The Hollywood sign's surprising history and secrets

The Hollywood sign stands as one of the world's most recognisable landmarks, originally erected over a century ago as a real estate billboard to advertise the Hollywoodland housing development. The sign, which once featured 3,700 light bulbs and spelled 'Hollywoodland', is now maintained by the privately funded Hollywood Sign Trust, requiring repainting every 10 years, security monitoring, and regular brush clearance for fire protection. The iconic structure has a colourful history including various acts of vandalism that altered its lettering, and a tragic 1932 suicide by actress Peg Entwistle who jumped from the 'H', leading to ghost sighting claims.

See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.