It seems impossible that an icon on the level of the Hollywood sign could be subject to destruction or relocation, but for a time there was a danger that the land surrounding the sign would be sold to developers, leaving the Los Angeles landmark's future in jeopardy. But Hollywood is a town packed with millionaires who are also attached to their city's fame, and many of them came out in force to pony up enough cash to save the land-- including a $900,000 donation from Hugh Hefner.
Variety quoted Hefner with a pretty moving tribute to the landmark, which now sits on 140 acres owned by the Trust for Public Land:
"My childhood dreams and fantasies came from the movies, and the images created in Hollywood had a major influence on my life and Playboy. As I've said before, the Hollywood sign is Hollywood's Eiffel Tower and I am pleased to help preserve such an important cultural landmark."
Other individual donors included Kathleen Kennedy, Frank Marshall, Tom Hanks, Rita Wilson and Norman Lear, along with organizations ranging from The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences to The Walt Disney Company Foundation. None of these peoople may be able to agree on anything normally, but it's charming that they banded together to save a symbol so important.
