T

he Hollywood sign debuted in 1923 as a flashy advertisement, a blinking

50-foot-tall promo for an upscale housing development above the rapidly
booming movie capital of Hollywood. It was meant to last for only 18 months.
Yet the sign is celebrating its 100th anniversary on December 8 of this year,
having endured decades of dramatic ups and downs (including being obliterated in
several movies) to become an international star in its own right. It’s a powerful symbol
not just for Hollywood and the entertainment industry, but also for myriad hopes and
dreams around the globe. Each of the sign’s 9 letters has played a part in its colorful
history, involving characters past and present from movies, TV, music, and more.

BY DAN ALLEN m ILLUSTRATION BY JAMES GULLIVER HANCOCK

To drum up publicity for

Cool World, a 1992 live-
In the 1954 Broderick The second O In 1978, rocker Alice action/animated movie,
Crawford–starring FBI has served as Cooper led the Paramount Pictures
drama Down Three a wow-worthy sign’s sorely needed installed a 75-foot-tall
Dark Streets, Ruth perch in some of restoration charge metal likeness of Holli
Among the many Would—a cartoon
Roman plays an L.A. the sign’s most when he sponsored
false rumors about version of co-star Kim
woman plagued by memorable the replacement of
Either strong storms or In a scene from the the sign is that its Pranksters covered
an extortionist who movie cameos, the third O—which by Basinger—atop the sign’s
vandals took out the 1967 cult-classic early caretaker, the sign’s second
threatens to kill her including 2022’s then had fallen down D. Neighbors balked,
letter H in 1943, leaving documentary Albert Kothe, L with a black tarp Fashion designer
daughter unless she Elvis, which the hillside—in honor and it marked the last
the neglected sign to Mondo Hollywood, dwelled in a shack in the wee hours Yves Saint
leaves $10,000 for features Austin of his friend Groucho time the sign would be
read ollywoodland healthy-living behind the first of September 15, Laurent featured
him under the sign’s Butler’s Presley Marx. Other celebs altered for use in a major
for the next 6 years. In pioneer Gypsy L (records show 1987, making it the Hollywood
W. The film climaxes stretched out on and philanthropists, promotional campaign.
1949, the Hollywood Boots and that he actually read holywood to sign prominently
with a gunfight at the the O during a including Hugh
Chamber of Commerce burlesque artist lived nearby on commemorate Pope in a 2009 ad
tattered-looking sign. meeting about Hefner, soon stepped
replaced the H and Jenny Lee exercise Beachwood Drive). John Paul II’s visit to campaign,
his 1968 up to sponsor the
simultaneously on and under the Still, a sweet short L.A. later that day. with the Y—for
TV special. sign’s other letters at
removed the letters sign’s first O. film called The Other unofficial sign Yves—taking
$27,777 a pop.
L-A-N-D. Caretaker (2010) modifications have center stage.
elaborated on this included hollyweed The campaign
rumor. Dick Van in 1976 and 2017, featured a series
Dyke played the jollygood in 1993, of images of
man who dutifully and hollyboob supermodel
maintained the in 2021, the latter Claudia Schiffer
4,000 bulbs that lit a breast cancer posing against,
up the sign at night. awareness stunt that in front of, and
led to 6 arrests. near the Y.

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 I SAW THE SIGN
HOLLYWOOD HOMAGES
You can’t legally get close enough
to the Hollywood sign to touch it,
as ensured by constantly monitored
closed-circuit cameras and motion
detectors. But you can get near
enough to experience incredible
views of the sign and capture
fantastic photos.

BEST HIKE WITH MULTIPLE VIEWS BARBIE LAND, BARBIE MOVIE

It’s not a quick jaunt (5 miles round-
SPRINGFIELD, THE SIMPSONS
As Barbie (Margot Robbie) drives The hillside behind Springfield,
trip), but the Brush Canyon Trail
her Barbie Corvette through Barbie the fictional setting for America’s
takes you to either the Tyrolian
Land in the opening scenes of this longest-running animated TV show,
Tank viewing area and its lovely
year’s blockbuster Barbie movie, a The Simpsons, sports a sign spelling
unobstructed front view of the sign, BEST VIEW FROM ANOTHER L.A. ICON
Hollywood sign–esque barbieland out “Springfield” that’s unmistakably
or to Mount Lee Drive, which puts you Not only is Griffith Observatory a

PRESERVING
sign is visible on a distant hillside, inspired by the Hollywood sign.
directly above and behind the sign terrific—and free—attraction, but it
a few peaks over from the Barbie Springfield’s sign has appeared in at
with an expansive view of L.A. It’s the also offers excellent views of the sign

