When his son, Matthew Finegood, saw images of the new “Hollyweed” prank he immediately thought it was a throwback to the work of his father. In 2010, the sign was covered with red and black lettering with the words “Save the Peak” in an attempt to raise awareness about development.įamously, in 1976, the sign was turned into “Hollyweed” by a then-student named Daniel Finegood and three others for an art project for Cal-State Northridge over the course of several hours. The icon has occasionally been used to promote political messaging. It was first installed in 1994 and updated several times since. The sign is currently watched over by a security camera system that is monitored by the Los Angeles Police Department. By Monday, from a distance, it looked as it usually does on a cloudy day. Multiple workers could be seen in photos using a ladder to remove the tarps. The sign was said to be restored to normal conditions mid-morning on New Year’s Day, with no noticeable enduring damage. It’s unclear if there was a message to the sign aside from the reference to California opting to vote for marijuana legalization in the November election. But there has been no arrest made or suspect publicly identified.Ī peace sign was etched in white on one of the black tarps, along with the words “A tribute to…” The other tarp had a heart shape on it and some writing. The individual or individuals responsible committed a trespassing violation, Los Angeles police officer Mike Lopez told THR. On Sunday, as the industry was ringing in 2017, a prankster or vandal or activist (or all three?) managed to hang white and black tarps over the latter two “O” letters on the landmark. Our concern is the safety of the neighborhood and the trespassers that put themselves at risk because it is extremely unsafe to be on the sign, let alone traversing the treacherous hillside that is home to those 9 famous letters.” “This is more than preventing pranks or trespassing at the sign. Four years later, in 1987, students from CalTech draped sheets over the sign to read “Caltech.” They claimed that it was a “100th anniversary present for Hollywood,” much to the chagrin of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce president, who huffed, “We are not kidding and laughing about this at all.“The new year’s prank was no exception and we will be deploying additional technology to tighten up surveillance and thus deter unwanted visitors in the future,” said Baumgart. In 1990, he draped plastic sheeting to spell out the phrase “Oil War” in protest of the Persian Gulf War, but authorities removed the plastic in the early morning hours before sunrise.Īlthough Finegood was the most well-known of the pranksters changing the “Hollywood” sign, he was certainly not the only one. In 1983, the sign was draped with the words “Go Navy” before the big Army-Navy football game.

His final political protest was seen by almost no one.

Later in 1976, he altered the sign to read “Holywood” in honor of Easter, and in 1987, he changed the sign to read “Ollywood” in protest of Marine Lieutenant Oliver North during the Iran-Contra hearings. on New Year’s Eve, one courageous and foolhardy individual climbed the mountain to the sign to perilously scale the ladders and artfully drape tarps over the O’s, intentionally changing the sign to read, “Hollyweed.” With the recent passage of Proposition 64, some have been speculating that the alteration was made to celebrate the newly legalized state.ĭude in a Cannabis Leaf Costume Prances Through Phillyįinegood became known for his creative alterations of the sign. It’s sacred to me in a way.”īlink and you might have missed it, but for a brief moment in the wee hours of 2017, the iconic Hollywood sign in Los Angeles was altered by a merry prankster looking to ring in the new year with a bit of hilarity.Īt 3 a.m. “Myself, I wouldn’t call it a prank,” he said. It took about three hours, $35, and the assistance of Fernandez’s wife to pull of the stunt, which he denies was a prank. He also took precautions to ensure that no damage would come to the sign, using plastic sheets and clamps to make the alterations, which means officers dropped vandalism charges. Zach Fernandez, also known on social media as “JesusHands,” surrendered to Los Angeles police with his lawyer, and was booked on suspicion of trespassing, a misdemeanor.įernandez admitted being inspired by the 1976 original “Hollyweed” prank by Daniel Finegood, even writing a tribute to the artist on one of the sheets used.

Hollywood sign prank