JULY 13

On this date in 1923, the famous sign that sits on a hill above the 'movie capitol of the world' was dedicated. The sign read "HOLLYWOODLAND".  It was originally an advertisement for a real estate development.

The letters were 50 ft high and 30 ft wide and lit by 4,000 bulbs.  In 1940, the caretaker of the sign accidentally drove his car off the road and totaled it and the letter "H".  Not until the sign was renovated by the chamber of commerce in 1949 were the last four letters discarded.

In 1978, a complete renovation of the sign was undertaken.  Each new letter is 45 ft tall and the sign spans 350 ft.  Nine donors were sought to finance the new sign.  Notable among them are Hugh Hefner who bought the letter "Y" and Alice Cooper who bought one of the "O's".



o.o