Potential Buyer To Save The Hollywood Sign

By: Bill Waters
03/14/2010 10:34 AM ET

Saving the world-famous Hollywood sign has been more difficult in recent years. However, the Trust for Public Land reported that it’s about $3 million away from the $12.5 million it needs to buy and preserve hilltop property. The purchase option expires in April.

The group says nearly all the major TV and movie studios are among the contributors. It has raised roughly $9.5 million through donations and government grants. In fact, Steven Spielberg, Lucasfilm Foundation and Tom Hanks have also contributed.

Billboard Company Offers To Buy Total Stake

A billboard company is offering to save the property beside the Hollywood sign from development if the city of Los Angeles settles a lawsuit against the firm. Sky Tag, based in Beverly Hills, California, says it would pay $12.5 million to help the city obtain the 138 acres beside the world-famous sign. The company has been sued by the city over its multistory super graphics.

City law bans the installation of super graphics, vinyl images draped over buildings. However, two City Council members dismissed the idea of settling the lawsuit in exchange for the money. Councilman Eric Garcetti says the city won’t trade off beautification of one area for visual decay in another.

World-Famous Landmark

The Hollywood Sign is a famous landmark in the Hollywood Hills area of Mount Lee in Los Angeles, California. It spells out the name of the area in the 45-foot tall white letters. It was created as an advertisement in 1923.

The sign was a frequent target of pranks and vandalism but has since undergone restoration, including a security system to deter vandalism. The sign is protected and promoted by the Hollywood Sign Trust, a nonprofit organization whose purpose is to maintain, repair and secure the sign. The organization raises the funds necessary to educate the world about its historical and cultural importance.

From the ground, the contours of the hills give the sign its well-known “wavy” appearance. The sign makes frequent appearances in popular culture. Particularly, in establishing shots for films and television programs set in or around Hollywood.

The famous sign also appears in the background of the current CGI fanfare logo of 20th Century Fox. Signs of similar style, but spelling different words, are frequently seen as parodies. The sign originally read “HOLLYWOODLAND,” and its purpose was to advertise a new housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles.

H.J. Whitley had already used a sign to advertise his development, Whitley Heights, which was located between Highland Avenue and Vine Avenue. He suggested to his friend Harry Chandler, the owner of the Los Angeles Times newspaper, that the land be used as an advertisement Real estate developers Woodruff and Shoults called their development “Hollywoodland” and advertised it as a “superb environment without excessive cost on the Hollywood side of the hills.”

During the early 1940s, Albert Kothe caused an accident that destroyed the letter H. Kothe, driving while intoxicated, was nearing the top of Mount Lee when he lost control of his vehicle and drove off the cliff behind the H. While Kothe was not injured, the 1928 Ford Model A was destroyed, as was the letter.

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