SILVER FERN TO FEATURE IN WALK OF FAME

Gary Brown with the new design for the NZ Walk of Fame stars with Kyle Lockwood's silver fern

​An Auckland town's tribute to Kiwi musicians and entertainers has to be redesigned in a 'David and Goliath' battle with Hollywood.

Twelve star plaques honour famous Kiwi entertainers.

But Hollywood Walk of Fame own the rights to any five-pointed object in the ground worldwide

The stars, similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, pay tribute to musicians and entertainers including Sir Howard Morrison, Ray Columbus, Hello Sailor, Gray Bartlett, Tom Sharplin and the Cadillacs, and David Hartnell.

The new stars will now have seven points on them thanks to alternative New Zealand flag designer Kyle Lockwood.

He has granted Brown licence to use the silver fern from his flag designs, set behind the star to add a sixth and seventh point... Read more below:

​Silver Fern Licences can be obtained for business and sports team use at silverfernflag.org/licence 

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​NATIONAL NEWS

MATTHEW CATTIN/FAIRFAX MEDIA
Gary Brown lays flowers on Graham Brazier's Boulevard of Dreams Star in Orewa in 2015.

An Auckland town's tribute to Kiwi musicians and entertainers has to be redesigned in a 'David and Goliath' battle with Hollywood.

The twelve star plaques honour famous Kiwi entertainers.

But Hollywood Walk of Fame own the rights to any five-pointed object in the ground worldwide, according to Stage 51 director and Austin Powers impersonator Gary Brown of Red Beach, north of Auckland.

The stars, similar to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, pay tribute to musicians and entertainers including Sir Howard Morrison, Ray Columbus, Hello Sailor, Gray Bartlett, Tom Sharplin and the Cadillacs, and David Hartnell.

He was approached via email by global brand licensing agency Global Icons on behalf of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, who control the rights to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, for his unauthorised use of their brand.

"[They] tried to slap a copyright on me for US$50,000 a year.

"After eight months of trying to negotiate with them, they finally got down to US$25,000 a year and I told them to stick it."

Hollywood Walk of Fame own the rights to any five pointed object in the ground worldwide and said the money would be used for maintenance, and to ensure the stars are kept of a high quality, Brown says.

The deal is similar to one The Hollywood Walk of Fame has with Universal Studios' theme parks for their replica walks.

Two others licensees are also "in the contract stage of their Walk of Fame licenses" and unable to be named, Global Icons told Brown.

"I said 'you guys are just being bullies, this is ridiculous. We're a small little town and we have no income from this'," Brown says.

SEVEN POINTS INSTEAD OF FIVE

Brown is now in the process of moving and redesigning the stars, he says.

When Brown first installed the stars he had approval from the former Rodney District Council as it was understood then that the footpath was council owned.

He now has permission from the Auckland Council to move the stars across the road to Orewa Square where there is a paved area and fountain, but just needs to the money to get it done.

Big names on the walk are planning a fundraising concert to raise the funds with a date yet to be set, but likely to be in September.

"It will almost be like a legends of the century event really. Because you don't get too many events with these guys all together. It's very special," Brown says.

The new stars across the road will now have seven points on them thanks to alternative New Zealand flag designer Kyle Lockwood.

He has licensed Brown the rights to use the silver fern from his flag designs, set behind the star to add a sixth and seventh point.

Brown says the new design has met with approval from those whose names are on the walk.

"All the guys seem to really like it."

Brown says it is important to keep the star walk as New Zealand as prominent New Zealand artists age and some like Hello Sailor musicians Graham Brazier and Dave McCartney pass away.

"They need to be remembered for the influence they had on the New Zealand entertainment industry," he says

Brown is now looking for businesses who may be interested in contributing towards the big name fundraiser.

"They will get great publicity for helping and if a good contribution, a complimentary seats to the event."

STARS ALIGN

Stars on the Orewa Boulevard include Hello Sailor, Gray Bartlett, Dennis Marsh, Sir Howard Morrison, Ray Columbus, Tom Sharplin and the Cadillacs, Suzanne Lynch, Shane Hales, Ray Woolf, Larry Morris, Les Andrews and David Hartnell.

They or their families attended their plaque unveiling outside the former Boulevard of Dreams restaurant and bar run by the Browns until April 2012 when it closed for financial reasons.

Some, like Dennis Marsh, even performed there.

Several, such as Morris, Hartnell - who is The Variety Artists Club of New Zealand patron, Bartlett and Marsh have indicated their support to Brown.

Marsh says Orewa should back its walk of fame. But if the town doesn't want the star plaques he's happy to put them outside his The Chapel Theatre at La Valla in Tuakau where he and others perform.

JAY BOREHAM - FAIRFAX  ​​http://www.stuff.co.nz/national/82131020/orewa-walk-of-fame-on-the-move
Last updated 14:12, July 15 2016

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Silver Fern Licences can be obtained for business and sports team use at silverfernflag.org/licence