Hollywood Sign, Hollywood

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the hollywood sign is actually closed to the public and is fenced and guarded by a hollywood hills associtation so you cannot physically to near it and take a picture but if you have a very powerful digital camera with a 35x optical zoom like my canon SX40, you can take a shot from very far away with it or if you have a big telephoto lens for you DSLR Camera, then you can also use it. You can get a faux hollywood sign in Universal Studios near the entrance of the Hollywood Backlot Tour for free as an alternative hehehe.

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History
On January 22, 1947, the first commercial TV station west of the Mississippi River, KTLA, began operating in Hollywood. In December of that year, the first Hollywood movie production was made for TV, The Public Prosecutor. In addition, in the 1950s, music recording studios and offices began moving into Hollywood. Other businesses, however, continued to migrate to different parts of Los Angeles, primarily to Burbank, California. A lot of the movie industry remained in the area, although the district's outward appearance changed.

The famous Capitol Records building on Vine Street just north of Hollywood Boulevard was built in 1956. It is a recording studio not open to the public, but its unique circular design looks like a stack of old 45rpm vinyl records.

The Hollywood Walk of Fame was created in 1958 and the first star was placed in 1960 as a tribute to artists working in the entertainment industry. Honorees receive a star based on career and lifetime achievements in motion pictures, live theatre, radio, television, and/or music, as well as their charitable and civic contributions.

Progress

In 1985, the Hollywood Boulevard commercial and entertainment district was officially listed in the National Register of Historic Places protecting important buildings and seeing to it that the significance of Hollywood's past would always be a part of its future.

In June 1999, the long-awaited Hollywood extension of the Metro Red Line subway opened, running from Downtown Los Angeles to the Valley, with stops on Hollywood Boulevard at Western Avenue, at Vine Street and at Highland Avenue.

The Kodak Theatre, which opened in 2001 on Hollywood Boulevard at Highland Avenue, where the historic Hollywood Hotel once stood, has become the new home of the Oscars.

In 2002, a number of Hollywood citizens began a campaign for the district to secede from Los Angeles and become its own incorporated city. Secession supporters argued that the leaders of Los Angeles were ignoring the needs of their community. In June, the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors placed secession referendums for both Hollywood and the Valley on the ballots for a "citywide election." To pass, they required the approval of a majority of voters from all over Los Angeles. In the November election, the referendums failed to receive the required percentage of votes by a wide margin.
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Travel Guide Trip & info's : www.madisonvillearts.org

The Hollywood sign is one of the United States more famous symbols, in many ways taking the Statue of Liberty's ideals of the land of opportunity one step further. Here the idea was not just success but fame. Ironically, it was originally the sign for a Hollywood suburban development but as the saying goes, it just caught on and became more than a mere advertisement or city logo. The “Hollywoodland” sign went up in 1923 and it wasn't until the late 1970s that the sign we see today was erected. The classic shot is from the Griffith Park Observatory with the letters gaining a slightly jagged composure but Beachwood Canyon is another great spot. There are numerous hiking trails in the area from which you can see the sign as well as the hilly scenery in which it is set. LA tends to have a bit of a washed out look due to smog especially later in the day so you might have to spruce things up with a photo editor later.

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The Hollywood sign has a very interesting history. The original sign erected in 1923 read "Hollywoodland". LA Times publisher Harry Chandler had the epic billboard built for $21,000 to announce his new real estate development. It was massive. Each of the letters was 30 feet wide and 50 feet high. The sign was originally intended to last for a year and a half, but has lasted more than 80 years.

When the Hollywood real estate development went bust in the early 1940s, the sign became property of the city. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce removed "LAND" and repaired the rest of the sign. By 1950 the sign was reintroduced in its current leaner form.

In the 1960s and 1970s Hollywood changed dramatically - and not for the better. By the end of the 1960s the sign was rusted and dilapidated. In 1973 the sign was given official landmark status. Unfortunately the condition of the sign continued to deteriorate. In 1978 the sign was scrapped. For three months there was no Hollywood Sign. Hugh Hefner held an aution at the Playboy Mansion to raise money for a new sign. Each letter was auctioned off for $27,700.

