Welcome back to the Hollywood Sign Trust Blog, July!!

Celebrities including Halle Berry, Rob Lowe and Paris Hilton watched on as performers danced around a giant World Cup trophy. AFP

Hollywood Sign

July 21, 2026

As FIFA ended in a blaze of glory this month, the Hollywood Sign looks back to early summer when the FIFA World Cup™ Trophy Tour kicked off at the Sign with Italian soccer legend Alessandro Del Piero. Since then, incredible moments were shared all over Los Angeles, including of course the live games at SoFi Stadium; along with massive viewing parties at LA Live, LA Memorial Coliseum, and Union Station. Communities from Venice Beach to Echo Park to MacArthur Park to Westwood also came together to watch the action. Now we’re counting down to the Superbowl next year and of course the Olympics in 2028.

Speaking of fireworks, the Hollywood Sign shared the spotlight on the 4th of July, America250, including Spectrum’s road trip across America with Tim Boyum– check it out, it’s a great ride and we were honored to be included:

https://youtu.be/Jb6smSxyrY4?si=YHn20wM2NpdQXa1L

And from the Ruby Slippers to greenstamps to Sony Walkmans, Air Jordans, and glow sticks, we love this image and story featuring the Hollywood Sign: Celebrating America250: 250 Objects that tell the story of America! 250 Objects That Tell the Story of America | HISTORY

We took a nostalgic look back in our Time Capsule with Steve Brom, an LA native (and surfboard shaper) who along with a few friends transformed the Sign to HOLLYWEED 50 years ago (in 1976) as a political statement to relax marijuna possession laws in California. He shared his story: “The Hollywood Sign has been a constant presence throughout my life. I grew up in Hollywood, attended Hollywood High School, and graduated on the stage of the Hollywood Bowl with the Sign overlooking the ceremony.

It inspired my imagination as a young artist and remained part of my life as I became a surfboard designer, shaper, and artist for more than ﬁfty years. To me, the Hollywood Sign represents creativity, possibility, and the power of an idea!”

Happy Birthday Hollywood Sign?

Some think July 13, 1923 is the Sign’s oﬃcial birthday but that is an urban legend. There is no record of when construction began on the famous billboard— or reports of any oﬃcial celebrations. However, according to an article in the Los Angeles Evening Express, the Sign was lit for the first time on December 8, 1923.

The Morning Show Sydney

Check out our chair of the Hollywood Sign Trust (& resident expert on the Sign) Jeff Zarrinnam on the popular Morning Show in Sydney, Australia where he shares the keys (literally and figuratively) to the Hollywood Sign.

https://spaces.hightail.com/receive/FxfqPkyKvC

What’s Your Process

Last month, we were thrilled to have the popular new social series, ‘What’s Your Process come join us at the Sign. In each episode they explore what different people’s work processes look like, and Diana Wright fills us in on her process with the Hollywood Sign Trust. Check it out here! Instagram

We are very excited (and honored) to have Brigid LaBonge join the Hollywood Sign Trust Board of Trustees. A lifelong Angeleno, Brigid is the founder and director of the Tom LaBonge Civic Project, a nonprofit she created with her two children to continue her husband’s legacy of public service and civic engagement in Los Angeles. Brigid LaBonge is also an artist, graphic designer, and community advocate.

As we sign off this month, please be ﬁre safety smart this summer at your BBQ’s, on your hikes, and celebrations! There are very real safety hazards the Sign, Griﬃth Park, and our neighbors face (and in the summer heat it can feel especially daunting). We all remember too vividly the fires in early 2025 including the Sunset Fire which spread rapidly through the Hollywood Hills reaching areas just above Hollywood Boulevard and the Walk of Fame: The Hollywood Sign narrowly avoided destruction.