Why the Hollywood Sign Once Had a Pool
- Jun 30, 2025
- 5 min read
The Hollywood sign might be a film industry landmark, but for a few short years in the 1940s it was a beacon for early television.
In 1941, the Don Lee Broadcasting System moved its experimental television station, W6XAO, from downtown Los Angeles to the mount of Hollywoodland, 1,700 feet above sea level. The site was chosen specifically for its elevation: When combined with a 300-foot transmission tower, the tele-station had 2,000 feet of vertical clearance—enough to double its reach from 30 to 60 miles away.
