Hollywood Sign
Located in Los Angeles · Website: hollywoodsign.org/
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Wikipedia
The Hollywood Sign is an American landmark and cultural icon overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles. Originally the Hollywoodland Sign, it is situated on Mount Lee, above Beachwood Canyon in the Santa Monica Mountains. Spelling out the word "HOLLYWOODLAND" in 50-foot-tall (15.2 m) white uppercase letters and 450 feet (137.2 m) long, it was originally erected in 1923 as a temporary advertisement for a local real estate development. Due to increasing recognition, the sign was left up, with the last four letters "LAND" removed in 1949. The sign was entirely replaced in 1978 with a more durable all-steel 45-foot-tall (13.7 m) structure and concrete footings.
Among the best-known landmarks in both California and the United States, the sign makes frequent appearances in popular culture, particularly in establishing shots for films and television programs set in Los Angeles. Signs of similar style, but spelling different words, are frequently seen as parodies. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce holds federally registered trademark rights for a stylized "HOLLYWOOD" wordmark used on specific classes of merchandise (e.g., apparel, souvenirs). These registrations do not confer rights over the physical landmark itself, which is owned by the City of Los Angeles. A point of legal and public confusion arises because the landmark spells a word that is trademarked in a font resembling the landmark's appearance.
The Sign is protected and preserved by the Hollywood Sign Trust, a 501(c)(3) nonprofit, which protects, preserves, and promotes the Hollywood Sign. The Trust was originally formed by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce in 1978 and modified in 1992 to add two members of the trust appointed by the city of Los Angeles. The Hollywood Sign Trust operates closely with the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, as they both have similar missions to promote and protect historic Hollywood. The Hollywood Sign Trust is made up of nine volunteers appointed by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce, the Office of Los Angeles's 4th City Council district, and the City of Los Angeles. The Trust has been responsible for installing the surveillance system on the Sign, painting and maintaining the Sign, and celebrating the Sign's landmark anniversaries.