Hollywood Sign Los Angeles during the Golden Age of Hollywood, the sign became an internationally recognized symbol and was left there. Over the course of more than half a century, the sign, designed to stand for only 18 months, sustained extensive damage and deterioration. During the early 1940s, Albert Kothe (the sign's official caretaker) caused an accident that destroyed the letter "H". Kothe, driving while inebriated, was nearing the top of Mount Lee when he lost control of his vehicle and drove off the cliff directly behind the "H". While Kothe was not injured, his 1928 Ford Model A was destroyed, as
Community newspapers in Hollywood, California of the "Hollywood Citizen" since 1911, purchased the "Hollywood News" from Ira Copley in 1931 and combined the two papers under the name "Citizen-News." The first issue appeared on Monday, November 2, 1931, published from the "News" building. The combined circulation was expected to reach "more than 30,000," it was said. The "Citizen" circulation was given as 20,000 and the "News" as "over 20,000." The editorial staff of the "Citizen" struck and picketed the plant on May 17, 1938, in the first walkout called by the American Newspaper Guild in California. Managing editor Harold Swisher said other workers were being