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HUMAN HEAD FOUND AT HOLLYWOOD SIGN: THE MYTHS AND LEGENDS OF THE FAMOUS LOS ANGELES LANDMARK
By Natalie Evans
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/18/human-head-found-at-hollywood-sign-the-myths-and-legends-of-the-famous-los-angeles-landmark-115875-23705820/
18/01/2012
Hollywood sign (Pic: Getty Images)
In a story that could have come from Hollywood itself, a severed
human head was found dumped in a plastic bag under the world famous
sign yesterday.
The remains, thought to be that of an Armenian American man in his 40s,
were discovered by dog walkers in the hills of California's Bronson
Canyon Park.
The case, which is now being treated as murder, is the latest in a
long line of strange occurrences surrounding the landmark, which was
erected on Mount Lee in 1923.
In its 79-year history, the iconic sign, which originally read
'Hollywoodland' to promote a housing development, has become the
subject of countless stories, urban legends and pranks.
The site is reportedly a hotspot for paranormal activity which many
theorists link to the death of a young actress who is believed to
have committed suicide at the sign.
On the night of September 16, 1932, struggling little-known actress
Peg Entwistle is thought to have left her uncle's house on nearby
Beachwood Drive saying she was going to meet friends.
Instead the 24-year-old headed to the Hollywood sign, found a ladder
propped up against the letter H, climbed 50ft and jumped to her death.
Her coat and purse were reportedly found at the bottom of the letter
by a female hiker who informed police, who later discovered her body
down a hill near to the sign.
A suicide note was allegedly found in the purse which read: "I am
afraid, I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this
a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E."
The suicide made national news and tabloids dubbed Peg the "Hollywood
Sign Girl".
Over the years, there have been numerous reported paranormal sightings
of a blonde woman dressed in 1930s-style clothing who appears to walk
around in a daze.
A park ranger at Griffith Park is believed to have seen the same female
ghost several times, and always detects the smell of gardenias and
a couple walking their dog saw the woman appear then vanish in the
same spot.
In the 1940s, the sign's letter H toppled over, sparking numerous
urban legends as to how it came to happen.
Some believe sign caretaker Albert Kothe knocked the letter over
after ploughing into it with his car while driving drunk.
Another version of events suggests Kothe stripped the sign of its
copper and sold it as scrap metal after all of its 4,000 lightbulbs
stopped working.
The most likely explanation is that the letter H simply toppled over
due to a combination of deterioration and strong winds.
The Hollywood sign has also been the inspiration for a number of
pranks, where the letters have been changed to spell different words.
In 1973, black and white sheets were used to cover up the last two 'O's
with 'E's so the sign read HOLLYWeeD in celebration of California's
relaxed marijuana laws.
Other rewordings have included HOLYWOOD on Easter Sunday, OLLYWOOD
following former US marine Oliver North's testimony in the Iran-Contra
hearings and OIL WAR during the Gulf War.
By Natalie Evans
http://www.mirror.co.uk/news/top-stories/2012/01/18/human-head-found-at-hollywood-sign-the-myths-and-legends-of-the-famous-los-angeles-landmark-115875-23705820/
18/01/2012
Hollywood sign (Pic: Getty Images)
In a story that could have come from Hollywood itself, a severed
human head was found dumped in a plastic bag under the world famous
sign yesterday.
The remains, thought to be that of an Armenian American man in his 40s,
were discovered by dog walkers in the hills of California's Bronson
Canyon Park.
The case, which is now being treated as murder, is the latest in a
long line of strange occurrences surrounding the landmark, which was
erected on Mount Lee in 1923.
In its 79-year history, the iconic sign, which originally read
'Hollywoodland' to promote a housing development, has become the
subject of countless stories, urban legends and pranks.
The site is reportedly a hotspot for paranormal activity which many
theorists link to the death of a young actress who is believed to
have committed suicide at the sign.
On the night of September 16, 1932, struggling little-known actress
Peg Entwistle is thought to have left her uncle's house on nearby
Beachwood Drive saying she was going to meet friends.
Instead the 24-year-old headed to the Hollywood sign, found a ladder
propped up against the letter H, climbed 50ft and jumped to her death.
Her coat and purse were reportedly found at the bottom of the letter
by a female hiker who informed police, who later discovered her body
down a hill near to the sign.
A suicide note was allegedly found in the purse which read: "I am
afraid, I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this
a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain. P.E."
The suicide made national news and tabloids dubbed Peg the "Hollywood
Sign Girl".
Over the years, there have been numerous reported paranormal sightings
of a blonde woman dressed in 1930s-style clothing who appears to walk
around in a daze.
A park ranger at Griffith Park is believed to have seen the same female
ghost several times, and always detects the smell of gardenias and
a couple walking their dog saw the woman appear then vanish in the
same spot.
In the 1940s, the sign's letter H toppled over, sparking numerous
urban legends as to how it came to happen.
Some believe sign caretaker Albert Kothe knocked the letter over
after ploughing into it with his car while driving drunk.
Another version of events suggests Kothe stripped the sign of its
copper and sold it as scrap metal after all of its 4,000 lightbulbs
stopped working.
The most likely explanation is that the letter H simply toppled over
due to a combination of deterioration and strong winds.
The Hollywood sign has also been the inspiration for a number of
pranks, where the letters have been changed to spell different words.
In 1973, black and white sheets were used to cover up the last two 'O's
with 'E's so the sign read HOLLYWeeD in celebration of California's
relaxed marijuana laws.
Other rewordings have included HOLYWOOD on Easter Sunday, OLLYWOOD
following former US marine Oliver North's testimony in the Iran-Contra
hearings and OIL WAR during the Gulf War.