The Sign Of Things To Come

Shoults and Woodruff did.

It’s a story right out of the movies … you know the one where the heroes hope to build one thing … and end up doing something totally unexpected, crazy and memorable instead. Well, here’s the pitch:

Shoults and Woodruff were real estate partners who built a grand real estate development in the hills overlooking their city. The lots were large and the houses upscale. They bought advertising and they built a sign … a crazy big sign that was 50 feet tall and had over 4,000 lights. You couldn’t miss their real estate development from anywhere.

Well the sign was expected to last just 18 months until all the lots were sold … but then something magical happened … the sign took on a life of its own and became a tourist attraction. Eventually, the city and chamber of commerce took over maintaining the sign, and dropped the last 4 of the original 13 letters to better represent the area as opposed to the real estate development.

Today, over 90 years later, the iconic sign Shoults and Woodruff erected to sell houses still stands and its 9 letters have come to define a dream. H-o-l-l-y-w-o-o-d .. Hollywood

The Hollywood sign is a great idea … because a big vision can lead to blockbuster success.