THE SIGN
Land version of Mount Rushmore. least 11 episodes, as well as in The
closest you can get to the sign without to the west. If you frame things right,
Later in the movie when Barbie visits Simpsons Movie and in video games.
being arrested. Limited free parking you can even get James Dean in your
Since 1992, the the real world, glimpses of our own Interestingly, the Hollywood sign itself

CLOCKWISE FROM TOP LEFT: COURTESY WARNER BROS.; ERIC VAN EYKE; CHAD ROBERTSON/STOCK.ADOBE.COM; TRAVELIB IRELAND/ALAMY STOCK PHOTO
in paved lot at Camp Hollywoodland, Hollywood sign photos. (His bust on
Hollywood Sign Trust Hollywood sign can be seen from has had cameos in several episodes
3200 Canyon Drive; additional parking the edge of the observatory’s front
has safeguarded the 9 the boardroom windows at Mattel’s of the show, including Season 7’s
in dirt lot just to the south on Canyon courtyard honors the key scenes he
letters that span 350 corporate headquarters. “Radioactive Man.”
Drive. shot here for Rebel Without a Cause.)
feet on the Mount Lee
2800 E. Observatory Road.
hillside, watching over
BEST SHORT HIKE You can take public transportation
their maintenance,
This steep 3-mile round-trip hike to the observatory via the DASH
security, and legacy. It
offers breathtaking views along the Observatory/Los Feliz route.
even offers close-up
ridge. Walk up Wonder View Drive
vistas of the sign 24 hours
to the top of Burbank Peak, then BEST VIEW FROM HOLLYWOOD
a day on its webcam
follow the Aileen Getty Ridge Trail to Surprisingly, the Hollywood sign is
at hollywoodsign.org.
Cahuenga Peak. The hike ends with not actually in Hollywood itself—
“There’s an emotional tie
the same behind-the-sign view as the but you can catch a great view of
as to why people want
hike above. Street parking on Lake it from one of Hollywood’s most
to see the Hollywood
Hollywood Drive near Wonder View popular attractions, the shopping
and entertainment complex Ovation
sign, and usually that COUNTY WICKLOW, IRELAND DOLLYWOOD, PIGEON FORGE, TENNESSEE
Drive (which has no parking).
connection has to do with Place-name signs from Italy to Dolly Parton’s theme park in the
Hollywood (formerly Hollywood
aspirations, opportunity, India have been inspired by L.A.’s foothills of the Great Smoky Mountains
BEST VIEW WITHOUT A HIKE & Highland). Looking north, you can
Hollywood sign. One of the most
or motivation to excel in is 100% her own, but the Hollywood
Beloved by locals—especially dog see the sign from viewing decks on
their own lives,” says Jeff popular sits on a sheep-dotted hillside sign is key to the park’s origin story.
parents—Lake Hollywood Park is multiple levels, and there’s even a
Zarrinnam, the trust’s in the village of Hollywood in County “When I first started seeing the
one of the best spots to view the miniature Hollywood sign on Level
chairman. “The sign gives Wicklow, Ireland. Though disputed Hollywood sign, I kept thinking how
Hollywood sign. Ample street parking 2 that’s perfect for selfies. Plus, the
them an emotional spark by historians, legend has it that cute it would be if I could change the
on Canyon Lake Drive. Hollywood Walk of Fame is just steps
to go after that American L.A.’s Hollywood owes its name to H to a D—and see how long it would
away. 6801 Hollywood Boulevard.
dream, whatever it may Ireland’s Hollywood, thanks to an Irish take anybody to notice,” she told
BEST VIEW FROM THE AIR emigrant who settled in the L.A. area.
be.” To usher the sign People magazine when Dollywood
Take flight with one of the many BEST VIEW ON HORSEBACK
into its next century, the Beyond dispute is that the Emerald opened in 1986. “It just popped into
companies that offer helicopter rides Riding a horse in the hills above
trust is raising funds and Isle’s Hollywood sign is having a my mind that it would be a good
past the Hollywood sign, including Hollywood is sublime enough, but it’s
LLSTOCK/STOCK.ADOBE.COM

exploring concepts and big year too—it’s being rebuilt with name for a park.”
Orbic Air (departures from Hollywood made all the dreamier at Sunset Ranch
locations for a visitors sturdier materials 300 feet downhill
Burbank Airport) and Group 3 Hollywood with 1- or 2-hour guided
center. from its current location.
Helicopters (departures from Van rides that offer smashing views of the
Nuys Airport). sign. 3400 N. Beachwood Drive.
DAN ALLEN is a longtime travel, culture, and entertainment writer based in
Hollywood. He’ll never forget the thrill of his first hike to the sign.

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