The Famous Sign Wasn’t Supposed to Look Like That
Underwood Archives/Getty Images
Underwood Archives/Getty Images
When visiting Hollywood, it’s easy to assume that its famous, mountainside sign was a grand declaration that the massive cultural institution was here to stay. Considering how much pomp and circumstance America’s film industry has imbued in itself, it’s a reasonable assumption.
However, the truth is that the sign has nothing to do with any movie studio. It was built to promote the Hollywoodland residential subdivision but the sign became so iconic (and neglected) that when it was repaired in 1949, it was changed to promote the whole district.