DECISION IS A GOOD SIGN FOR HOLLYWOOD BACKERS.

Byline: Harrison Sheppard Staff Writer

The city of Los Angeles lost a round Monday in its fight to keep ownership of the landmark Hollywood sign even if Hollywood becomes its own city.

The head of the county panel overseeing secession said he will recommend that ownership of the famous Griffith Park sign go to the city of Hollywood even though it will physically remain within Los Angeles city limits.

Secession proponents and Los Angeles city officials have both argued for ownership of the famous hillside sign in Griffith Park. But Larry Calemine, executive officer of the Local Agency Formation Commission, said the deed restrictions that prevent the transfer of the parkland do not apply to the sign property.

``Every once in a while, the city of Los Angeles has to get slapped in the head with a piece of logic,'' said Gene LaPietra, president of Hollywood Voters Organized Toward Empowerment. ``(This) is one of those moments. The sign says Hollywood; it should go with Hollywood.''

But Los Angeles officials argue that the sign should remain with Los Angeles, where it would still be located.

``The land is part of Griffith Park,'' said Julie Wong, spokeswoman for Mayor James Hahn. ``It was deeded separately to the city for purposes of becoming part of Griffith Park. Therefore it's a regional asset that we would certainly like to keep.''

She said she expects this issue to be subject to debate during negotiations that have not yet started between city officials and Hollywood secessionists.

Griffith Park was donated to the city under a restricted deed that prevents its transfer to another entity.

The Hollywood sign - which originally read ``Hollywoodland'' - was erected in 1923 to promote a new real estate development on private property that was not part of the Griffith family's original donation. The sign's owner gave the land to the city in 1945 with no deed restrictions.

``They (the city of Los Angeles) have laid claim to the fact we couldn't include that portion of Griffith Park because it was deeded by the Griffith family. We've checked the deed and that's not the case,'' Calemine said.

While Los Angeles currently owns the land and maintains the sign, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce owns the trademark and receives licensing revenue over the sign's use in postcards, movies and other images. The chamber acquired the trademark in 1978 when it led an effort to completely rebuild the sign, which had fallen into serious disrepair.

The chamber also owns licensing rights to the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which would also be located in the new city.

A new Hollywood city would not gain any of those licensing rights, Calemine said.

Calemine said he also plans to recommend proposed boundaries for the new city that conform mostly to Hollywood VOTE's original application, despite the petitions received from eight different neighborhoods to be excluded from the new city.

The only changes involve shifting some land in the Cahuenga Pass from the proposed San Fernando Valley city to Hollywood, giving some small parcels near Universal City to the Valley city, and giving some land near the entrance to Griffith Park to Los Angeles.

The final decision on the Hollywood sign and the new city's boundaries rests with the nine-member commission, which will review the issue Wednesday.

City Councilman Tom LaBonge, whose district includes the sign, said it belongs with Los Angeles.

``The Hollywood sign and the environment around Griffith Park belong in Los Angeles,'' LaBonge said. ``Griffith Park, which was given to the people of Los Angeles, which has welcomed people from all over the world, is a park for the people. It's one of our greatest monuments.''

THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN

The Hollywood sign is 50 feet tall, 450 feet long and weighs 450,000 pounds. Here's a brief history:

1923: A sign reading HOLLYWOODLAND is erected on private property on Mount Lee in what is now Griffith Park. Costing $21,000 to build, the sign is intended to promote a new real estate development.

1945: The developer, M.H. Sherman Co., deeds the sign to the city of Los Angeles.

1949: Winds blow down the letter H. The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce repairs the sign and removes the letters LAND.

1973: The city's Cultural Heritage Board gives the sign landmark status.

1976: Pranksters alter the sign to read HOLLYWEED in support of looser marijuana laws. Separately that year, the sign's disrepair shows when two O's and the D fall down, and an arsonist sets fire to the bottom of an L.

1978: The sign is completely rebuilt after a chamber-led restoration campaign with help from Hugh Hefner, Alice Cooper, Gene Autry and other celebrities. The chamber acquires the sign's trademark and the right to license its image.

1984: The sign is illuminated for two weeks for the Olympics in Los Angeles.

2000: The sign is lighted for the millennium celebration.

2002: Hollywood cityhood advocates argue that the sign should become part of their proposed new city.

SOURCES: www.hollywoodsign.org; www.globalicons.com; Hollywood Chamber of Commerce.

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Photo:

(color) no caption (Hollywood sign)

David Sprague/Staff Photographer

Box:

THE HOLLYWOOD SIGN (see text)