Hollywoodland Unveiled: A Sign Becomes an Icon
The Hollywood Sign started life as a $21,000 real estate advertisement in 1923, spelling out "HOLLYWOODLAND" in 45-foot-tall sheet metal letters bolted to telephone poles on Mount Lee. The sign was supposed to last eighteen months. It promoted a luxury housing development that went bankrupt during the Depression. By the 1940s, the sign was derelict: the H had collapsed, and the rest was riddled with bullet holes from target shooters. The city stripped off "LAND" during a 1949 renovation. In 1978, a fundraising campaign replaced the original structure entirely, with each letter sponsored by a different celebrity. A temporary billboard became the most recognized landmark in American entertainment.
July 13, 1923
103 years ago
Key Figures & Places
What Else Happened on July 13
Mario Götze volleyed home a precise strike in the 113th minute to secure Germany’s fourth World Cup title against Argentina. This victory made Germany the first…
English forces captured King William I of Scotland at Alnwick during the Revolt of 1173-1174, forcing him to sign the humiliating Treaty of Falaise. The treaty …
Eight-year-old Alexander III ascended the Scottish throne at Scone, following the sudden death of his father. His reign secured the independence of the Scottish…
Fifty knights in white mantles with red crosses lay dead in a Lithuanian marsh, their horses drowning beside them. The Livonian Order—those German crusaders who…
Zhu Di's forces seized Nanjing on July 13, 1402, compelling the city to surrender without resistance and vanishing the Jianwen Emperor from history. This decisi…
John of Kastav completed his intricate cycle of frescoes in the Holy Trinity Church, immortalizing the Danse Macabre in vivid detail. By depicting figures from …
Talk to History
Have a conversation with historical figures who witnessed this era. Ask questions, explore perspectives, and bring history to life.