The Hollywood sign mistake you can’t unsee

Have you ever looked closely at the Hollywood sign and felt something looked off? You’re not alone. Many people have missed a subtle detail that, once seen, can’t be unseen. The focus is on the letter “W.”

Jeff Zarrinman, chair of the Hollywood Sign Trust, highlighted this unusual feature in an interview with News.com.au. He points out that the two “V” shapes forming the “W” are uneven—the left one is much narrower than the right.

Zarrinman finds joy in revealing this fact to visitors. Most people don’t notice it at first, but once it’s pointed out, it becomes impossible to ignore. He calls it a “mistake” that has gone unnoticed by many despite its visibility.

The sign’s origins date back to 1923 when real estate developer Harry Chandler built it to promote the Hollywoodland housing development. It was designed to catch the attention of potential buyers from afar.

During the Great Depression, the development suffered, and the sign fell into disrepair. By 1944, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce stepped in, removing the “land” to create the modern “Hollywood” sign.

The sign continued to decline, and in the 1970s, a complete rebuild was proposed. Zarrinman helped lead a fundraiser to raise $250,000 to restore the landmark.

In 1978, a “Save the Sign” campaign was launched. Celebrities like Hugh Hefner and Alice Cooper sponsored letters—Hefner chose “Y” and Cooper chose one of the “O”s—to help preserve the Hollywood symbol.