On August 2, 1932, the iconic Hollywood sign was officially dedicated in the Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California. However, the original sign actually read "Hollywoodland" and was erected as an advertisement for a new housing development in the area.
The sign, which cost $21,000 to build (roughly $400,000 in today's dollars), was designed by Thomas Fisk Goff, a prominent Los Angeles landscape architect. Each letter stood 50 feet tall and was studded with around 4,000 light bulbs, illuminating the sign at night.
The "Hollywoodland" sign was only intended to last for a year and a half, but as Hollywood's film industry gained prominence, the sign became an internationally recognized symbol. In 1949, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce began a contract with the City of Los Angeles Parks Department to repair and rebuild the sign. The "land" portion was removed, leaving the now-famous "Hollywood" and the sign was refurbished.
Over the years, the Hollywood sign has been featured in numerous films, television shows, and photographs, cementing its status as a cultural landmark. It has undergone several rounds of restoration, most notably in 1978 when a public campaign led to a complete rebuild, and each letter was replaced with new 45-foot-tall steel letters.
The Hollywood sign's dedication on this day in 1932 marked the beginning of an enduring symbol of the American film industry and has become an iconic image recognized worldwide.
This content was created in partnership and with the help of Artificial Intelligence AI
