McCartney's Walk of Fame

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McCartney's Walk of Fame ceremony is one step of many for star maven Martinez

Steve Marinucci

Beatles Examiner

FEBRUARY 4, 2012

Paul McCartney's upcoming Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremony will make a lot of people happy. That especially includes Ana Martinez, who for 25 years this June has been vice president of media relations and in charge of all the Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremonies. She had been trying to get McCartney's ceremony scheduled for several years. 

But it's something she does for celebrities every week. She gets to brush with the most famous celebrities in the world on a daily basis and get paid for it in setting up the Walk of Fame star ceremonies. And she'll be in charge of things at 2 p.m. Feb. 9 when Paul McCartney comes to collect his award, the 2,460th star, at the Capitol Records tower on Vine Street. Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president and CEO Leron Gubler will emcee the event.

Martinez does all the things that need to be done in advance of each Hollywood Walk of Fame star ceremony. "Book date, find location, get permits, do press release, take press RSVPs, take a deep breath and then the ceremony is on!," she told us.

In Paul McCartney's case, he'd been approved for his ceremony years ago. Honorees have five years to schedule their ceremonies. But his eligibility had actually expired, Martinez told us before the ceremony was scheduled and needed to be reinstated. And it was, leading to the ceremony.

The new McCartney star will be grouped with the stars of John Lennon, George Harrison and Ringo Starr already at the Tower. (The Beatles star is located in a different spot and there are, as of now, no plans to move it, Martinez said.) 

What Hollywood Walk of Fame ceremonies does she remember the most?

"Sophia Loren and Kermit the Frog! Also the one that had 4,000 people at it. It was for Mariachi singer Vicente Fernandez and we didn’t expect that much of a turnout. Reminder to me: Never book a Latin star ceremony on Veterans Day! Everybody was off that day!," she said.

And who's on your wish list? "George Clooney and Clint Eastwood, who like Paul were selected years ago and just have not set dates. I will get them booked if it is the last thing I do!"

Is your job the most fun job in the world? "Oh, hell yes!," she exclaimed. 

Ringo Starr, wife Barbara Bach and friends on Feb. 8, 2010 at the Capitol Records tower, where Paul McCartney's ceremony will be held. Credit: Rob Shanahan