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Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign as it appears today.
Building
Structural system	Wood and sheet metal (1923–1978) Steel (1978–present)
Town	Los Angeles, California
Country	United States
Client	Woodruff and Shoults (Hollywoodland)
Construction
Started	1923
Completed	1923
Size	50 feet (15 m) tall about 200 feet (61 m) long[citation needed]
Architect	Thomas Fisk Goff

The Hollywood Sign is a famous landmark in the Hollywood Hills area of Mount Lee in Los Angeles, California, spelling out the name of the area in 45-foot (14 m)^[1] tall white letters. It was created as an advertisement in 1923, but garnered increasing recognition after the sign was left up.^[2] The sign was a frequent target of pranks and vandalism but has since undergone restoration, including a security system to deter vandalism. The sign is protected and promoted by the Hollywood Sign Trust, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to physically maintain, repair and secure the sign, to educate the world about its historical and cultural importance, and to raise the funds necessary to accomplish these projects.

From the ground, the contours of the hills give the sign its well-known "wavy" appearance. When observed at a comparable altitude, as in the photo to the right, the letters appear straight-across.

The sign makes frequent appearances in popular culture, particularly in establishing shots for films and television programs set in or around Hollywood, and appears in the background of the current CGI fanfare logo of 20th Century Fox. Signs of similar style, but spelling different words, are frequently seen as parodies.

Contents 1 History 2 Deterioration 3 Restoration 4 Donors 5 Location 6 Alterations 7 Imitations 7.1 Cities 7.2 Other areas 8 Use in films 9 See also 10 References 11 External links

[edit] History

The sign originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND", and its purpose was to advertise a new housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. H.J. Whitley had already used a sign to advertise his development Whitley Heights, which was located between Highland Avenue and Vine Avenue. He suggested to his friend Harry Chandler, the owner of the Los Angeles Times newspaper, that the land syndicate in which he was involved make a similar sign to advertise their land. Real estate developers Woodruff and Shoults called their development "Hollywoodland" and advertised it as a "superb environment without excessive cost on the Hollywood side of the hills".^{[citation needed]} (An unrelated film named Hollywoodland was made in 2006.^[3])

They contracted the Crescent Sign Company to erect thirteen letters on the hillside, each facing south. The sign company owner, Thomas Fisk Goff (1890–1984) designed the sign. Each letter of the sign was 30 feet (9.1 m) wide and 50 feet (15 m) high, and was studded with some 4000 light bulbs. The sign was officially dedicated on 13 July 1923. It was not intended to be permanent. Restoration company Bay Cal Painting says on its website that the expected life was to be about a year and a half, but after the rise of the American cinema in Los Angeles it became an internationally recognized symbol, and was left there.

In September 1932, Broadway actress Peg Entwistle, a resident of Beachwood Canyon, committed suicide by jumping to her death from the letter H.^[4]

[edit] Deterioration

The Hollywood sign is one of the most well-known signs worldwide. During the early 1940s, Albert Kothe (the sign's official caretaker) caused an accident that destroyed the letter H,^[5] as seen in many historical pictures. Kothe, driving while inebriated, was nearing the top of Mount Lee drunk when he lost control of his vehicle and drove off the cliff behind the H. While Kothe was not injured, the 1928 Ford Model A was destroyed, as was the letter.

In 1949 the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce began a contract with the City of Los Angeles Parks Department to repair and rebuild the sign. The contract stipulated that "LAND" be removed to spell "Hollywood" and reflect the district, not the "Hollywoodland" housing development.^[6] The Parks Department dictated that all subsequent illumination would be at the cost of the Chamber, so the Chamber opted not to replace the light bulbs. The 1949 effort gave it new life, but the sign's unprotected wood and sheet metal structure continued to deteriorate. Eventually the first O splintered and broke off, resembling a lowercase u, and the third O fell down completely, leaving the severely dilapidated sign reading "HuLLYWO D".

