dance, received his Walk of Fame star in 1993. But, oops! They misspelled his name initially too! His star read "Vandyke" when it was first installed, but don’t worry the mistake was soon fixed.

The mix-up was corrected, and his star at 7021 Hollywood Boulevard now proudly displays his name the right way. Van Dyke’s star honors his legendary career in TV and film, from Mary Poppins to The Dick Van Dyke Show . The little hiccup just adds to the fun-loving spirit of his legacy. After all, if anyone can laugh off a typo, it’s Dick Van Dyke!

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Lassie: everyone’s best friend

Image: Kanashi

Who didn’t wish to have a dog like Lassie at home? Lassi is the most famous collie in the world and she got her star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1960. Well, at least the character did because, spoiler alert, Lassie was played by many dogs!

Lassie’s star, located at 6368 Hollywood Boulevard, honors her role as TV’s favorite four-legged hero. She’s one of only four dogs to receive a star, and honestly, she deserves it for all the lives she’s "saved" on screen.

The star isn’t just for one dog, it’s for every amazing canine that played Lassie over the years. It was only fair that a man’s best friend received a star on such an iconic street!

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Double title

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Holding an important office is a tremendous honor, but it can also be a stressful experience, right? Well, imagine not only serving as the President of the United States but also becoming the Chief Justice of the Supreme Court! There has only been one person in the entire history of our country who has held both positions.

We are talking about William H. Taft, who was elected as Theodore Roosevelt's successor and served as President of the United States from 1909 to 1913. But another achievement awaited him a couple of years later: he served as Chief Justice from 1921 to 1930, appointed by President Warren G. Harding.

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Bill cover

Image: Kenny Eliason

Being featured on the front of a banknote is an honor that only a few have received. Today, we can see Presidents, Founding Fathers, and other important figures from our national history on our banknotes and coins. But did you know that U.S. paper money has also featured Supreme Court Justices?

Yes, that's right! Only two Justices of the Court have had their faces on U.S. bills: John Marshall, whose picture appeared on an early version of the $500 bill, and Salmon P. Chase, who was featured on the $10,000 bill. Today, those bills are no longer in circulation.

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Wig: yes or no?

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Towards the end of the 18th century, some judges still kept the tradition of wearing the classic white wigs. During the first session of the U.S. Supreme Court in 1790, only one Justice showed up wearing a wig: William Cushing.

Apparently, his fashion choice was not well received. In fact, one story has it that Thomas Jefferson saw him and allegedly said, "For heaven's sake, discard the monstrous wig!" Thus, Jefferson demonstrated his willingness to distance himself from certain European customs.

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Justice and sportsman

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Serving as a Supreme Court Justice is not a job for everyone, nor is being a distinguished sportsman. Surprisingly, there was one man who did both.

Justice Byron Raymond "Whizzer" White, born in Colorado in 1917, was a lawyer, jurist, professional football player, and Supreme Court Justice. Quite a resume, huh?

White became an NFL player in 1938, but his sports career ended in 1940 due to some injuries while playing for the Detroit Lions. A couple of years later, he decided to pursue a law career, and in 1962, he became an Associate Justice of the Supreme Court after being nominated by none other than John F. Kennedy.

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Better late than never

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The U.S. Supreme Court didn't have its own fully functional building until 1935. That means the Justices operated in different locations for 145 years!

The first session of the Court, in 1790, was held in New York City at the Royal Exchange Building. Later, the Court met in Philadelphia's Independence Hall until 1800, when it finally moved to Washington, D.C. However, the capital city at that time didn't have a designated building for the Highest Court, so its members met in different spaces within the Capitol Building, even in the basement!

In the early 1930s, construction on the current Supreme Court building finally began.

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The Highest

Image: Edgar Chaparro

When someone says "The Highest Court of the Land," they're clearly referring to the Supreme Court. However, it seems there's another "Highest Court" that many of us haven't heard of before.

Located on the fifth floor of the Supreme Court building, you can find another court: a basketball court. Since it's literally on the highest floor, the Justices playfully call it "The Highest Court of the Land." Working is important, but so is exercising!

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Many appointees

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Among their many other tasks and duties, U.S. presidents are also responsible for nominating justices to the Supreme Court. These nominees must then undergo the Senate confirmation process before they officially become justices.

Throughout U.S. history, some presidents have appointed more justices than others. Want to know who appointed the most? That was George Washington, with a total of 11 justices! The second place goes to Franklin D. Roosevelt, with 9 justices during his time in office. In third place, though a bit further back, is Andrew Jackson, who appointed 6 justices to the Supreme Court.

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The youngest

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Among the many names that have served on the Supreme Court, some have stood out for different reasons. That is the case of Joseph Story, who was officially the Court's youngest appointee, nominated by President James Madison in 1811. How old was he? Just 32! Despite his young age, Story served as a justice for 34 years and contributed to our country's justice in many ways.

