The nine Hollywood letters perched on the Los Angeles Heights were illuminated the day before yesterday, in commemoration of the centenary of the founding of the logo, which has become a symbol of the center of the American film industry, in a gesture that has not happened for decades. Over the years, this huge white sign has become almost as famous as Los Angeles movie stars.
Throughout its history, the nine letters occupied an important position in many films and series set in Los Angeles, and were virtually destroyed several times, with special effects, as if they symbolized the danger of the disappearance of cinema and America.
The landmark has also been the site of real-life tragedies, such as British actress Peg Entwistle’s suicide by jumping off the letter H in 1932.
Despite the popularity of the sign, which constitutes a must-stop for any visitor in Los Angeles, its history is still unknown to many. Created in 1923, it originally consisted of 13 letters, “HOLLYWOODLAND”, and was intended to promote a new residential area.
This massive billboard, in which thousands of lights were regularly lit to draw attention to the homes built directly below it, imposed its symbolism thanks to the rise of the Los Angeles film industry.
However, the letters were almost destroyed. In the 1940s, residents asked the city to remove the sign where the letter “H” was damaged by the wind.
But the city decided to repair the sign, and in 1949, removed the word “Land” to keep “Hollywood” as it is known today.
After three decades of scorching heat and weather, the 15-metre-high wooden letters are in disrepair once again. The first letter “O” shrank to become a small letter “U,” and the second letter “O” collapsed.
That’s when Alice Cooper, the founding father of rock music, entered the scene and led an aggressive campaign to restore the sign to its former glory by donating $28,000.
Eight other people, including actor Gene Autry, Playboy founder Hugh Hefner, and singer Andy Williams, did the same, each paying the cost of caring for a letter of the sign.
• 9 celebrities each pledged to take care of a letter of the sign.
• British actress Big Entwistle committed suicide by jumping from the top of the letter H in 1932.