Made of 194 tons of concrete, enamel and steel, the new sign was polished, ready and re-erected. Since that time, the sign has been maintained. In 1995 the sign had a new paintjob. On December 31, 1999, it was the location of a huge celebration welcoming in the new millennium. You may have seen the sign as it was featured alongside the Eiffel Tower, the Great Pyramids of Egypt, and Times Square during global millennium countdown TV coverage. Since then high tech security systems have been installed to protect the sign. And in 2004 there was a gala celebration for the sign's 80th birthday.

There are several spots from where you can see the sign. Check:www.hollywoodsign.org/see.html

We had a great view of the sign from the Hollywood and Highland Center. Both of my photos were taken from there. Contrary to some information, you cannot climb up to the sign.

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Hiking up to see the Hollywood sign turned out to be even better than I anticipated. The hills are pretty steep and the whole hike is pretty much a continuous ascend with very few flat areas. The are no signs to indicate the right way but if you keep going in the direction of the sign you won't miss it. Also there are plenty other hikers if you need a word of reassurance.

To get there, come to address 2700 Canyon Drive, Hollywood and drive through the gates into a small park, drive down as much as you can before the road closes, leave the car and head in the direction of the continuation of the road. There are not too many places to turn so just keep going on the trail. Once you get to a fork on a paved road you have two options

1.Left will lead you to the front view of the sign, although not too close it is a very nice view
2.Right will lead you much closer but from the back of the sign

But hey, why choose? Do both!
One word of caution: If you start out at the park located at the Bronson Canyon entrance (which has a free parking and a few little things for the kids) keep in mind that the park closes at dusk. So if you leave your car there it is a good idea to leave yourself enough time to come back on time.

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The Hollywood sign is one of the more famous landmarks in America. Its history symbolizes the fragility of American culture, as its fallen down and been in disrepair quite a few times. It has now been taken care of for the last 2 decades, and through this it has become unaccessable- You can no longer drive above it and take photos from it. They've also made it illegal to hike up to it, though, I found a starting point on Mulholland that would make the hike a very easy one. The drive up to this point in Hollywood Hills is amazing as well, with gorgeous homes built on the hillside- all living under this famous sign.

I don't know why everyone keeps saying you can't reach the sign. I touched it with my own hand. In fact, every time I see the sign on TV or movies I can usually see the narrow dirt trail that leads up to the letter D. You do have to go through what looked like private property, but there were no fences or anything like that that I needed to jump. I just walked up. You just can't be a scaredy cat about it. Grow some cajones and go touch some history with your own fingers. Just a warning, it is a very steep trail. Not for the weak. If you search for Mount Lee, CA in mapquest you can zoom in and see the trail I'm talking about. It leads up from Mulholland Hwy. Looking at the aerial picture it looks like it would have been an even easier hike taking Mount Lee Drive up to the top of the mountain.

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he sign is 45 feet high, 450 feet in length and weighs 480,000 pounds. It cannot be reached by foot or car, but there are several nearby places to view the sign, such as the Griffith Observatory, the Hollywood and Highland Complex and the intersection of Gower and Hollywood Boulevard.

Another place that you can view the sign is from the is listed below.

Starting W SUNSET BLVD - go 0.1 mi
Turn R on VINE ST - go 0.5 mi
Turn R onto FRANKLIN AVE - go 0.3 mi
Turn L on N BEACHWOOD DR - go 1.3 mi
Turn L on LEDGEWOOD DR - go 0.2 mi
Turn L on DERONDA DR - go 0.1 mi
Bear R on LEDGEWOOD DR - go 0.4 mi
Turn L on MULHOLLAND HWY - go 0.3 mi
Arrive at 6342 MULHOLLAND HWY, HOLLYWOOD, on the L

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From Griffin observatory you can see the Hollywood sing clearly. I was trying from the city and never got to see it so well :-) I was the lucky one watching all around and not getting worried about traffic (well when I did not had my map on my lap trying to figure which left to turn LOL

"That must be one of the most iconic sights on the planet"

"Amazing really, a bit of cheap tatty advertising and it's recognised the world over. Did you know it was originally 'HOLLYWOODLAND' ? , put up to publicise a a housing development"

"Really ?"

"Yep, although the 'wood' was obviously latter felled, it had to be saved from rack and ruin a number of times. One actress committed suicide off it, and it lost an 'H' in high winds once."

"And you should never drop your aitches"

"Yes dear"