HOLLYWOOD SIGN

If these nine white letters perched on Mount Lee in Griffith Park are today the symbol of the film industry, they were erected for reasons that had nothing to do with the ^7th art. In 1923, the small town of Hollywood and its hills began to attract new residents from all over the country - led by the East Coast - who came to try their luck in a region with almost permanent sunshine and a booming economy. The emergence of a film elite contributed to Hollywood's development, and restaurants and nightclubs gradually sprang up on Sunset Boulevard and Hollywood Boulevard. To encourage the city's growth, real estate developer Harry Chandler commissioned the construction of the Hollywoodland letters. Originally 13 meters high and 9 meters wide, they were illuminated by some 4,000 flashing bulbs.

A flashy sign, in the image of the dream industry... But legend has it that the place is haunted by actress Peg Entwistle. Promised a successful career on Broadway, the young woman came to Hollywood in 1931 to try her luck. After a year spent trying in vain to land an acting role, she committed suicide by jumping from the letter "H". Since then, she has come to symbolize the dark side of Hollywood, the one that shatters the dreams of artists seeking fame and fortune.

With the Great Depression hitting the country in 1929, many companies were forced to close down, as was the case with Harry Chandler's company in the early 1940s. The Hollywoodland Sign was bought by the city in 1944. Then, five years later, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce decided to remove the last four letters. The remaining letters deteriorated, had to be removed and replaced in 1978 by the ones we know today. Although it was supposed to be dismantled just a year and a half after its installation, the Hollywood Sign still stands a century later, a testament to the industry it has seen grow.

Today, access to the letters is blocked by a high fence: they cannot be approached from more than 100 meters. Nevertheless, several hiking trails allow you to get close: the easy Mt. Hollywood Trail, the moderate Brush Canyon Trail and the challenging Cahuenga Peak Trail. An enjoyable activity, which will also give you a good overview of Griffith Park. To help you plan your route, visit the sign's official website.