HollywoodLand

In this episode - HollywoodLand . . .

If you've had the pleasure of visiting Los Angeles (L.A.), you surely wouldn't have missed the Hollywood sign - it has been a testament to the film industry for almost a century. It stands tall on Mount Lee, in Griffith Park (50-foot-tall letters), and is considered the iconic location for a photo-op in the City of Angels. The Hollywood sign represents fame, fortune, and glamour people aspire to achieve in the entertainment industry. However, some lesser-known facts about this famous landmark might surprise you.

It's worth noting that the Hollywood Sign was originally created as a marketing tactic for a real estate project. In 1923, Harry Chandler, an investor in the Hollywoodland housing development, shelled out $21,000 to erect a billboard on Mount Lee. The sign was unique because it was illuminated at night by 4,000 20-watt light bulbs, making it a true marvel of electric advertising. The lights were timed so that the words "HOLLY," "WOOD," and "LAND" lit up in order. Interestingly, the L.A. Parks Department eventually removed the word "land" in 1949 to better represent the entire district.

Hollywood was a peaceful community created by real estate developer Harvey Wilcox and his wife in 1883. The origin of the name is unclear, with various theories including the abundance of holly in the mountains and a friend’s suggestion.

The Hollywood sign has been vandalized many times, including on January 1, 2017, when someone changed it to read "Hollyweed." This was a copycat of a similar prank from 41 years earlier when a group of college activists changed the sign to celebrate relaxed marijuana laws.

After World War II, the Hollywood Sign was restored, but by the late 1970s, it had fallen into complete disrepair. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce demanded $25,000 for its restoration, or it would be removed for being an “eyesore.”

To prevent the loss of this iconic piece of Los Angeles history, Hugh Hefner hosted a charity event at the Playboy Mansion, auctioning off each letter to celebrities willing to pay a high price for a part of history. This effort raised enough funds to rebuild the sign from scratch and replace it with a more durable all-steel structure.

Despite this victory, the Hollywood Sign faced another threat in 2010 when real estate developers sought to buy the adjacent land for construction. In response, Hefner generously donated $900,000 to a conservation group to preserve the land. Hefner's last-minute effort ensured the preservation of the area surrounding the Hollywood Sign, which is now a protected parkland with public walking trails.

The sign is on rough, steep terrain, with barriers preventing 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 that notifies the police.

So when you’re in LA, Griffith Park is your best access point for those iconic “selfie” photos with the Hollywood sign.

I'm Patrick Ball; thanks for listening. I'll see you in the next episode.

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