Hollywood Sign

Dear Atria,
I am sure you have heard about the iconic Hollywood sign, the worldwide symbol of the entertainment industry in Los Angeles. Yesterday Baba went to visit Griffith Observatory (that's the whole new subject for another post) and he saw the sign from the roof of the observatory's building. You could say that there is nothing interesting about the sign, that it is just a nine letter word, but It's more than that; it's one of the world's most evocative symbols – a universal metaphor for ambition, success, glamour...for this dazzling place, entertainment industry and dream we call Hollywood.
The sign is 45-foot-tall (14 m) and 350 feet (110 m) long. It was originally created in 1923 as an advertisement for a local real estate development and it was spelled 'Hollywoodland' (that was the name of the advertiser). In 1978 the original sign was replaced with a more permanent structure. Nine donors gave US$27,777.77 each (totaling US$250,000) to sponsor replacement letters, made of steel supported by steel columns on a concrete foundation.
The donors were:

• H: Terrence Donnelly (publisher of the Hollywood Independent Newspaper)
• O: Giovanni Mazza (Italian movie producer)
• L: Les Kelley (founder of the Kelley Blue Book)
• L: Gene Autry (actor)
• Y: Hugh Hefner (founder of Playboy)
  
• W: Andy Williams (singer)
• O: Warner Bros. Records
• O: Alice Cooper (singer), who donated in memory of close friend and comedian Groucho Marx, and who joked that he would also donate an "O" from his last name
• D: Dennis Lidtke (businessman) donated in the name of Matthew Williams

Although the sign's appearance and purpose have evolved over the years, its basic aspirational message remains the same: This is a place where magic is possible, where dreams can come true.
Griffitths Observatory roof top is an excellent point to see the sign and the city. As you can see in the pictures the view is spectacular. It is not only an excellent perspective on the Hollywood sign, but also a wonderful panorama of the city. You can see hills and mountains surrounding Los Angeles, a city with its characteristic downtown skyscrapers, an ocean and a beautiful Griffith Park itself.
Baba felt as if he was on the top of the world :-)