Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
{{Short description|Organization in charge of the Hollywood Sign and Hollywood Walk of Fame}}
{{Use mdy dates|date=February 2025}}
{{Use American English|date=January 2025}}
{{Infobox organization
| name = Hollywood Chamber of Commerce
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| established = 1921
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| region_served = Hollywood, California
| founder =
| leader_title = President and CEO
| leader_name = Steve Nissen
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| website = {{URL|https://hollywoodchamber.net/}}
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The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce is a chamber of commerce located in Hollywood, Los Angeles. As a local chamber, the organization promotes business interests in its area, but it is best known for holding the trademarks and licensing rights for two of Los Angeles's most famous landmarks: the Hollywood Walk of Fame and the Hollywood Sign.{{Cite web |title=100 Years ...Hollywood Bowl and Hollywood Chamber of Commerce|url=https://www.discoverhollywood.com/Publications/Discover-Hollywood/2022/Summer-2022/100-Years-Hollywood-Bowl-and-Hollywood-Chamber-o.aspx |website=discoverhollywood.com|date=Summer 2022 |language=en-US}}
History
{{multiple image |direction=vertical |width=225 |image1=Hollywoodland Sign 1920s.jpg|image2=Hollywood Sign (Zuschnitt).jpg|caption1=Hollywoodland Sign prior to the Chamber's modifications|caption2=Hollywood Sign after the Chamber's modifications|align=left}}
The Hollywood Chamber of Commerce was founded in 1921, when Hollywood's 2,000 residents and businesspeople organized with the goal of becoming a more metropolitan city. A five-day membership drive resulted in 2,517 members, with their first order of business involving the fledgling Hollywood Bowl, in which they financed a ticket-selling campaign and also raised funds to grade and install 20,000 seats in the venue.{{Cite web |title=Early Los Angeles Historical Buildings (1925 +) |page=2 |publisher=Water and Power Associates | url=https://waterandpower.org/museum/Early_LA_Buildings%20(1925%20+)_2_of_8.html |language=en-US}}
In 1932, the Chamber sponsored the Santa Claus Lane Parade, and in 1978, the parade was renamed the Hollywood Christmas Parade.
In 1949, the organization paid $4000 {{USDCY|4000|1949}} to repair, rebuild, and take down the “LAND” in the Hollywoodland Sign, creating the Hollywood Sign. The Chamber did a second restoration in 1973.
In 1953, the organization's president proposed what would become the Hollywood Walk of Fame, which the chamber worked with the City of Los Angeles to create. The walk was dedicated in 1960, and in 1962, Los Angeles City Council approved an ordinance that specified the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce be the agent to advise the City in all matters pertaining to the addition of other names.{{Cite web |title=History of the Walk of Fame |url=https://walkoffame.com/licensing/ |publisher=Hollywood Chamber of Commerce|access-date=August 12, 2024 |language=en-US}} The organization also hosts Walk of Fame induction ceremonies and places memorial wreaths beside stars upon their honoree's death.{{Cite web |title=Vandals Trash Patty Duke's Walk of Fame Memorial Wreath |author=Paige Austin |url=https://patch.com/california/hollywood/vandals-trash-patty-dukes-walk-fame-memorial-wreath-0 |publisher=Patch Media|date=March 30, 2016 |language=en-US}}
{{Image frame|width=225|content=225px|caption=Elton John receives his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, 1975|align=right}}
Since 1978, the organization has owned the trademarks and licensing rights to the Hollywood Sign the Hollywood Walk of Fame,{{Cite web |title=Steve Nissen Tapped as President, CEO for Hollywood Chamber of Commerce |author=Katie Reul |url=https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/steve-nissen-president-ceo-hollywood-chamber-of-commerce-1235557311/ |magazine=Variety|date=March 16, 2023 |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Licensing for the Walk of Fame |url=https://walkoffame.com/licensing/ |publisher=Hollywood Chamber of Commerce|access-date=August 12, 2024 |language=en-US}} the former through the Hollywood Sign Trust.{{Cite web |title=War Over Hollywood Sign Pits Wealthy Residents Against Urinating Tourists: "One of These Days Someone Will Get Shot" |author=Gary Baul |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/war-hollywood-sign-pits-wealthy-761385/ |magazine=Hollywood Reporter|date=January 7, 2015 |language=en-US}} Since then, the Chamber has upheld their trademarks through cease and desist orders and lawsuits.{{Cite web |title=Hollywood Chamber Of Commerce Trademark Bullies Kevin Smith's Podcast Over Hollywood Sign |url=https://www.techdirt.com/2018/09/19/hollywood-chamber-commerce-trademark-bullies-kevin-smiths-podcast-over-hollywood-sign/ |publisher=Techdirt|date=September 19, 2018 |author=Mike Masnick |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Hollywood Sign Owner Cries Foul Over Ad Agency ‘Infringement’ |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/bb-hollywood-trademark-dispute-383648/ |magazine=Hollywood Reporter|date=October 26, 2012 |author=Jonathan Handel |language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Hollywood Chamber of Commerce Wins International Trademark Infringement Lawsuit |url=https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20130716005414/en/Hollywood-Chamber-of-Commerce-Wins-International-Trademark-Infringement-Lawsuit |publisher=Business Wire|date=July 16, 2013 |language=en-US}}
In 1992, the Hollywood Sign Trust became independent of the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce; however, the Chamber appointed seven of the nine trustees and retained ownership of the Hollywood Sign trademark.{{Cite web |title=Seize the Hollywood Sign |url=https://la.curbed.com/2017/5/18/15505446/hollywood-sign-hike-address-history-font |publisher=Curbed Los Angeles|date=May 18, 2017 |author=Adrian Glick Kudler |language=en-US}} And as of 2015, the Chamber continued to have a majority of the Trust's board seats.
As of March 2023, the President and CEO of the organization is Steve Nissen, the former senior vice president of legal and government affairs at NBCUniversal.
== References ==
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{{Greater Hollywood|state=collapsed}}