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The History of the Hollywood Sign

You’ve seen it in Blockbuster films, on your favorite shows, and even make an appearance in your Instagram feed. The famous Hollywood sign — synonymous with Los Angeles, California, and an unmistakable part of the city’s iconic skyline.

But the sign wasn’t always a part of the city. Constructed in 1923 for just $21,000, the first version of the sign was erected to advertise a new housing development in the Hollywood Hills. It read "Hollywoodland" and was built to last just 18 months, but almost a century later, it’s still around.

By 1949 the sign had fallen into disrepair, and at one point the letter "H" had even fallen over entirely! It had become such a fixture in town that the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce decided to take over the maintenance and ownership of the sign, changing it to "Hollywood" as a reference to the city.

But that wouldn't be the last time the sign needed to be saved. In 1978, Hugh Hefner threw a fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion, where he and his celebrity purchased individual letters of the sign for $27,500 apiece. Alice Cooper even sponsored one of the "O’s" in honor of Groucho Marx!

Now that you’re armed with the history of the famous Hollywood sign, declared a Historical Landmark by the City’s Cultural Heritage Board in 1973, see if you can spot the four-story, 450-foot-long, and 480,000-pound sign from around town during your next trip to LA.