Welcome to Hollywoodland…I mean Hullywood-Hollywood!: The Few Assumed Names of the Hollywood Sign

On the third day of the Carpenters tour, we visited LA to see the Carpenters Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame. After an hour of getting through congested LA traffic, the Hollywood sign appeared on the hill, and everyone took pictures of the iconic sign. 

Going way back in 1887, LA first only drew in people seeking opportunity in wealth like many other pioneers heading west. The first movie studio would not come around until 1907 when a silent movie company from Chicago wanted to use LA as a backdrop for a scene. Then, a studio from New Jersey caught wind and set up shop. In the early years, many old barns were used as sound stages. Over the years, people would come in droves to LA to use it as a hotspot for movie making, and it would eventually be on the map in 1915. The landscape has captured the imaginations of many people.

In 1923, Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler built a sign that read Hollywoodland to promote real estate in the LA area. This is when the sign started becoming a significant landmark in the valley. When people saw the sign, hopes and dreams filled their eyes. Unfortunately, there has also been tragedy there. In 1932, an aspiring actress named Peg Entwistle took her life when she jumped from the H of the Hollywood sign after being unable to make it big in Hollywood. 

In 1949, the LAND part of the sign was removed and shortened to Hollywood, as the LAND part of the sign was initially there to promote real estate. LA declined briefly in the 60s and 70s when studios set up shops in other parts of California. During this time, the sign faced much damage over the years. For a brief time, the Hollywood sign went under the new alias Hullywood when a strong wind blew off the top part of the “o” letter. Much restoration was desired. 

Fortunately, the Hollywood sign was not just a symbol of the entertainment industry, but also a testament to human resilience. In 1978, Alice Cooper and the Chamber of Commerce stepped in to save the sign, giving it a more stable structure. Each letter was donated by a different person, symbolizing the collective effort to preserve this iconic landmark: H- Terrence Donnelly, O- Alice Cooper, L- Les Kelley, L- Gene Autry, Y- Hugh Hefner, W-Andy Williams, O-Giovanni Mazza,  O-Warner Bros. Records, and D-Dennis Lidtke.

The sign remains standing, a beacon for LA. Some references to the original sign name are present. One gift shop uses Hollywoodland in its name. It's constant name change has also been the source of jokes in media one example in the Netflix show Bojack Horseman when Bojack stole the "D" from the Hollywood sign and the rest of the series refered to Hollywood as "Hollywoo". Who knows, maybe there will be another name change in the future.