It’s been a funny couple of weeks with news of one of the greatest landmarks in California facing the chop – or at least being obscured. The 450ft-long Hollywood sign that overlooks Los Angeles was under threat from developers that were planning to buy the land that stands in front of the famous sign. The land was put on the market two years ago and unless .5m (£8m) was raised by this coming Friday, the sign could be in danger of being seen by the millions that look up at it everyday.
Well, it seems that Playboy Magazine tycoon has come to the rescue just days before the money needed to be paid. The non-profit organisation called Public Trust For Lands have been campaigning for the land and will now turn it over to the city of L0s Angeles, preventing construction going forward.
Hefner said: “My childhood dreams and fantasies came from the movies, and the images created in Hollywood had a major influence on my life and Playboy. The Hollywood sign is Hollywood’s Eiffel Tower and I’m pleased to help preserve such an important cultural landmark.”
Not all the credit goes to Heff, Tom Hanks and his partner in crime, Steven Spielberg also gave money with more coming from 50 US states and 10 foreign countries.
The Governator, Arnold Schwarzenegger who’d also been campaigning for the sign said
It was “the Hollywood ending we hoped for. It’s a symbol of dreams and opportunity. The Hollywood sign will welcome dreamers, artists and Austrian bodybuilders for generations to come.”
I concur! Hooray for signage!
