| Hollywood Sign | |
|---|---|
.jpg) The Hollywood Sign in 2015 | |
  Location within Los Angeles Metropolitan Area | |
| Former names | Hollywoodland Sign (1923–1949) |
| General information | |
| Location | Griffith Park, Mount Lee, Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California |
| Country | United States |
| Coordinates | 34°8′2.62″N 118°19′17.73″W / 34.1340611°N 118.3215917°W |
| Completed | 1923 |
| Renovated | Repaired in 1949 Rebuilt in 1978 Repainted in 2005 Repainted in 2023 |
| Cost | $21,000 |
| Client | Woodruff and Shoults (Hollywoodland) |
| Technical details | |
| Structural system | Wood and sheet metal (1923–1978) Steel (1978–present) |
| Size | 45 ft (13.7 m) tall,[1] 450 ft (137.2 m) long[1] |
| Design and construction | |
| Architect(s) | Thomas Fisk Goff |
| Engineer | Cornelius A. Van Dam |
| Designated | February 7, 1973 |
| Reference no. | 111 |
The Hollywood Sign is an American landmark and cultural icon overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles. Originally the Hollywoodland Sign, it is situated on Mount Lee, above Beachwood Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. Spelling out the word "HOLLYWOODLAND" in 50-foot-tall (15.2 m) white uppercase letters and 450 feet (137.2 m) long,[1] it was originally erected in 1923 as a temporary advertisement for a local real estate development. Due to increasing recognition, the sign was left up, with the last four letters "LAND" removed in 1949.[2] The sign was entirely replaced in 1978 with a more durable all-steel 45-foot-tall (13.7 m) structure and concrete footings.
Among 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. Signs of similar style, but spelling different words, are frequently seen as parodies. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce holds, for certain uses, trademark rights to a wordmark of staggered typeface that mimics the physical Hollywood Sign,[3] but it does not hold rights to the actual sign.[4] Filmmakers benefit from knowing that the Chamber does not hold any rights in USTPO Class 41; entertainment.[5]
Because of its widespread recognizability, the sign has been a frequent target of pranks and vandalism across the decades. It has since undergone restoration, including the installation of a security system to deter mischief. The Hollywood Sign Trust, which is controlled by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, is a volunteer organization dedicated to maintaining, protecting and promoting the sign, but has no legal rights to the landmark itself,[6] or the surrounding land, which is part of Griffith Park.
- ^ a b c "Fast Facts About The Hollywood Sign". The Hollywood Sign. Archived from the original on January 16, 2017. Retrieved January 1, 2017.
- ^ "The Hollywood Sign: A Beat-by-Beat Plotline" (PDF). The Hollywood Sign. May 19, 2005. Archived from the original (PDF) on August 9, 2007. Retrieved August 12, 2007.
- ^ http://www.hollywoodsign.us/trademark
- ^ "Licensing for the Walk of Fame". Hollywood or the Walk of Fame. Retrieved December 13, 2022.
- ^ "Op-Ed: The Hollywood sign is a public treasure, and no one should have to pay to use its image". Los Angeles Times. April 26, 2020. Retrieved August 26, 2022.
- ^ "About the Hollywood Sign Trust". The Hollywood Sign. Archived from the original on June 10, 2017. Retrieved February 8, 2018.