
THE MODERN AGE 1900–1950II
THE IMPACT OF INVENTION 1879–19331
HOLLYWOODLAND
HOLLYWOODLAND SIGN
Los Angeles, California, USA
Thomas Fisk Goff (1890–1984), Designer
Los Angeles, California, USA
1923
The Hollywood sign was erected in 1923 and
originally read “HOLLYWOODLAND” with each
of its white, monolithic sans-serif letterforms
measuring 45 feet (14 m) high and totaling 350
linear feet (110 m). When first erected, the
letters were fabricated of unprotected wood
and sheet metal and were illuminated with
4,000 20-watt incandescent lightbulbs, spaced
8 inches apart. At night, the sign blinked mar-
quee-style with a flashing, alternating sequence
of “Holl ...