The original sign was actually intended as an advertisement for a new housing development. It was erected in 1923 and the original sign said, "HOLLYWOODLAND." Harry Chandler, who owned the Los Angeles Times newspaper and was involved with the land syndicate that was developing a housing project in the hills above the Hollywood district, was advised by his friend H. J. Whitley to erect a sign to advertise the project.
Thomas Fisk Goff designed the original sign. He was the owner of Crescent Sign Company that had contracted to erect the sign. The sign was not intended to be a permanent fixture. It was actually expected to only last about one and one-half years. But the fledgling film industry boomed, and the sign became recognizable around the world, so it was left in place.
In 1932, Peg Entwistle committed suicide by jumping to her death off the letter "H." She felt that the film industry had rejected her.
The sign was well maintained until 1939. Maintenance was discontinued and the sign quickly fell into disrepair. The letter "H" was accidentally destroyed in the early 1940s.
The City of Los Angeles Parks Department was contracted by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in 1949 to repair and rebuild the sign. The last four letters, "L-A-N-D," were eliminated so that the sign would no longer advertise a housing subdivision, but rather Hollywood itself.
The wooden letters, however, continued to deteriorate and in 1978, led by shock rocker Alice Cooper, donations were made and the wooden letters were replaced by letters made of steel.
Today the Hollywood sign is made up of nine letters that each stand 45 feet tall.
Read more - The Hollywood Sign: Fantasy and Reality of an American Icon (Icons of America)
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