HOLLYWOOD sign vandalism

February 12, 2012 8:32 PM

I remember being a kid (would have been sometime in the 80s) seeing a news report of the HOLLYWOOD sign being vandalized. Trying to remember details and, hopefully, find a photo.

I don't remember what it was altered to say, but I (think I) remember the news report saying a gang did it, and the sign possibly was altered to be the gang's name. In my memory, it was a fairly elaborate job, like they took some letters out and turned some sideways or upside down.

My google-fu is failing me; I'm finding a lot of pictures of pictures of people putting signs over the letters to make it "KE$HAWOOD" and "JollyGood" but this was more elaborate than that.

Does this ring a bell to anyome?

posted by mreleganza to Grab Bag (4 answers total)

Perhaps you're thinking of the time Caltech changed the sign to say "CALTECH"?
posted by Blue Jello Elf at 8:35 PM on February 12, 2012

The Wikipedia page for the Hollywood sign has an "alterations" section. Was it any of these?

Prior to the installation of a security system in 1994, it was not uncommon.
posted by mr_roboto at 8:42 PM on February 12, 2012

Blue Jello Elf, that's very possible...right time frame and the amount of elaboration I remember.
posted by mreleganza at 8:47 PM on February 12, 2012

I remember RAFFEYSOD....a classmate at Bradford claimed that it was her cousin who did it.
posted by brujita at 10:12 PM on February 12, 2012