On a night when questions hung in the chilly air about the fate of Power Balance Pavilion, and when it may just be a matter of months before the Sacramento Kings' fate is decided, Sacramento received some much-needed A-list treatment.

An elegant red carpet was rolled down the steps of Sacramento's Memorial Auditorium on Thursday night with its columns bathed in purple light, for the 2011 California Hall of Fame induction ceremony.

Down on the sidewalk adjacent to J Street, cameras and cellphones were on standby as a procession of cars pulled up with famous passengers.

"Magic! Magic! Magic!" came a cheer from the crowd.

And there he was, all 6 foot 9 inches of him in a sharp fitted suit, NBA legend Earvin "Magic" Johnson holding court in the River City.

"What's up, what's up," said Johnson, flashing a smile to the crowd.

Along with Johnson, fans cheered for Clint Eastwood, the Beach Boys and Rob Lowe. Even E! News was on the scene, capturing the festivities for its entertainment-obsessed audience.

They gathered to celebrate the latest inductees into the California Hall of Fame. Ten honorees were recognized for bringing extra shine to the Golden State in various fields: Pioneering musicians Carlos Santana (who was a no-show on the red carpet) and the Beach Boys, novelist Amy Tan, NBA Hall of Famer Johnson and Buzz Aldrin, the astronaut and inspiration behind the character name Buzz Lightyear in the "Toy Story" movies.

The 2011 California Hall of Fame also welcomed scientist and Nobel Prize winner Elizabeth Blackburn, Gap founders Doris and Donald Fisher, community activist Gregory Boyle and disability rights advocate Ed Roberts, and bestowed a posthumous award for California Supreme Court Justice Roger Traynor.

"It's phenomenal," said Mike Love, a founding member of the Beach Boys and the voice behind many of its biggest hits. "We sang the song 'California Girls' and took it all over the world. To get it in the California Hall of Fame is just great."

The California Hall of Fame, a fundraising program for the California Museum, started as a pet project of former California first lady Maria Shriver. Its 2006 kickoff, honoring the likes of Eastwood and Walt Disney, ushered in an annual spell of Hollywood glitz to the city.

Personal artifacts from 2011's California Hall of Fame inductees are on display at the California Museum.

"This is a place where people found gold, where people created the movie industry, where Facebook and Apple were founded," said Gov. Jerry Brown. "People come to California to do not what's been done, but to create what hasn't happened yet."

Now in its sixth year, the induction ceremony was open for the first time to the general public – albeit for $75 to $125 a pop.

The fee also bought a California Hall of Fame Individual Membership, which included entry to the event, free admission to the California Museum for one year and other perks.

But for free, spectators could've staked out a spot in front of the Memorial Auditorium for a possible brush with fame.

Police mounted on horseback surveyed the scene, while a mosh pit of camera crews jostled for a perfect shot.

Carol Ruth Barnes of Folsom also stood by with her camera, cherishing her fresh shots of celebrities.

"I got to see Rob Lowe – and Mike Love and Al Jardine (of the Beach Boys)," Barnes said. "I really came here just to see the Beach Boys, but it's been fun."

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