Hollywood Sign

The Hollywood Sign is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, but it didn’t start out as the cultural icon we know today. The sign was erected in 1923 as an advertisement for a new real estate development called “Hollywoodland.” It was built by L.A. Times publisher Harry Chandler and real estate developers Woodruff & Shoults to attract buyers to luxury homes in the Hollywood Hills and was lit up with 4,000 light bulbs. Each letter was 30 ft. wide and 43ft. tall. The sign was meant to stay up for 18 months, however, because it became such a recognizable marker for the growing film industry, it remained. in 1949 the “land” portion was removed to reflect the entire district, rather than just the housing development.