It sits atop a California hillside. Nine towering white letters spell out H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D. This backdrop is known across the world as a symbol of the movies. It's appeared in countless movies and TV shows—and it's one of the biggest names in the business. The sign is 45 feet tall and 450 feet wide (13.7 meters by 137.1 meters).
Its beginnings may surprise you, though. At first, the HOLLYWOOD sign had nothing to do with the movies.
H O L L Y W O O D L A N D
Motion pictures were big business in Los Angeles by the 1920s. Several film companies had studios in Hollywood. Home builders put up the sign in the Hollywood Hills in 1923. But they didn't have movies in mind. The 13 sky-high letters spelled out H-O-L-L-Y-W-O-O-D-L-A-N-D. It advertised a new neighborhood by that name. The sign was intended to stay there only for a year and a half, but no one took it down.
O L L Y W O O D L A N D
In the 1930s, the sign began to fall apart. Blustery winds repeatedly toppled letters. And the sign stood for nearly six years without its leading character, H. In 1945, the city of Los Angeles agreed to buy the sign and surrounding land. The city bought it for one dollar! This might sound like a super deal. But many people saw the broken-down sign as a burden rather than a bargain.
H O L L Y W O O D
It seems the sad sight was bound to become a star. City officials wanted to tear down the sign. But Hollywood citizens fought to keep it. In 1949, the missing H was repaired. And the L, A, N, and D were removed. Over time, the sign became a symbol of the city and the movie business.
The sign was declared a historic landmark in the 1970s. Its original letters were taken down, and new metal letters took their place. These were designed to stand the test of time. Just like a Hollywood movie, the celebrated sign's story has a happy ending.
TO-DO
NOTES
VOCABULARY
QUESTION 3
QUESTION 3 OF 4
3 / 4
Think about the article. How long was the original HOLLYWOODLAND sign meant to last?
A.Until it could be sold
B.Until it fell apart
C.For nearly six years
D.For a year and a half