[edit] Restoration

In 1978, in large part because of the public campaign to restore the landmark by shock rocker Alice Cooper (who donated the missing O), the Chamber set out to replace the intensely deteriorated sign with a more permanent structure. Nine donors gave US$27,777 each (totaling US$250,000) to sponsor replacement letters made of steel, guaranteed to last for many years (see Donors section below).^{[citation needed]}

The new letters were 45 feet (14 m) tall and ranged from 31 to 39 feet (9.4 to 12 m) wide. The new version of the sign was unveiled on Hollywood's 75th anniversary, 14 November 1978, before a live television audience of 60 million people.^{[citation needed]}

Refurbishment, donated by Bay Cal Commercial Painting,^[7] began again in November 2005, as workers stripped the letters back to their metal base and repainted them white. Also in 2005, the original 1923 sign was put up for sale on eBay by producer/entrepreneur Dan Bliss.^[8] Bliss sold the sign to artist Bill Mack.

[edit] Donors

Following the 1978 public campaign to restore the sign, the following nine donors gave $27,777 each (which totaled $249,993):

• H - Terrence Donnelly, publisher of the Hollywood Independent Newspaper
• O - Giovanni Mazza, Italian movie producer
• L - Les Kelley, originator of the Kelley Blue Book
• L - Gene Autry
• Y - Hugh Hefner
• W - Andy Williams
• O - Warner Bros. Records
• O - Alice Cooper, in memory of Groucho Marx
• D - Dennis Lidtke

[edit] Location

The sign is located on the southern side of Mount Lee in Griffith Park, north of the Mulholland Highway.

The sign is located on rough, steep terrain, and is encompassed by barriers to prevent unauthorized access. In 2000 the Los Angeles Police Department installed a security system featuring motion detection and closed-circuit cameras. Any movement in the marked restricted areas triggers an alarm which notifies the police.^[9] To further discourage trespassing, the Hollywood Sign Trust, a non-profit organization currently managing the site, has provided a list of excellent photo opportunity locations, available at the Hollywood Sign Trust website.

• 34°08′02.56″N 118°19′18.00″W / 34.1340444°N 118.32167°W / 34.1340444; -118.32167
• Elevation 1,578 feet (481 m)

Land in the vicinity of the sign remains privately owned. Much of it was owned by the estate of Howard Hughes, who had once planned a hilltop mansion at Cahuenga Peak; part of that tract was sold in 2002, and the new owners are interested in exploiting a route for a road to access the property granted in 1945 by the Los Angeles City Department of Water and Power. As a result, the city of Los Angeles is considering buying the property, possibly by raising money from celebrities as was done for the 1978 restoration.^[10]

[edit] Alterations

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It is illegal to make unauthorized alterations to the sign. Although the city has occasionally allowed it in the past for commercial purposes, current policy does not permit changes to be made. This is largely due to neighborhood opposition and to past accidents. However, the sign has been unofficially altered a number of times, often eliciting a great deal of attention. Some of the more famous modifications have included:

• HOLLYWeeD – January 1976, following the passage of a state law decriminalizing marijuana.^[11]
• HOLLYWEED – December 1983, for the opening scene of the film Hollywood Hot Tubs.
• HOLYWOOD – April 1977, for Easter sunrise service, viewable from the Hollywood Bowl.^[11]
• GO NAVY – November 1983, before that year's Army–Navy Game at the Rose Bowl stadium.
• RAFFEYSOD – January 1985, reportedly done by a band called "The Raffeys", who were trying to drum up publicity.
• HOLLYWOOD II – April 1986, to mark the revitalization of area.
• FOX – April 1987, for promotion of the television network.
• CALTECH – May 1987
• OLLYWOOD – July 1987, during the Iran-Contra hearings.^[11]
• HOLYWOOD – September 1987, for Pope John Paul II's arrival.
• USCWOOD – 1987, for the annual USC-UCLA football game.
• As part of a promotion for the 1992 film Cool World, a 75-foot-tall cutout of Holli Would was installed, appearing to sit on the sign. The alteration angered local residents,^[12][13] who picketed the unveiling of the altered sign.^[14]
• OIL WAR – 1991, for the Gulf War.^[11]
• PEROTWOOD – During the 1992 presidential election, showing support for candidate Ross Perot.
• PINKYWOOD – for the 1992 Don Bluth film Rock-a-Doodle during a chase scene around the "Pinky Pictures" studio back lot.
• GO UCLA – 1993, for the annual UCLA-USC football game. Twenty members of UCLA's Theta Chi fraternity achieved the prank, and were subsequently charged with trespassing. This incident prompted the 1994 installation of a $100,000 security system featuring video surveillance and motion detection.
• PEROTWOOD – During the 1996 presidential election in support of candidate Ross Perot.
• JOLLYGOOD – When Virgin Atlantic began flying nonstop from LA to London.
• On January 1, 2000, the sign was lit up in an array of flashing colors in celebration of the new millennium.
• CALTECH – 2003, on Hollywood's centennial (of its incorporation as a municipality).^[15]
• HULUWOOD - The Super Bowl XLIII Hulu commercial for promotional reasons.
• MANNYWOOD - Commemorating Los Angeles Dodgers LF Manny Ramirez.
• DOLLYWOOD - 2001, on a promo for country star, Dolly Parton. She thanked the wonderful Hollywood two days later for this opertunity to have her name in the biggest spot in town.

[edit] Imitations

[edit] Cities

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Numerous towns around the world have created their own signs that deliberately mimic the look of the Hollywood Sign:

• Alburquerque, Badajoz, Spain
• Antananarivo, Madagascar
• Braşov, Romania
• Caurimare, Caracas, Venezuela
• Cabaceiras, Paraíba, Brazil
• Coron, Palawan, Philippines
• Ciudad Juárez, Chihuahua Mexico^[16]
• Cullera, Spain. Painted in a mountain.
• Culver City, California (on a small hill at the intersection of Sepulveda and Centinela)
• Dartford, Kent, England (Crossways Business Park)
• Denison, Iowa (hometown of actress Donna Reed)
• Des Arc, Arkansas
• Deva, Romania
• Dingle, Ireland (taken down after it was discovered to be illegal)
• Douglas, Isle of Man (The sign is "Electric Railway")
• Endless Caverns, New Market, Virginia
• Fremont, California (see Niles, below)
• Grayslake, Illinois (stands vertical on an abandoned Gelatin Factory smoke stack)
• Hammarstrand, Sweden^[17]
• Heywood, Greater Manchester, England
• Iriga, Philippines (on Mount Iriga)
• Jayapura, Indonesia
• Keelung, Republic of China (Taiwan)
• Leysin, Switzerland
• Lomas de lo Aguirre, Chile
• Los Angeles Chinatown
• Machynlleth, Wales
• Manhattan, Kansas
• Moirans, France
• Mount Panorama Circuit, Australia (Home of the famous 12 hour motor race the Bathurst 1000)
• Nha Trang, Vietnam (the sign says "VINPEARL" on a mountain in an amusement park called "Vinpearl Land")
• Niles, California (Niles Canyon – where Charlie Chaplin made The Tramp in 1915 for Essanay Studios)
• Richmond, Virginia (erected illegally, later taken down)
• Matmâta, Tunisia (the filming location of Luke Skywalker's home in Star Wars: A New Hope)
• Mosgiel, New Zealand
• Nouméa, New Caledonia
• Oroville, California
• Palm Bay, Florida
• Penticton, British Columbia, Canada
• Peoria, Illinois (on the hillside across the river from the east side of town, removed after being changed to "MOLLYHOOD")
• Pismo Beach, California
• Ra'anana, Israel
• Randers, Denmark
• Rasnov, Romania
• Raton, New Mexico
• Roscoe, New York (on a mountain near New York State Route 17)
• Peruíbe, São Paulo, Brazil
• Ponce, Puerto Rico
• Ponta Delgada, Sao Miguel, Portugal
• Reykjanesbær, Iceland
• Riverview, New Brunswick, Canada
• Rushford, Minnesota
• Saint John, New Brunswick, Canada
• San Pedro Sula, Honduras
• South San Francisco, California
• Oldham, England
• Sturgis, South Dakota
• Tagaytay, Philippines
• Trabzon, Turkey
• Trinidad, Colorado
• Tulcea, Romania
• Wilmerding, Pennsylvania
• Wildwood, New Jersey

