Photos show the Hollywood sign's transformation from a temporary billboard to an iconic landmark

Melissa WellsJan 14, 2024, 23:00 IST

Hollywood sign located on Mount Lee in Los Angeles, California.turtix/Shutterstock

Dedicated on July 13, 1923, the Hollywood sign in California is now known around the world.
The structure wasn't initially meant to last more than two years.

The Hollywood sign is a shining monument to the entertainment industry and a tourist attraction as culturally iconic for the city of Los Angeles as the Golden Gate Bridge is to San Francisco.

Towering over the City of Angels, this structure has a storied history, from a short-lived advertisement to a famous landmark.

Here is that evolution in photos as the structure, which was dedicated in 1923, celebrates its centennial.

The Hollywood sign, which is situated on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills area of the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooks the Hollywood district of Los Angeles.

The Hollywood sign overlooks the Hollywood district of Los Angeles.Steve Proehl/Getty Images

Originally reading "Hollywoodland," the first version of the sign was constructed in 1923 to promote an affluent new housing development in the Hollywood Hills.

A group of men working on the "Hollywoodland" housing development pose for a portrait beneath the sign circa 1925 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

Initially meant to be an 18-month-long advertisement, it was built by former Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler for about $378,000 today.

Circa 1935: Hollywoodland sign, Hollywood, California.Hulton Archive/Getty Images

The original 13 letters were 30 feet wide and about 43 feet tall, and they featured 4,000 bright white lights that blinked at night.

The illuminated Hollywoodland sign at night on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, overlooking Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

In 1932, the sign became an emblem for Hollywood's dark side when, after setbacks in the industry, actress Peg Entwistle scaled a ladder to the top of the "H" and jumped, killing herself. She became known as "The Hollywood Sign Girl."

"Hollywoodland" sign, California.Bettmann/Getty Images

In 1932, the sign became an emblem for Hollywood's dark side when, after setbacks in the industry, actress Peg Entwistle scaled a ladder to the top of the "H" and jumped, killing herself. She became known as "The Hollywood Sign Girl."

When the Great Depression hit, the new owner, M.H. Sherman Company, had to power down the display and ultimately abandon it.

A sign advertises the opening of the Hollywoodland housing development in the hills on Mulholland Drive overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles, California.Underwood Archives/Getty Images

The M.H. Sherman Company officially gave the dilapidated sign to the City of Los Angeles in December 1944.

Les Tremayne and and Eileen Palmer with their bicycles in the Hollywood Hills, with the Hollywoodland sign in the background on August 3, 1940.CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images

Despite efforts by the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission to have the sign torn down in 1947, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce proposed to restore it after locals protested.

The Hollywood sign on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, overlooking Hollywood in Los Angeles, California.Michael Ochs Archives

Despite efforts by the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission to have the sign torn down in 1947, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce proposed to restore it after locals protested.

"Hollywoodland" became "Hollywood" in 1949 — so it no longer just referenced the original housing development — when the City of Los Angeles officially took ownership.

A 1950s Austin car driving up a road in the Hollywood Hills with the Hollywood Sign in the distance in Los Angeles, California.ClassicStock/Getty Images

"Hollywoodland" became "Hollywood" in 1949 — so it no longer just referenced the original housing development — when the City of Los Angeles officially took ownership.

The billboard would appear in many high-profile movies over the decades, from "Earthquake" to "Superman."

Extras portraying Roman soldiers resting in treeless valley, with Hollywood sign visible on hill in background during filming of Julius Caesar.John Swope/Getty Images

The Los Angeles Heritage Commission declared the then-50-year-old sign a cultural landmark in 1973.

The Hollywood sign on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills, overlooking Hollywood in Los Angeles, California, December 7, 1972.Express/Getty Images

In August 1978, Playboy's Hugh Hefner symbolically auctioned off the sign to celebrities for $27,700 a letter to raise money to reconstruct it.

(L-R) John McVie, Mick Fleetwood, Bob Welch, and Christine McVie of the rock group Fleetwood Mac pose for a portrait under the Hollywood Sign in August 1974 in Los Angeles, California.Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images

The new sign, revealed in November 1978, is the same sign we see today. It's 450 feet long and weighs 480,000 pounds.

Hollywood Sign on July 24, 1984, in Los Angeles, California.Bob Riha Jr/Getty Images

While shooting for a National Geographic cover story in 1997, Michelle Yeoh performed a daring stunt dangling from a helicopter over the Hollywood sign.

Actress Michelle Yeoh in mid-air over the famous Hollywood sign in Los Angeles, California.Joe McNally/Getty Images

The repainting of the Hollywood sign, which happens about once a decade, is a process that takes weeks.

Painters work on the Hollywood Sign on November 16, 2005 in Los Angeles, California.David McNew/Getty Images

The sign has been altered many times over the years. It was changed to "Holywood" ahead of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1987, and pranksters switched the letters to read "Hollyweed" in 1976 and 2017.

Hollywood sign changed to Hollyweed on January 1, 2017 in Los Angeles, California.Axelle/Bauer-Griffin/Getty Images

The sign has been altered many times over the years. It was changed to "Holywood" ahead of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1987, and pranksters switched the letters to read "Hollyweed" in 1976 and 2017.

In 2023, Los Angeles commemorated 100 years of the sign by announcing October 31 as the official "Hollywood Sign Day."

The Hollywood sign at dusk, circa 2023.Mario Tama/Getty Images

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Photos show the Hollywood sign's transformation from a temporary billboard to an iconic landmark

The Hollywood sign, which is situated on Mount Lee in the Hollywood Hills area of the Santa Monica Mountains, overlooks the Hollywood district of Los Angeles.

Originally reading "Hollywoodland," the first version of the sign was constructed in 1923 to promote an affluent new housing development in the Hollywood Hills.

Initially meant to be an 18-month-long advertisement, it was built by former Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler for about $378,000 today.

The original 13 letters were 30 feet wide and about 43 feet tall, and they featured 4,000 bright white lights that blinked at night.

In 1932, the sign became an emblem for Hollywood's dark side when, after setbacks in the industry, actress Peg Entwistle scaled a ladder to the top of the "H" and jumped, killing herself. She became known as "The Hollywood Sign Girl."

When the Great Depression hit, the new owner, M.H. Sherman Company, had to power down the display and ultimately abandon it.

The M.H. Sherman Company officially gave the dilapidated sign to the City of Los Angeles in December 1944.

Despite efforts by the Los Angeles Recreation and Parks Commission to have the sign torn down in 1947, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce proposed to restore it after locals protested.

"Hollywoodland" became "Hollywood" in 1949 — so it no longer just referenced the original housing development — when the City of Los Angeles officially took ownership.

The billboard would appear in many high-profile movies over the decades, from "Earthquake" to "Superman."

The Los Angeles Heritage Commission declared the then-50-year-old sign a cultural landmark in 1973.

In August 1978, Playboy's Hugh Hefner symbolically auctioned off the sign to celebrities for $27,700 a letter to raise money to reconstruct it.

The new sign, revealed in November 1978, is the same sign we see today. It's 450 feet long and weighs 480,000 pounds.

While shooting for a National Geographic cover story in 1997, Michelle Yeoh performed a daring stunt dangling from a helicopter over the Hollywood sign.

The repainting of the Hollywood sign, which happens about once a decade, is a process that takes weeks.

The sign has been altered many times over the years. It was changed to "Holywood" ahead of Pope John Paul II's visit in 1987, and pranksters switched the letters to read "Hollyweed" in 1976 and 2017.

In 2023, Los Angeles commemorated 100 years of the sign by announcing October 31 as the official "Hollywood Sign Day."