The Hollywoodland sign went up in November and December of 1923 and was illuminated for the first time on Saturday, December 8th. So going by the fact that there appears to be only one house in sight, I think we’re safe in saying that this photo is from 1924. But what really caught my eye was that big white dot. It’s huge and I’ve never noticed it before. Apparently, it was designed to punctuate the sign with an eye-catching pop – although why anyone thought that was necessary for a sign made up of 44-foot letters is beyond me.
“Few know that a giant white dot (35 feet in diameter, with 20-watt lights on the perimeter) was constructed below the Sign to catch the eye … At night the Sign blinked into the Hollywood night: first “Holly” then “wood” and finally “land,” punctuated by a giant period.”
The original Hollywoodland Sign was completed prior to December 8, 1923. In late 1924, the Sign was underscored with a 35-foot-diameter white circle – or more precisely, a dot. It was more than just an eye-catching decoration; it was a political statement. In the early 1920s the Chamber of Commerce produced a map illustrating business conditions in different areas of the country: black indicated “poor conditions,” gray indicated “fair conditions,” and white indicated “good conditions.” In a sea of gray and black, Los Angeles shone through as a large white dot. This inspired Harry Chandler to refer to the city as a “White Spot of America,” free from communism, crime and corruption. A campaign was launched to “Keep the White Spot White,” which was punctuated with the addition of the massive white dot under the Hollywoodland Sign.”
I’ve seen this photo, before along with the dot, and I suspect that said dot is merely some flaw in the original and not an object on the hillside.
Jim
I wrote to the folks at hollywoodsign.org about the dot and got this response.
“Hi and thank you for an excellent question. Here’s the answer!
The original Hollywoodland Sign was completed prior to December 8, 1923. In late 1924, the Sign was underscored with a 35-foot-diameter white circle – or more precisely, a dot. It was more than just an eye-catching decoration; it was a political statement.
In the early 1920s the Chamber of Commerce produced a map illustrating business conditions in different areas of the country: black indicated “poor conditions,” gray indicated “fair conditions,” and white indicated “good conditions.” In a sea of gray and black, Los Angeles shone through as a large white dot. This inspired Harry Chandler to refer to the city as a “White Spot of America,” free from communism, crime and corruption. A campaign was launched to “Keep the White Spot White,” which was punctuated with the addition of the massive white dot under the Hollywoodland Sign.”
I suspect that was the caretaker’s house. Although why it’s now gone, I don’t know. You’d think it would be a handy place to store maintenance equipment like ladders and paint. Perhaps there was a concern that it would get broken into.
Does anyone know the history of the large building/ mansion pictured below the Hollywood sign and white dot in the photo above? In more recent pictures it seems to be gone.
Hi Jasmin, I can tell you this about the white dot:
White spot / white dot under the Hollywoodland sign
In 1920-21, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce created maps designating business conditions around the country–areas shaded black were “bad,” grey was “fair,” and white was “good.” On this map, LA was literally a “white spot” among areas shaded in black and grey, leading Harry Chandler to dub Los Angeles as “The White Spot of America.” The term caught on and by 1924 the phrase “Keep the White Spot White” was used throughout the city. Though some found this characterization to simply refer to keeping LA economically prosperous, it’s difficult to separate the racial implications when put in this historical context. Hardly alone in this pursuit, Hollywoodland was one of countless housing developments in LA and across the United States that, along with the banks, shamefully restricted minorities from entering its communities and deterred non-whites from home ownership and accumulating wealth. And for much of the 20th century Hollywoodland remained a white spot–cartographically and racially–looking down its nose on the dark spots of the city below. Today the former Hollywoodland development is a more diverse community of residents and visitors, bustling with tourists, hikers, and neighbors alike. Despite its complicated racial history, there’s no doubt that even to this day, Hollywoodland has always maintained the feeling of a small town enclave tucked away from the sprawling city.
