Vintage 1930s Hollywood Clip: Aerial View of the Hollywoodland Sign

Built by Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler as an epic $21,000 billboard for his upscale Hollywoodland real estate development, the Sign soon took on the role of giant marquee for a city that was constantly announcing its own gala premiere.

The billboard was massive. Each of the original 13 letters was 30 feet wide and 50 feet tall, constructed of 3x9 metal squares rigged together by an intricate frame of scaffolding, pipes, wires and telephone poles all of which had to be dragged up Mt. Lee on dirt paths.

Few realize that a giant white dot (35 feet in diameter, with 20-watt lights on the perimeter) was constructed below the Sign to catch the eye. The Sign itself featured 4,000 20-watt bulbs, spaced 8 inches apart. At night the Sign blinked into the Hollywood night first Holly then wood and finally land, punctuated by a giant period. The effect was truly spectacular, particularly for pre-Vegas sensibilities.

Category:

Entertainment

Tags:

• hollywood
• sign
• hollywoodland
• los
• angeles
• times
• harry
• chandler
• 1930

[trapped45]

I wish they would add the "Land" back to Hollywood. Keep it all original-like. :)

[davidstighansen]

There's no lights on it now and after dark you can't see it.

[JollyRodders]

This sign started life as an advert for a real estae agent.

[GeicoGabs]

@STONECOLD1987 they didn't remove it ; they say ghost knocked it  down

[STONECOLD1987]

wow never knew Hollywood had "Land" before? Pretty neat, wonder why they removed it?