Nov 30 2009
California Hall of Fame Red Carpet Ceremony December 1, 2009
TUESDAY, DECEMBER 1, 2009, at 5:00PM, is the Red Carpet and Induction Ceremony for the California Hall of Fame. The California Museum will be inducting thirteen remarkable individuals on December 1st into the California Hall of Fame, an honor, event and institution. Governor Schwarzenegger and First Lady Maria Shriver will recognize these legendary Californians who have displayed a spirit of innovation and inspiration at an intimate induction ceremony, reception and exhibit opening at the Museum.
The 2009 inductees attending are entertainer Carol Burnett, technology innovator Andrew S. Grove, decathlete and California Special Olympics founder Rafer Johnson, film-maker George Lucas, football icon John Madden, author Danielle Steel, body-building pioneer Joe Weider and Air Force test pilot General Chuck Yeager.
Family and associates representing the posthumous 2009 inductees include state historian Dr. Kevin Starr for governor and U.S. senator Hiram Johnson, granddaughter Carlyn Kaiser Stark for industrialist and healthcare pioneer Henry J. Kaiser, daughter Linda Ardell for philanthropist Joan Kroc, nephew Stuart Milk for gay rights advocate Harvey Milk, and sister Sondra Clark for artist Fritz Scholder.
“Despite a global economic crisis, California still remains a beacon for dreamers and risk takers,” said Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger. “California is about action and achievement and we continue to lead the way whether it is in technology or the arts, science or sports, business or politics. I’m proud to honor these innovators, leaders and legends in this year’s California Hall of Fame.”
“This event, every year, continues to remind me of how extraordinary Californians are. The California Hall of Fame inductees symbolize the biggest hearts, the greatest drive and the deepest inspiration that can only be found in California,” said First Lady Maria Shriver. “It’s an honor to induct these remarkable individuals who have each made their own unique mark on our world.”
“In the four years that the Museum has worked with Maria on this program, we have been inspired by each of the inductees and the stories they have to teach us,” said The California Museum’s executive director, Claudia French. “These thirteen inductees are immigrants, movie stars, writers, advocates and masters of industry. Having them all in the same room, at the same time, is an extraordinary experience.”
The ceremonies, which are presided over by the Governor and First Lady, open with a spirited red carpet event and close with a celebratory party. At the induction ceremony, each inductee is given the Spirit of California medal and is recognized by a fellow inductee who reads a special citation noting his or her remarkable achievements.
The evening also marks the opening of the yearlong exhibition, which includes individual exhibits dedicated to each of the 13 inductees. With over 100 items ranging from historical artifacts to entertainment memorabilia, visitors will get a very rare chance to see personal effects of these cultural landmarks together in one setting. The exhibition serves as a centerpiece of the Museum’s learning initiatives, which reach nearly 50,000 children a year.
Items of particular note include:
§ Star Wars droids R2-D2 and C-3PO and other Lucas film props and screenplays
Milk’s exhibit will feature a just-opened time capsule, containing a lock of hair, a letter, a campaign button, and a rainbow flag, which until now was held by the Congressional Cemetery in Washington, DC.
A gallery of original masterpieces most of which depict Native Americans by Scholder
§ An interactive display on the creation of an Intel microprocessor for Grove
§ The Olympic torch used by Johnson to ignite the 1984 Summer Olympics flame
§ A 1953 Kaiser de Luxe Traveler car, the first hatchback vehicle
§ Madden’s 1977 Super Bowl trophy and game ball
General Chuck Yeager’s flight jacket and medals
§ Burnett’s Emmy, Golden Globe, People’s Choice and American Comedy awards
§ The original legislation creating suffrage, recall and referendum by Governor Johnson
Weider’s historic kettle bell weights
