Culturebox: A History of the Hollywood Sign

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gallery A History of the Hollywood Sign How an advertisement for a housing development came to represent the movies. By Leo Braudy Posted Thursday, March 17, 2011, at 6:49 AM ET The Hollywood sign may be unique among American icons. It is a landmark whose white block letters are familiar around the world as the prime symbol of the movies. Day after day, tourists with cameras wander into surrounding Grif?th Park or troll up and down the streets of the Hollywood Hills, looking to position themselves for the best possible angle on the sign. More than any other sight in Los Angeles, the Hollywood sign in the background of your photo proves you were really there. To moviegoers and so many others, the sign represents the earthly home of that other--wise ethereal world of fame, stardom, and celebrity. To continue reading, click here. Leo Braudy is university professor at the University of Southern California and the author of The Frenzy of Renown: Fame and Its History and The Hollywood Sign, from which this article is adapted, among other books. Join the Fray: our reader discussion forum What did you think of this article? POST A MESSAGE | READ MESSAGES Also In Slate Dickerson: If Nothing Else, the Budget Fight Will Reveal Which Party Is More Dysfunctional Are There Actually Places in America Where the Only News Is From NPR? Why There Hasn't Been Much Looting in Japan Since the Earthquake	Advertisement
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