The Hollywood Sign Vs. The New Scientology Sign: It's On

Angelenos might sense something new in the air: I speak of the towering white sign spelling out "SCIENTOLOGY" atop the Church's West Coast headquarters, a giant blue edifice that formerly housed the Cedars of Lebanon hospital. Clearly this marks the launch of a new 50-year plan for the not-not-for-profit denomination; locals will be all but impervious to the slow and steady migration of their logo colossus up the side of the Hollywood Hills, whereupon the area will triumphantly assume its new designation as "SCIENTOLOGYLAND" on March 13, 2061, in time for L. Ron Hubbard's 150th birthday.

In the meantime, the two megaliths will have to compete for landscape domination. After the jump, I've compiled for your convenience a guide-at-a-glance. (With thanks to Curbed LA for their excellent photos and reporting.)

Origins

The Hollywood sign was an advertisement for a real estate development called Hollywoodland that went up in 1923. While the "land" fell off, the rest of the sign remained in one form or another ever since, becoming the single most iconic L.A. landmark.

The Scientology sign was in development since 2005, ordered by Church leader David Miscavige to serve as both a fitting monument to the religion, as well as a beacon to new converts.

Builders

Construction on the Hollywood sign was contracted to the Crescent Sign Company, whose owner, Thomas Fisk Goff, designed each of its 13 letters. It was officially unveiled on July 13, 1923, with a projected lifespan of about a year-and-a-half.

It took San Diego-based Signtech Electrical Advertising two days at the end of June 2009 to install the Scientology sign.

Materials

Originally made of wood and sheet metal, the sign deteriorated steadily until being replaced with much more durable steel in 1978, as part of a restoration project undertaken by Alice Cooper, of all people.

The Scientology sign is a combination of glass, metal, and plastic, and is covered in thousands upon thousands of small LED lights.

Dimensions

Each letter of the Hollywood sign is now 45 feet high, but they were 30 feet tall at the time of its original construction.

Scientology's sign has 11 letters, each standing 15 feet high.

Visibility at Night

The sign was originally lit by 4000 light bulbs. It now stands unlit, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce opting not to foot the costly electric bills required to run it.

The LED technology ensures the Scientology sign is visible for several miles at night.

Costs

The '78 refurbishment cost private donors $250,000 for the Hollywood sign, or $890,000 in today's dollars.

The Scientology sign cost in the range of $450,000-$500,000.

First Person to Commit Suicide by Jumping Off of It

In September 1932, Broadway actress and Beachwood Canyon resident Peg Entwistle killed herself by jumping from the Hollywood sign's H.

No one had plunged off the new Scientology sign to their death, yet. ♦

· Scientologists Go Subtle for Fountain Avenue Sign [Curbed LA]