The Hollywoodland sign went up in November and December of 1923 and was illuminated for the first time on Saturday, December 8th. So going by the fact that there appears to be only one house in sight, I think we’re safe in saying that this photo is from 1924. But what really caught my eye was that big white dot. It’s huge and I’ve never noticed it before. Apparently, it was designed to punctuate the sign with an eye-catching pop – although why anyone thought that was necessary for a sign made up of 44-foot letters is beyond me.
I’ve seen this photo, before along with the dot, and I suspect that said dot is merely some flaw in the original and not an object on the hillside.
Jim
I wondered that too, Jim, but you can see it in a number of photos taken during the same era.
You are correct MT, at least according to hollywoodsign.org.
“At night the Sign blinked into the Hollywood night: first “Holly” then “wood” and finally “land,” punctuated by a giant period.”
https://hollywoodsign.org/announcement/1923-a-sign-is-born/
I wonder what became of that period.
I wrote to the folks at hollywoodsign.org about the dot and got this response.
“Hi and thank you for an excellent question. Here’s the answer!
The original Hollywoodland Sign was completed prior to December 8, 1923. In late 1924, the Sign was underscored with a 35-foot-diameter white circle – or more precisely, a dot. It was more than just an eye-catching decoration; it was a political statement.
In the early 1920s the Chamber of Commerce produced a map illustrating business conditions in different areas of the country: black indicated “poor conditions,” gray indicated “fair conditions,” and white indicated “good conditions.” In a sea of gray and black, Los Angeles shone through as a large white dot. This inspired Harry Chandler to refer to the city as a “White Spot of America,” free from communism, crime and corruption. A campaign was launched to “Keep the White Spot White,” which was punctuated with the addition of the massive white dot under the Hollywoodland Sign.”
Does anyone know what happened to the lone white house in early pics? Who lives there and why is it gone?
I suspect that was the caretaker’s house. Although why it’s now gone, I don’t know. You’d think it would be a handy place to store maintenance equipment like ladders and paint. Perhaps there was a concern that it would get broken into.
Does anyone know the history of the large building/ mansion pictured below the Hollywood sign and white dot in the photo above? In more recent pictures it seems to be gone.
Hi Jasmin, I can tell you this about the white dot:
White spot / white dot under the Hollywoodland sign
In 1920-21, the U.S. Chamber of Commerce created maps designating business conditions around the country–areas shaded black were “bad,” grey was “fair,” and white was “good.” On this map, LA was literally a “white spot” among areas shaded in black and grey, leading Harry Chandler to dub Los Angeles as “The White Spot of America.” The term caught on and by 1924 the phrase “Keep the White Spot White” was used throughout the city. Though some found this characterization to simply refer to keeping LA economically prosperous, it’s difficult to separate the racial implications when put in this historical context. Hardly alone in this pursuit, Hollywoodland was one of countless housing developments in LA and across the United States that, along with the banks, shamefully restricted minorities from entering its communities and deterred non-whites from home ownership and accumulating wealth. And for much of the 20th century Hollywoodland remained a white spot–cartographically and racially–looking down its nose on the dark spots of the city below. Today the former Hollywoodland development is a more diverse community of residents and visitors, bustling with tourists, hikers, and neighbors alike. Despite its complicated racial history, there’s no doubt that even to this day, Hollywoodland has always maintained the feeling of a small town enclave tucked away from the sprawling city.
Hi Jasmin!
The House on the Picture is still there: 6182 W. Mulholland Hwy. The Photograph is taken from 3214 Ledgewood Dr. (use Google Street View)
Greetz from Germany
Lars
Sorry, this picture from the same house was taken from 3214 Ledgewood drive 😉
The lone white house is still there (W.Mulholland Hwy 6182). This picture: https://www.lamag.com/askchris/history-hollywood-sign-16-rare-photos/ was taken from 3214 Ledgewood Dr.
Greetz
Lars
still there: 6182 W.Mulholland Hwy!