[edit] Other areas

• In May 2008, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce licensed exclusive rights to Plymouth Rock Studios of Massachusetts to merge “Hollywood” with “East”, creating Hollywood East, a new industry trademark that represents the growing film industry in New England. The studio plans to find a site in Plymouth, Massachusetts for the permanent installation of the sign.^[19]

Other Southern California cities have imitated the sign in some way.

• In Duarte, California, the Duarte D can be seen from Interstate 210.

• A sign beyond the Dodger Stadium outfield in downtown Los Angeles features the words "THINK BLUE", a promotion for the Los Angeles Dodgers baseball team.

• Rose Hills Memorial Park in Whittier, California has a sign with the words "ROSE HILLS". It glows neon pink in the evening.

• The sign has been replicated on the side of a small hill next to the bar Legends on Bradford Road in Batley, West Yorkshire, England.

• The logo of the video rental chain Hollywood Video incorporates an artistic rendering of the sign.

• The campus of Loyola Marymount University has its acronym (LMU) displayed on a hill looking down the Playa Vista and Marina Del Rey neighborhoods.

• Presumably as a version of the famous letters, there is a large W on a hill in the town of Winnemucca, Nevada.

• The cover of System of a Down's 2001 album Toxicity spells out the band's name in letters similar to that of the Hollywood Sign.

• A "Hollinwood" sign was erected in Hollinwood which is near Manchester, England. The sign was erected during the night and the taken down by the Highway agency as the sign was a distraction.^[20]

[edit] Use in films

In several movies the Hollywood Sign can be seen being damaged or destroyed from the events of a particular scene. It is an example of national landmarks being destroyed, a common feature seen in many movies to increase drama.

In The Day After Tomorrow film, a tornado is seen destroying the sign.^[21]

In The Rocketeer, the villain crashes the rocket pack into the "LAND" part of the sign, changing it to "HOLLYWOOD".

In the beginning of 10.5: Apocalypse, the sign is seen collapsing in the 10.5 earthquake.

In the episode The Capitol Threat of Life After People: The Series, the sign is seen being damaged by forest fire and later collapsing due to lack of maintenance.

In Earthquake, a landslide causes the sign to topple down one-by-one during a megathrust earthquake.

A more complete listing of the appearances of the Hollywood Sign in the movies (and on TV) can be seen at http://www.hollywoodsign.org/movies.html.

[edit] See also

• Los Angeles Historic-Cultural Monuments in Hollywood

[edit] References

[edit] External links

Wikimedia Commons has media related to: Hollywood Sign

• [1]
• Hollywood Sign
• Virtual Earth - The Hollywood Sign
• The Hollywood Sign from the air (via Google Maps)
• Preview of "Under the Hollywood Sign," a documentary on the history and present-day life of Beachwood Canyon: www.hopeandersonproductions.com
• Bay Cal Commercial Painting - Donater of 2005 Restoration (With Short History of the Hollywood Sign)
• Hollywood Sign photographed from a flying helicopter
• Photo Gallery: Hike to the Sign

Coordinates: 34°8′02.77″N 118°19′18.10″W / 34.1341028°N 118.321694°W / 34.1341028; -118.321694