Most Supreme Court justices reach their positions with a lot of experience, often between the ages of 50 and 55, around 20 years older than the young Story.

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A long-standing tradition

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Have you heard of the famous "conference handshake"? This tradition has been part of the Supreme Court for many, many years. Do you want to know its origin and what it is all about?

The conference handshake is a long-standing practice where the justices of the Court literally shake hands with each other before taking their seats.

This custom originated at the end of the 19th century, and one of its promoters was Chief Justice Melville W. Fuller. From its beginnings, the greeting was intended to demonstrate that, while they may have differences, the justices must ensure harmony and respect above everything else.

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Quill pens

Image: Pierre Bamin

The black robes and the handshakes are not the only traditions at the Supreme Court. There is another longstanding custom that continues to this day.

Whenever an attorney presents an oral argument before the Supreme Court for the first time, they are gifted a fancy quill pen. That's a nice and thoughtful gesture, don't you think?

This gift symbolizes the importance of their role and their responsibilities. Many choose to keep the quill pen as a souvenir that reminds them of a crucial step in their careers.

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Let’s start with a grammar mistake

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Even the nation’s most important document wasn’t immune to typos! Article I, Section 10 writes "it’s" instead of "its," mistakenly using the contraction instead of the possessive form.

The funny part? The correct spelling of "its" appears properly in other parts of the document. This suggests it was just a careless transcription mistake rather than a misunderstanding of grammar. Since rewriting historical documents isn’t exactly encouraged, the mistake remains to this day. Even the Founding Fathers weren’t perfect proofreaders, you know?

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A republic, not a democracy

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One of the biggest misconceptions about the Constitution is that it established an American democracy. However, the US was founded as a republic , which differs in that it relies on elected representatives and a system of checks and balances.

When asked whether the Convention had created a monarchy or a republic, Benjamin Franklin famously replied: "A republic, if you can keep it." It was a warning that democracy requires active participation to survive.

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The Constitution’s British roots

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Even though the U.S. had declared independence from Britain, the Constitution still used British spellings. Words like "defence," "labour," and "controul" (instead of defense, labor, and control) can be found in the original text.

These spellings were still common in American English at the time, though they would eventually fade away in favor of more distinctly American versions.

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A comma that shouldn't be there

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Grammar nerds, brace yourselves: the Constitution contains a strange comma mistake. In Article III, Section 1, the sentence reads: "The judicial Power of the United States, shall be vested in one Supreme Court." That comma between "United States" and "shall" separates the subject from the verb, making it grammatically incorrect. While punctuation rules were more flexible back then, this particular comma sticks out as a clear mistake.

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Who signed the Constitution? Not Jefferson or Adams!

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You might assume that Thomas Jefferson and John Adams signed the Constitution, but they didn’t. But that’s not because they didn’t stand by it, it was because they weren’t even in the country at the time!

In 1787, Jefferson was in France serving as the US Minister, while Adams was in Great Britain as the first US. Ambassador. Despite their absence, both men played major roles in shaping the early American government.

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Not everyone signed both the Declaration and the Constitution

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Let’s focus on the ones who did sign both documents. Both the Declaration of Independence and the Constitution were signed by key American figures, but only six men signed both .

Those names? Benjamin Franklin, George Clymer, Robert Morris, George Read, James Wilson, and Roger Sherman. While many Founding Fathers contributed to both documents, the actual signatures overlap far less than one might expect. How surprising is this?

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Rhode Island wanted no part in it

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When the Founding Fathers met in Philadelphia in 1787 to draft the Constitution, all 13 states were invited, but Rhode Island refused to show up . The state feared that a strong federal government would overpower them, so they boycotted the entire process.

They even rejected the Constitution’s ratification in 1788 before finally agreeing two years later, by just two votes!

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They "chuse" some interesting spellings

Image: Brett Jordan

If you were told our Constitution reads " The House of Representatives shall chuse their Speaker and other Officers; and shall have the sole Power of Impeachment," would you believe it?

You better do because this spelling mistake doesn’t happen only once, it appears multiple times throughout the document.

While it may seem like an error, "chuse" was actually a perfectly acceptable spelling at the time. Language evolves, and by the 19th century, "choose" had won out as the standard spelling.

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The President cannot veto Constitutional Amendments

Image: David Everett Strickler

Presidents may have veto power over laws, but they have zero say when it comes to Constitutional amendments. Congress or a constitutional convention must propose and ratify them without requiring presidential approval.

While presidents can support or lobby for amendments, they can’t introduce or block them directly. Not many people knew this, what about you?

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The Supreme Court’s most famous power isn’t in the Constitution

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Many people assume the Constitution explicitly gives the Supreme Court the power of judicial review, that is, the ability to declare laws unconstitutional. But guess what? It doesn’t.

Actually, judicial review became a standard practice after the famous Marbury v. Madison case in 1803. The Founding Fathers expected the courts to play this role, but the power isn’t actually written in the document itself. Even the Constitution has its unwritten rules!