Decrepit

In 1949, the Hollywoodland sign was in horrible disrepair and local residents demanded that it be removed. Instead, the city of Los Angeles decided to build a new sign touting Hollywood. But by 1978, that sign itself had become decrepit, as seen in this photo taken from the same location as the current-day previous image.

That year, a group led by Playboy magnate Hugh Hefner decided to rebuild the sign. Hefner hosted a fundraiser at the Playboy Mansion and raised $275,000 for the project. The "W" is dedicated to Hefner.