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Hollywood Sign Facts & Worksheets

The Hollywood Sign is an American landmark and cultural icon overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It is situated on Mount Lee, in the Hollywood Hills area of the Santa Monica Mountains.

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The Hollywood Sign is an American landmark and cultural icon overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It is situated on Mount Lee, in the Hollywood Hills area of the Santa Monica Mountains.

See the fact file below for more information on the Hollywood Sign or alternatively, you can download our 18-page Hollywood Sign worksheet pack to utilise within the classroom or home environment.

Key Facts & Information

HISTORY

  • In 1887, Mrs. Wilcox, wife of town founder Harvey Wilcox, met a woman on a train trip who referred to her Florida summer home, “Hollywood”. She was so struck by the name that she suggested it to her husband, hence the sign “Hollywood”.
  • Hollywood, which by now represented not just a city, but also an industry, a lifestyle, and increasingly an aspiration, was officially crowned when the “Hollywoodland” sign was erected in 1923. Los Angeles Times publisher Harry Chandler built this $21,000 (over $250,000 in today’s money) billboard for his upscale Hollywoodland real estate development. At night the billboard flashed in four stages: “Holly,” then “Wood,” then “Land” and then the entire word, “Hollywoodland”.
  • Although the Hollywood sign symbolizes glamour and stardom, it can also represent broken dreams. In spring 1932, stage actress Peg Entwistle moved from New York City to Los Angeles to try her luck with movies.
  • Soon after the stage actress received a part in a murder-mystery film, the studio reportedly did not renew her contract upon its completion. September of the same year, the 24-year-old allegedly climbed a ladder to the “H” on the Hollywoodland sign and jumped off. Her body was later discovered in a ravine downhill. Various newspapers cited her failing acting career as the reason she killed herself.

THE SIGN AND ITS SYMBOLS

  • In 1949 the last four letters were removed and the rest restored.
  • In 1978, Hugh Hefner, founder of Playboy magazine, restored the landmark with a more permanent structure. Nine donors gave US$ 27,777.77 each to sponsor replacement letters, made of steel supported by steel columns on a concrete foundation. The new version was unveiled on November 11, 1978, as the culmination of a live CBS television special commemorating the 75th anniversary of Hollywood’s incorporation as a city.
  • Refurbishment, donated by Bay Cal Commercial Painting, began again in November 2005, as workers stripped the letters back to their metal base and repainted them white.

LOCATION AND STRUCTURE

  • The sign is on the southern side of Mount Lee in Griffith Park, north of the Mulholland Highway, and to the south of the Forest Lawn Memorial Park cemetery.
  • The sign is on rough, steep terrain and there are barriers to prevent unauthorized access. In 2000, the Los Angeles Police Department installed a security system featuring motion detection and closed-circuit cameras. Any movement in the marked restricted areas triggers an alarm that notifies the police.
  • It is at 34°08′02.56″N 118°19′18.00″W at a 1,578-foot (481 m) elevation. Viewed from the lower ground, the contours of the hills give the sign a wavy appearance. But when viewed from the same height, the word appears nearly straight.
  • “HOLLYWOOD” is spelled out in 45-foot (13.7 m) tall, white capital letters and is 352 feet (107.3 m) long, so long that they were anchored to telephone poles and illuminated by 4,000 light bulbs. The sign makes frequent appearances in popular culture, particularly in establishing shots for films and television programs set in or around Hollywood. Signs of similar style, but spelling different words, are frequently seen as parodies. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce holds trademark rights to the Hollywood Sign.

MORE INTERESTING FACTS

  • The real estate developers hired Albert Kothe to act as its caretaker. In addition to other responsibilities, Albert was in charge of the maintenance of the Hollywood sign. One of his jobs was to replace the lightbulbs on the sign when they burnt out. It is a large task considering the number of bulbs and the height of each letter.
  • In order to keep people away from the sign and keep the sign from being vandalized, a specially-designed security system was developed. The Department of Homeland Security even got involved. L.A. is so determined to protect its iconic sign that its security has razor wire, infrared technology, 24 hour monitoring, motion sensors, alarms, and helicopter patrols.
  • The Hollywood Sign Trust was created in 1992 for the purpose of maintaining and promoting the Hollywood sign.

Hollywood Sign Worksheets

This is a fantastic bundle which includes everything you need to know about Hollywood Sign 18 in-depth pages. These are ready-to-use Hollywood Sign worksheets that are perfect for teaching students about the Hollywood Sign which is an American landmark and cultural icon overlooking Hollywood, Los Angeles, California. It is situated on Mount Lee, in the Hollywood Hills area of the Santa Monica Mountains.

Complete List Of Included Worksheets

  • Hollywood Sign in Los Angeles Facts
  • Periods of Years
  • Best View
  • Describe Me
  • Women in Hollywood
  • Women & Hollywood
  • Nine Donors
  • Lights…Camera…Action!
  • Historical Events
  • Breaking News
  • When You Dream

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Link will appear as Hollywood Sign Facts & Worksheets: https://kidskonnect.com - KidsKonnect, June 12, 2019

Use With Any Curriculum

These worksheets have been specifically designed for use with any international curriculum. You can use these worksheets as-is, or edit them using Google Slides to make them more specific to your own student ability levels and curriculum standards.

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