5 Fascinating, Unknown Facts About The Iconic Hollywood Sign

Hollywood. It is a paradise for moviegoers. It is the tinsel-town residence where enigmatic movie stars gyrate around box-office hits and bathe in glowing showers of incessant fan following. No matter what you say, there are more ways to describe Hollywood than what you would manage, maybe a series styled around Harry Potter or Die Hard would suffice!

It is both an igniter of hopes and slayer of dreams. Etched in the heart of Los Angeles is this final destination all artists aspire to reach. At it’s feet lies glamour and all around it ecstatic highs. 

But it ought to be said, quite like the enigma associated with perhaps one of the most famous landmarks in the world, it is the iconic Hollywood sign that commands perhaps just as much interest or attention as the films produced in its vicinity. 

So whether you are a tear-jerker obsessing over the golden age of Hollywood or a nerd laughing out sheepishly in mushy teenage romances, it isn’t uncommon to bump into this legendary insignia. But while it is common to be thrilled at the sight of the Hollywood sign, it is uncommon to stare past its history to ascertain some facts that aren’t that common to public knowledge.

RapidLeaks present you 5 lesser-known facts about the one of a kind signage on the Hollywood hills

1. A growing history

While Hollywood has been producing memorable tales, seeped in history and culture with rich vigour, the famous Hollywood sign has a history of its own. Apparently, the popular icon is as many as 90-years-old and was created alongside the famous 1925 release Ben-Hur.

2. The signage didn’t exactly have movies in initial conception

At some stage, it ought to be asked, what do Hollywood and the signage have in common? Real Estate. Shocked? That is precisely what the golden symbol signifying movies and film culture intended to highlight when it was first created and not exactly movies.

3. The sign that reads Hollywood now didn’t exactly read that earlier

This is a tricky one. Isn’t it? In the bygone era, several years ago, when the development of this classic signage came about, there were 13-letters spelt instead of the 9 you find today. 

Confusing, right? It can be. So previously the Hollywood symbol was meant to be Hollywoodland, meant to popularise the development and culture around the Hollywood area of Los Angeles. Later on, the hills played out the message the world knows famously today as just Hollywood.

4. A staggering number of lightbulbs that glowed to illuminate the sign

According to estimates, an incredible 4000 lightbulbs were used and timed together to create the bright sparkle that’s associated with the Hollywood sign. Remember, initially, it read Hollywoodland together. The great number of bulbs required for the process was owing to the fact that a single bulb would cater to no more than producing 8 watts of electricity at a time and therefore, the number was increased to make the lofty insignia glow paramount.

5.  The sign actually had a caretaker

If there’s one thing that is bound to happen in the fashionable highs of Hollywood than it’s unexpected, rather unwanted incidents such as theft or damage. This after all, being the residence of far-reaching ambition and a great deal of money.