Hollywood sign is saved at last minute by Hugh Hefner

The famous Hollywood sign in Los Angeles has been saved from demolition - thanks to Playboy mogul Hugh Hefner

The soft-porn magnate stepped in at the last minute with a $900,000 (£580,000; 670,000 euros) donation to stop the site being developed.

The sign is owned by the city, but the property around it belongs to a group of Chicago-based investors.

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger described the news as "the Hollywood ending we hoped for".

Governor Schwarzenegger said Mr Hefner's donation and a $500,000 matching grant brought to an end a $12.5m fundraising campaign.

'Hollywood's Eiffel Tower'

news.bbc.co.uk...

Cool story, I can't believe how much money these people will spend though, boggle's the mind sometimes

Meanwhile, the homeless on the streets of LA continue to starve and suffer.

Don't you just love how our world works?

Save the sign! Forget the people.

reply to post by muzzleflash


Yep, i hear ya,it's ridiculous how much money they will spend on developement of land, but don't try to put up a tent city there..oh no.
. and i have hiked up to the sign when i was younger and lemme tell ya, i wouldn't want to live right there,antenna's everywhere and the smog would choke a cochroach it's so bad sometimes up there..

[edit on 26-4-2010 by baddmove]

I was raised in the area.

When I was growing up they had another big fund raiser to fix and repair the sign. I dunno it's just one of those things I always saw growing up. I never knew the Hollywoodland sign as it was "originally a real Estate development sign" would ever be in danger again.

[edit on 26-4-2010 by OnTheFelt]

reply to post by SLAYER69


I worked in the area a few times back in the 80's and late 90's..I guess when you have money burning a hole in your pocket...


It means 138 acres around the hillside sign will be protected from developers, who wanted to turn the land into high-price housing estates.

You need to build things, no matter what or who was there first!

Oh great,
now folks can roll into town
and see 2 big boobs right where
the 2 O's in HollywOOd use to be

ok, Im sure I'll regret saying
that later, hahahaha
but u got to admit it was funny

I mean they dont call it Silicon Valley
for nothing u know, hahaha

Originally posted by boondock-saint
Oh great,
now folks can roll into town
and see 2 big boobs right where
the 2 O's in HollywOOd use to be

ok, Im sure I'll regret saying
that later, hahahaha
but u got to admit it was funny

I mean they dont call it Silicon Valley
for nothing u know, hahaha

I'm just trying to figure out if you'd be upset or cheer (I'd be pleasantly surprised). Perhaps Kendra could help out with the molding, being so silicontastic and all.

Cheers,
KJ

reply to post by muzzleflash


I wish I could star you more than once. I could not have said it better.


Nothing else to add to what you said.

Raist

Double post please delet.

[edit on 4/27/10 by Raist]

Originally posted by muzzleflash
Meanwhile, the homeless on the streets of LA continue to starve and suffer.

Don't you just love how our world works?

Save the sign! Forget the people.

How has your save the people journey been going so far? Easy to judge.

Hugh should be able to spend his money how he wants - sorry you do not feel that way. You would be a perfect candidate for government though.

reply to post by muzzleflash


The have-nots will continue to be have-nots. America's chances of becoming rich have dwindled. There is still chance to make a living, but you have to think.

The people that want hand-outs, well they get some, and not enough I might add, but who is going to pay for them?

The Rich can't pay for everything, some of those people have earned their money and deserve to spend it how they choose.

I think the world's people should all be equals, with all desires met, since the technology is clearly available.

The Question is, why keep human-beings in the dirt, my answer is, Violence. Human-beings are violent and destructive, but it does not make it right.

Then again there is no right or wrong in the world and everything is permissible. - Illuminati member

Just my thoughts.

reply to post by boondock-saint

California Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger described the news as "the Hollywood ending we hoped for". Governor Schwarzenegger said Mr Hefner's donation and a $500,000 matching grant brought to an end a $12.5m fundraising campaign.

I thought Calif. was so broke they can't even pay attention anymore, where are they comming up with this money from?

The Hollywood sign is so Iconic I could not imagine LA without it.

Back in my day, it was almost obligatory at some point to take a drive up into the hills, climb down to it and up on it, and do at least one thing you weren't supposed to do!

The truth is though, it started out as a Real Estate sign for Hollywood Land. Back when it was all mostly still ranches and dirt roads, and L.A. was rapidly expanding.

It was though a failed real estate venture that went bust, and the City ended up with most of the land as a result. The first big renovation of the sign, they dropped the Land in HollyWood Land, and just left it as the City's name.

There is something profoundly decedant about it, that I sure would hate to see go!

Thanks Hugh!

reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler


Yea, one of the reasons i posted this. I have seen that sign for so many years it would be a sad day to ever see it just "go away" like so many other things.
so yep..thanks Hugh

reply to post by baddmove


Here is some of the history of the Real Estate Development and the sign.

The sign originally read "HOLLYWOODLAND", and its purpose was to advertise a new housing development in the hills above the Hollywood district of Los Angeles. H.J. Whitley had already used a sign to advertise his development Whitley Heights, which was located between Highland Avenue and Vine Avenue. He suggested to his friend Harry Chandler, the owner of the Los Angeles Times newspaper, that the land syndicate in which he was involved make a similar sign to advertise their land. Real estate developers Woodruff and Shoults called their development "Hollywoodland" and advertised it as a "superb environment without excessive cost on the Hollywood side of the hills".[citation needed] (An unrelated film named Hollywoodland was made in 2006.[4])

Hollywood Sign

This is what it looked like back in 1923!

[atsimg]http://files.abovetopsecret.com/images/member/edd542683e16.png[/atsimg]

If you look real hard you can actually spot a young Slayer69 sitting on top of the cross bar of the first L.

reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler


Awesome post PPT,lol, and i think i do see ol' Slayer69 doing something against the law up there

Originally posted by baddmove
reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler

 

Awesome post PPT,lol, and i think i do see ol' Slayer69 doing something against the law up there

Interestingly enough, the land west of the H, which is what had been on the market for 22 million dollars, was once owned by Howard Hughes!

Now real estate and the sign have a new possibility: 138 acres of land once owned by Howard Hughes that sits west of the “H” in the sign is up for sale for a cool $22 million.

The area, known as Cahuenga Peak, is zoned for five luxury homes. City officials are not happy with the land going on the market, nor its new exorbitant price tag. They had hoped the City could get a hold of the land as they feel that the hillside should not be cluttered and that the land is good for the psyche of Los Angeles. City leaders have been working on raising funds to buy the land, and have so far gathered approximately $5 million, but, considering the asking price as announced today, that’s nowhere near enough

So while realtors wait in anticipation of inking million-dollar deals, others wait with heavy hearts.

Haute Living

So in essence, they were really going to end up loosing the sign, and in all that 138 acres of land, only 5 homes could have been built!

The city would have lost an important Icon and part of it's identidy so 5 very rich people could enjoy a spectacular view at the cost of real history!

I am glad the City was able to raise the money to keep it open land and the sign up, where it belongs.

Originally posted by muzzleflash
Meanwhile, the homeless on the streets of LA continue to starve and suffer.

Don't you just love how our world works?

Save the sign! Forget the people.

EEXXXAAACCCTTTTTLLLYYY lol, 100% agree

reply to post by ProtoplasmicTraveler

"So in essence, they were really going to end up loosing the sign, and in all that 138 acres of land, only 5 homes could have been built!"

Well, i for one am glad Hugh helped out like he did. Only 5 homes..pffft..the view wouldn't of been that great anyway,too damn smoggy there anymore