See Five Times The Hollywood Sign Was “Vandalized”

The iconic sign overlooks LA. The bold white letters on Mount Lee welcome everybody, and dare the brave to make alterations. Many have stepped up (or, climbed up) to the 45-foot tall challenge. Read about five times the sign was changed. 1. Hollyweed 2017 At 3:00 a.m. on New Year’s, a “lone individual” was caught on security cameras around the “EEs.” The man, dressed in black tactical gear, climbed the letters’ ladders to hang tarp. In the morning, a hungover world saw his work. This same thing happened on the same day 41 years earlier. See #2. 2. Hollyweed 1976 On New Year’s Day, 1976, California art student Danny Finegood climbed the sign and became the first to spell Hollyweed. He used $50 of curtain. Finegood’s “art” marked the day that California relaxed its marijuana law. His stunt earned him an “A” in class. (Only in California!) Finegood and his friends would change the sign several times over the years to reflect current events and even the “Holy” Easter holiday. 3. Hollywoodland The sign was originally placed to advertise a housing development. It was called “Hollywoodland.” Since then, the letters toppled and were repaired, and the sign was vandalized several times to display messages other than Hollywood and even Hollyweed. See what happened when a large group of intelligent students pulled a prank… 4. 1987 It is one of the most legendary college pranks of all time. Pulled off by Caltech students, all code named Calvin Techer, 45 of them scaled Mount Lee and in separate teams, began working on their letter. The result was an instant classic. They spent about $1,000 to pull off the prank. This included a bicycle lock on the security gate to delay the police from removing their drapes. 5. Perotwood Before social media, “vandals” from the Reform Party found a funny way to get their message into the media during Ross Perot’s run for the White House in 1992. They achieved this even after an extensive, high-tech security system was installed. 6. Save The Peak This less-creative but effective and legal change was a fundraising effort to generate $12.5 million. The publicity stunt was part of the project to acquire Cahuenga Peak just west of the Hollywood sign. It’s the 12th highest peak in the Santa Monica Mountains and spans 138 acres. Read on to see other funny and clever, but less famous, acts of vandalism. 7. Angry Cars This is what happens when school is cancelled. 8. Liberal Farts Fart humor never gets old. But there’s a lesson here: Don’t major in liberal arts! 9. Graffiti Removal “Uhhh, I didn’t do it.” 10. Drive Thru Finally! Somebody corrected it. 11. Mind Games It messes with your mind! (Across the street from this is a No U-Turn sign!) 12. Burger King This sign was altered by “Doctors With Spray Paint.” 13. Hammer Time You have to be at least 30 years old to understand this one. 14. Clever Addition Kudos to those who can turn a simple message into something funny. 15. Stop! See ya later! [Featured Image Credit: www.mirror.co.uk]