The Hollywood Sign- Same Old, or New and Improved?
If you’re a resident of Los Angeles, chances are you’ve seen the Hollywood sign more times than you can count. But have you ever really taken a close look at it? Maybe it’s time to give the old Hollywood sign a second glance because, believe it or not, there are some changes happening. Here’s what’s new with the Hollywood sign.
Hollywood Sign then and now
The first thing you’ll notice about the new Hollywood sign is that it’s no longer made out of wood. The original sign was built in 1923 out of wooden planks, but over the years it started to show its age. In 1978, the sign was replaced with a steel version that was supposed to be more durable. However, even the steel sign needed some work and in 2005, the nine as-weathered letters were brought down and replaced with eight newly fabricated ones. So far, so good- but there’s more.
In addition to being made out of steel, the new letters are now illuminated from within. This may not seem like a big deal, but when you consider that the original sign was only meant to be up for 18 months (but ended up staying for over 50 years) the fact that these new letters can light up at night is pretty impressive. And speaking of lighting up at night, another change to the sign is that it is now visible 24 hours a day thanks to security cameras and motion-activated floodlights.
So there you have it- a few changes that are breathing new life into the classic Hollywood sign. Whether you’re a long-time residents or a tourist just passing through, be sure to take a second look at this LA icon and appreciate all that it has to offer!