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Later in life, Daniel Finegood became a husband, father, art lover and longtime member of the board of the Oakwood School. But on January 1, 1976, the Cal State Northridge art major earned a spot in the counterculture wing of the Los Angeles Hall of Fame (if such a place existed.) To mark California's new law making possession of marijuana a misdemeanor, Finegood led some friends up Mt. Lee carrying four 6x12-foot sheets. With rope and stones they hung the sheets to transform the world-famous Hollywoodland sign into a message fitting the day. Finegood got an A for the Hollyweed "environmental sculpture" and a place in L.A. lore, but his achievement didn't measure up to an editorial obituary in the Los Angeles Times. After his death of cancer, an eagle-eyed LA Observed reader with a sense of history (and a government job, so he will remain nameless) spotted Finegood relegated to yesterday's paid obits.
Noted: Finegood followed up with a second art project, changing the sign to HOL YWOOD for Easter that year.
Photo: Hollyweed.net