Joe Dante Revisits the Hollywood Sign on Locationland

The Hollywood Sign has been blown up, toppled, set ablaze, and swallowed by the earth—so naturally, our fearless leader Joe Dante got there first.

On the latest episode of Locationland, Joe joins host Harry Medved to discuss the cinematic legacy of L.A.’s most famous landmark. As a first-time co-director (with fellow TFH Guru Allan Arkush), Joe shot his very first movie, Hollywood Boulevard, at the Hollywood Sign, but he cemented his place in its destruction hall of fame when he became the first director ever to destroy it on screen. (Of course, it wouldn’t be the last time the sign took a beating in Hollywood history.)

Filmed on location with Hollywood Sign guide Diana Wright, the episode uncovers stories behind the sign’s on-screen appearances, why filmmakers love to obliterate it, and the surprising truth about one of its biggest myths.
Don’t miss this deep dive into the legacy of a beacon that started as a real estate advertisement and became a global symbol of movie magic. Watch now on Locationland!