The chamber didn't think that such a world-renowned landmark should be destroyed, and it raised the money to completely rebuild it,'' Grant said. The old letters were demolished and replaced with all-steel construction. We enforce the trademark,'' said Leron Gubler, the chamber's president. The money helps pay for the chamber's events and operations, which include the Hollywood Walk of Fame - those stars in the sidewalk. Over the years, the Hollywood sign has endured numerous alterations - most of them unauthorized.
Nearby residents have a love-hate relationship with the Hollywood sign.
They have the pleasure of close-up views of a famed landmark. But they also must contend with cars, tour buses and interlopers. The sign is only illuminated for special occasions, and when a company offered to light it up on a nightly basis free, Grant said, nearby residents were adamantly opposed. The people up in those hills are very, very protective of their privacy,'' he said. You can understand the residents' concerns when you ascend to vistas overlooking the sign.