The Famous 'Hollywood' Sign Trivia Quiz

Answer: 1923

Hollywoodland was booming with up-coming stars and entertainers and they wanted to bring the spotlight there, so in 1923, the Hollywoodland Real Estate Group unleashed a gigantic promotion.

Answer: $21,000

To promote the property, they spent $21,000 to erect the biggest and greatest sign on the side of the mountain, Mt. Cahuenga.

Answer: True

Not many people realize this. It was 35 feet in diameter and had 20-watt lights on the perimeter. The entire sign, all original 13 letters, were 30 feet wide and 50 feet tall. Each letter was made up of 3x9 metal squares, held together and erect by a frame of scaffolding, pipes, wires and telephone poles.

Answer: Millicent Lilian "Peg" Entwistle

The sign was a symbol of hopes and dreams for actors everywhere. Peg Entwistle had made a name for herself on Broadway and wanted to come to Hollywood to be a star of the silver screen. Hollywood didn't accept her like she had hoped. On the night of September 18, 1932, she climbed on top of the letter, 'H' and jumped to her death. She was only 24 years old.

Answer: 1949

When the Great Depression arrived, the developers of the sign went bankrupt and all maintenance of the sign stopped. Every single one of the 4,000 bulbs were stolen and the letters began to deteriorate because of weather and vandalism. In 1949, the Chamber of Commerce removed the last four letters, (land), and repaired the rest.

Answer: 1973

The Cultural Heritage Board gave it its landmark status. It was then declared Los Angeles Cultural-Historical Monument #111.

Answer: False

They auctioned each letter for $28,000. Alice Cooper got the 'O', Gene Autry bought the 'L' and Paul William bought the 'W'.

Answer: preservation

California's Attorney General, Dan Lungren, gave three groups official responsibilities for the sign's preservation. The Hollywood Sign Trust was in charge of the protection, preservation and promotion of the sign. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce was in charge of protecting the image and the City of Los Angeles was given a mandate to maintain and restrict the Griffith Park area where the sign is located. (Equipped with Park Rangers and other security).

Answer: Dutch Boy Paints

It was unveiled in 1995 with Phyllis Diller as the host.

Answer: 2

The sign had only been lit two other times. Once for the unveiling of it when it was rebuilt in 1978 and once for the 1984 Olympic Games. Did this quiz want you to know more? Go to hollywoodsign.org and learn a lot more.