Today's San Francisco Chronicle had a follow-up to the story:
This raises many questions, of course: do cartoon characters really have stars on Hollywood Boulevard? Don't you think more kids today would know Cheeta than Rin Tin Tin? Did Cheeta use a snifter?In Palm Springs, 80 well-wishers, including Diane Weissmuller of San Francisco, were on hand recently to celebrate the 75th birthday of Cheeta, the chimpanzee who starred in 12 Tarzan movies. Weissmuller's late husband, Johnny Weissmuller, Jr., grew up playing with Cheeta. Diane is part of an organized effort to get a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
Carole Vernier [the columnist's spy in this matter] says that 'there was resistance in the past because Cheeta wasn't as famous as Lassie or Rin Tin Tin, but now that they're allowing even cartoon animals, Cheeta's fans think he deserves one.'
The chimp has lived way longer than expected and nowadays has given up brandy, but drinks Diet Coke.