It must have been a surreal experience for those on the RT at 10th and O streets to spot the likes of John Madden, Carol Burnett and George Lucas walking down the red carpet in their awards-show best at the California Museum for History, Women and the Arts.

Anyone who actually got off at the stop may have caught Burnett's signature Tarzan call or had a chance for Lucas to sign any surface capable to be written on. Dozens of others, however, thought ahead and brought glossy “Star Wars,” “Terminator” and sports stills for Lucas, Gov. Schwarzenegger and Madden to sign, respectively.

The occasion for this "who’s who" of California’s best, 13 in all, was their induction into the state’s Hall of Fame (Schwarzenegger and first lady Maria Shriver were hosting, not being inducted). Before the evening’s ceremony, the honorees received a justified red carpet treatment for their accomplishments.

Bestselling author Danielle Steel’s gold jewelry glowed in contrast to her simple, black outfit. Burnett was just as warm and funny off camera as she has been since the mid-1960s, even taking time to joke with a group of young girls carrying signs reading “I love Carol."

General Chuck Yeager, being one of the bravest American men in history, was remarkably down-to-Earth considering he’s spent so much of his life thousands of feet above it. Though Andy Grove looks like any other conservatively dressed businessman downtown, he is responsible for every major advancement in computing and technology in the past half century with his invention of the silicon-based chip.

Rafer Johnson could have easily beaten his fellow inductees down the carpet in a footrace, but instead chose to saunter along with the confidence that can only come with being one of the greatest Olympic athletes in history.

Lucas brought massive amounts of cheers from both the journalists lined behind the press area to get pictures and rows of fans, including a kid on his dad’s shoulders holding a lightsaber. Madden was even bigger in person than on his numerous television gigs, with a broad smile stretched across his face amidst the camera flashes.

A few of the inductees were honored posthumously, with a relative or someone knowledgeable about their body of work accepting the award on their behalf. Joan Kroc’s daughter, Linda Ardell Wendfelt; Harvey Milk’s nephew, Stuart Milk, and numerous California pro gay rights politicians; Fritz Scholder’s sister, Sondra Clark; state historian and expert on Hiram Johnson Dr. Kevin Starr; and Henry J. Kaiser’s granddaughter, Carlyn Kaiser Stark represented their corresponding person of honor.

Once inside the museum’s auditorium, the people of the evening took their seats onstage.

“When I first moved to California my parents thought I had lost my mind,” Shriver said, opening the ceremony. “They thought nothing serious happened here, but I made the Hall of Fame to show everyone that amazing things are done here. This is where people can dream big and imaginations can run wild."

Shriver’s husband was next, appropriately introducing the first inductee of the evening, bodybuilding guru, Joe Weider.

“We don’t give up and we don’t give in,” said Gov. Schwarzenegger. “That is what I love about Californians. This man gave me the opportunity to come over to America when I was 21 and he is the reason I am here today."

Shriver spoke about Joan Kroc, whose philanthropy helped numerous organizations.

“Joan made sure my mother’s work with the Special Olympics would continue with her generous contributions,” Shriver said.

Each inductee got a chance to speak about another person before hanging a medal around the recipient’s neck.

Madden delivered his speech on General Yeager in his trademark rambling game-calling style.

“Only in California can a guy who doesn’t fly induct the greatest pilot ever,” said Madden. “He famously popped in a piece of Beeman’s gum before he took off when he broke the sound barrier in his jet. I mean, here’s a guy who is about to be the first person to travel faster than the speed of sound, and all he needs is a stick of gum."

Yeager himself spoke of why he did his best work in California, saying, “I flew there the most because they didn’t have airfields in West Virginia, where I was raised."

George Lucas spoke about Andy Grove, giving him his respect for his effect on modern technology.

“The cell phone, video games, computers, TVs, modern automobiles and anything else that operates with a processor, he made it all possible,” Lucas said. “Of course this means that expressions such as 'lol,' 'btw' and 'ttyl' are all partially his fault. He became successful by thinking big, creating small and bringing people together."

Burnett was honored by Stuart Milk, who spoke of the legendary entertainer’s influence on his adolescence.

“My Saturday nights as a young gay man questioning himself were brightened by her,” Milk said of Burnett. “Even though many male entertainment stars played one on TV, there was now an actual woman in their realm. She was the first queen of variety television."

Burnett closed the evening by speaking about her own experiences as a struggling actress working in a movie theater in Hollywood.

“I was a good usherette,” Burnett joked in her patented comedic delivery. “It was the manager who was nuts! But when it came time to place my star on the Walk of Fame, guess which building I decided to put it in front of?"