In 1924, the Hollywood sign had a companion, a giant red neon sign that dominated the hilly terrain above Hollywood Boulevard's Chinese Theater. In its day it was more noticeable than the "Hollywoodland" sign. Whatever happened to it?
If you hike up the hillside near my home known as Runyon Canyon, you can see the over 80-year-old remains of the sign, rusting on the hillside to this very day.
People hike past this ancient twisted metal every day without realizing what a piece of Hollywood History it is.
If you'd like more information about The Outpost Sign, there's a Visiting with Huell Howser episode (#1029) devoted to its recent "rediscovery" by the residents of Outpost Estates.
Glad too see your site.
I am the person that posted the sign at the sign site telling of it's fame in the 20's.
I hope that your site is able too attract more information on the signs demise.
I even got in touch with the Historical conservacy office and ask for a application too make the OUTPOST sign a Historical Cultural Monument as many other California landmarks have been documented and protected. I was told that the sign was not a standing structure, so it was not eligible.
I had too put my research on hold at that moment. But, I intend too see if I can submit an application to make the sign a HIstorcal "site" instead. I believe, that the sign deserves some sort of recognition, for the part of history it occupied in Hollywood.
Glad too see your site!
Another seed planted for the sign.
Dan Kelpine
Bob Eicholz here, webmaster of www.outpostestates.com . My partner Steve Scott and I "re-discovered" the Outpost sign a couple of years back. Feeling we had uncovered a secret, but important piece of Hollywood History, I wrote a letter to Huell Howser, and he subsequently did a 1/2 hour show about our neighborhood and the sign. We too are very interested in the sign's history. I'll be happy to post additional information on my website, or to help organize people if there's a restoration fundraiser.
We did meet a guy named "Elmer", who was photographed many years ago near the sign. He now resides in a rest home in LA. Here's a link to my website, with a couple of pictures: http://outpostestates.com/grandtour.html
Let me know what I can do to help out!
Bob Eicholz
By way of an update:
As far as the Hollywood Sign goes, back when it was the Hollywoodland Sign, I wonder if it was pronounced Hollywood-land -- sort of the way we say Disneyland today, or if it was pronounced Holly-woodland, with the woodland pronounced "WOODlind," the way we say it when we say Woodland Hills.
HOLLYwoodLAND?
or hollyWOODlind?
Hey Dan!
[quote]
I am the person that posted the sign at the sign site telling of it's fame in the 20's.[/quote]
I just got back from a hike and read your sign! I've been hiking Runyun for years and I always wondered what that wierd brown, rusty metal was doing everywhere!!!! LOL, Just like Joseph mentioned!
I always wondered why it was never 'cleaned up'!
It was so cool to look at the metal now.
Kind of powerful to realize that the huge metal pieces aren't really 'junk' but are a part of the famous history of Hollywood!
Thank you both Joseph for this site, and Dan for putting that information up there! That was really cool!
It made my day!
Thanks again!
J
Hey there. I'm glad to see others interested in Hollywood history! I hike Runyon regularly and always stop for a second and think of what it would be like to hike up there and still have the sign up. This may sound naive, but if we can't designate the remains historical, maybe we could put it back up? Initially, it may cause a bit of an uproar because people would think that you're copying the H sign, but once they know the history, I think the public would appreciate it. Just a thought. Thanks for the site and to the man who posted the sign.
Hey, we just hiked Runyan today and read the little description about the Outpost sign. This is a moving piece of old Hollywod memorabilia and it should be protected!
Well now I finally know what I was looking at late one night about 23 years ago!
My friends and I used to hang out at night at the remains of the Huntington Hartford estate in Runyon Canyon Park in the early 1980's. At the time everybody called the place "Errol Flynn's." It seems they thought the remains were of Errol Flynn's estate.
One night as we were coming up the long drive past the tennis courts to the old swimming pool at the top of the hill (which now looks like it's been filled in and covered over) the area was cordoned off for a music video shoot.
We climbed the hill just to the east of the pool to watch and at the top of the hill we came across what looked to be some rather large supports for an old sign. At the time I had no idea what we had found. I recently saw a postcard showing the old Outpost sign and after a quick internet search, found this site.
Pretty cool stuff. We need more sites like this to keep the past in the present.
I need to visit this site more often. I had no idea that there would be responses to my sign posted here.
Anyhoo... I may have the answer to Mr. Eicholz question about the Hollywoodland sign.I have a picture of the Hollywoodland sign I would love to share with Digital Artform. Now if only I was able to attach a photo to this site. I was so excited when I discovered this during my research.