Why does the Hollywood Sign in California say "Hollywood" and not "Hollywoodland" anymore?

The iconic Hollywood Sign, perched in the hills above Los Angeles, originally read "Hollywoodland" when it was erected in 1923. But its purpose wasn’t to celebrate the entertainment industry—it was an advertisement for a real estate development. Yes, the Hollywood Sign began as a massive billboard to lure prospective buyers to a new upscale housing community in the Hollywood Hills.

Each of the original letters was a staggering 30 feet wide and 43 feet tall, illuminated by 4,000 light bulbs that blinked in sequence: "Holly," then "wood," then "land." The plan was to keep it up for only 18 months, but as Hollywood grew into the epicenter of the movie industry, the sign became an enduring symbol of the glamour and mystique of the area.

By the 1940s, however, the sign was in disrepair, and the "land" portion was removed during a restoration project in 1949 to reflect the broader identity of Hollywood as a whole rather than just a neighborhood development. Over the years, the sign has been refurbished several times and has become a cultural icon, appearing in countless movies and television shows. Today, the Hollywood Sign is one of the most recognizable landmarks in the world, but its quirky real estate roots remain a fun piece of its glittering history.