The sign originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND", and its purpose was to advertise a new housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. The sign's letters were 30 feet (9 m) wide and 50 feet (15 m) high, and were originally studded with light bulbs. The sign was officially dedicated on July 13, 1923. It was not intended to be permanent. Some sources say its expected life was to be about a year and a half.

The sign began to take on some notoriety after its initial purpose had been fulfilled. In 1932, actress Peg Entwistle committed suicide by jumping to her death from the letter "H". Seven years later, in 1939, official maintenance of the sign ended, and it rapidly deteriorated.

In 1949, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce stepped in and offered to remove the last four letters ("LAND"), and repair the rest. As the City dictated that all subsequent illumination would be at the cost of the Chamber, it opted not to replace the light bulbs. The 1949 effort gave it new life, but the wooden sign continued to deteriorate in the open air of the Hollywood Hills. Eventually one of its trailing O's splintered and broke off, resembling a lower case "u", and the object was becoming somewhat of an eyesore.

This article is licensed under the GNU Free Documentation License.