Legends from the dream factory
There are many myths surrounding the Hollywood Sign
The famous sign in the Hollywood Hills.
© BCFC/Shutterstock.com
There are numerous myths surrounding the famous Hollywood Sign, which celebrated its 100th birthday last year.
Letters around 14 meters high are emblazoned above the building like a landmark in the Hollywood Hills Dream factory. Everyone has probably seen a picture of the impressive lettering at least once. There are numerous myths surrounding the Hollywood Sign, which celebrated its 100th birthday in 2023. And that actually starts with the creation.
The advertising sign and the drunk German
A group of interests, including “Los Angeles Times” publisher Harry Chandler (1864-1944), had a “Hollywoodland” sign erected in 1923 for $21,000 as an advertising billboard for a real estate project. It was only supposed to last 18 months; the “land” was removed as part of a later renovation. Many people believe that the current landmark’s birthday falls on July 13, 1923, according to a statement from the Hollywood Sign Trust, which is responsible for its preservation. However, there is no evidence of this. It is not recorded anywhere when exactly work on the large letters began or whether there were official celebrations at that time. However, it is well noted in an article in the “Los Angeles Evening Express” at the time that the Hollywood Sign was first illuminated on December 8, 1923.
Albert Kothe, a German immigrant, took care of the Hollywood Sign back then – even when the “H” fell over in the 1940s. According to the Hollywood Sign Trust, there are still numerous myths in this regard today. Kothe allegedly drove a 1928 Ford Model A into the letters while drunk. It is also alleged that he stole copper from the sign and sold it, which led to the letter falling. The most likely explanation is simply that decay combined with strong winds was responsible.
And no, the Hollywood sign is not part of the estate of the late “Playboy” founder Hugh Hefner (1926-2017). In 1978, the publisher held a gala at the famous Playboy Mansion to raise money for a new building. Rocker Alice Cooper (76), among others, symbolically acquired the “O” there. Today, fiduciary responsibility for the letters lies with the Hollywood Sign Trust; the property on which they are located is owned by the city of Los Angeles.
Supernatural phenomena
There are also supernatural myths surrounding the landmark. According to the Hollywood Sign Trust, there are also people who believe that the letters act like a kind of lighthouse as a signal for aliens and that extraterrestrial life forms are attracted to them. Of course, there is no evidence for the completely made-up story.
The myth that the Hollywood sign is supposed to be haunted cannot be proven, but it does have a serious background. The young actress Peg Entwistle (1908-1932) achieved notoriety as the “Hollywood Sign Girl” dubbed by the tabloid press – a kind of symbol for the dark side of the dream factory. After failing to become successful in Hollywood, she climbed the letter “H” and jumped to her death at just 24 years old. According to an unsubstantiated legend, shortly after her death, a letter addressed to her arrived at her uncle, with whom she had lived, confirming her acceptance of the lead role in a play about a woman who commits suicide.