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This image was taken shortly before the sign's 1978 restoration. Deterioration and restoration In the 1970s, the sign reached its most dilapidated state. The illumination was switched off about 1933, new owners deciding it was too expensive. The rise of American cinema in Los Angeles during the Golden Age of Hollywood gave it widespread visibility, causing it to be left beyond that, for over a quarter century still spelling "Hollywoodland". The sign was officially dedicated in 1923, intended to last only a year and a half.
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The poles that supported the sign were hauled to the site by mules. Below the sign was a searchlight to attract more attention. Studded with around 4,000 light bulbs, the completed sign alternated between flashing in successive segments "HOLLY", "WOOD", and "LAND" and as a whole. Crescent owner Thomas Fisk Goff (1890–1984) designed the wooden sign in 30-foot-wide (9.1 m) and 50-foot-high (15.2 m) white block letters.
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They contracted the Crescent Sign Company to erect thirteen south-facing letters on the hillside. 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." The original sign, reading "Hollywoodland". The original sign was erected in 1923 and originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND" to promote the name of a new housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. There is also a trailhead near the Lake Hollywood Reservoir outside of Griffith Park, and although not an access point in itself, there is a popular scenic vista point around Lake Hollywood Park near the trailhead. Visitors can hike to the sign from the Bronson Canyon entrance to Griffith Park or from Griffith Observatory. The sign is protected and promoted by the nonprofit "The Hollywood Sign Trust", while its site and the surrounding land are part of Griffith Park. It has since undergone restoration, including the installation of a security system to deter mischief. īecause of its widespread recognizability, the sign has been a frequent target of pranks and vandalism across the decades. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce holds trademark rights to the Hollywood Sign but only for certain uses. Signs of similar style, but spelling different words, are frequently seen as parodies. Spelling out the word " HOLLYWOOD" in 50-foot-tall (15.2 m) white uppercase letters and 450 feet (137.2 m) long, it was originally erected in 1923 as a temporary advertisement for a local real estate development, but due to increasing recognition the sign was left up, and replaced in 1978 with a more durable all-steel structure.Īmong the best-known landmarks in both California and the United States, the sign makes frequent appearances in popular culture, particularly in establishing shots for films and television programs set in or around Hollywood. Originally the Hollywoodland Sign, it is situated on Mount Lee, in the Beachwood Canyon area of the Santa Monica Mountains. The Hollywood Sign is an American landmark and cultural icon overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.
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