11/27/2005

in

The original Hollywood sign is on sale at ebay.com

Michelle Vaccaro

The original Hollywood sign that sat atop Mt. Lee in Los Angeles in the 1920's is now on sale on ebay. Dan Bliss, the current owner of the sign, bought the sign, which had been in storage for 27 years, from nightclub owner Hank Berger in 2003. Berger had converted pieces of the sign into jewelry and sold it, but Bliss says most of the sign is till intact. Bliss also said that he will use the money he gets for the sign to fund his documentary about Elvis.  
  
The Hollywood landmark was made in 1923, constructed of iron and originally spelled out "Hollywoodland." In 1932, an actress whose career never took off committed suicide by jumping off of the "H." In 1949, the "LAND" was taken off and the sign was repainted. During the '60's, it became a place for people to hang out and take drugs. Before it was taken down in 1978, because the wood underneath was rotting, band members from Led Zepplin, Aerosmith, and Pink Floyd put their mark on the sign with graffiti.