Welcomed Streisand Fans to Hollywood

January 21, 2008
Johnny Grant, the decades-long honorary Mayor and promoter of Hollywood, passed away at his Los Angeles home yesterday at the age of 84. Grant was known around the world as the colorful spokesman for the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. Whenever show-biz celebrities received their stars on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, it was Grant who enthusiastically stood beside them as the Master of Ceremonies. Such was the case in August of 1998 when Johnny Grant hosted Barbra and James Brolin at James' Hollywood Star induction ceremony.

But Grant's MC duties were not limited to the sidewalks of Hollywood. Grant was always on hand to welcome movie fans and entertainment conventioneers to Hollywood, as he did for Streisand fans on September 25, 1998. Grant was the keynote speaker at the fourth Barbra Streisand fan reunion, held at the historic Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel where Grant himself lived. At the reunion, Grant talked about meeting Barbra at the Hollywood Star ceremony for James. Those of us who were there for Johnny Grant's opening remarks at the reunion will always remember him for his hospitality, charm and warmth.