Peg Entwistle lived with her uncle in Hollywood.  She was at one time married to Robert Keith.  Robert Keith’s son was Brian Keith, who ironically also committed suicide.

Peg Entwistle was born Lillian Millicent Entwistle on July 1, 1908 in London, England.

She starred on stage in The Mad Hopes and signed with RKO for the role of Hazel in the murder mystery Thirteen Women, but the film received poor reviews and studio dropped her.  At this time, she was divorced and without work.  She became deeply depressed, thinking she would never find work.

The famous Hollywood sign was built in 1923 for a real estate development in Beachwood Canyon.  The sign originally read “Hollywoodland.”  It was originally lighted by 4000 light bulbs, but maintenance was discontinued in 1939 and in 1949 the “land” portion was removed.  It became rundown and letters were stolen or broken, but in 1978, the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce had it restored.

On September 18, 1932, after a night of drinking and feeling depressed, Peg would tell her Uncle Harold that she was going to walk up Beachwood to meet friends.  Instead, she climbed her way up the slope of the Hollywood sign where she took off her coat and folded it neatly.  She placed it by her purse at the base of the maintenance ladder by the letter “H.”  She climbed up the ladder on the back of the 50ft letter and took a swan dive into the ground killing her instantly.  She was only 24 years old.  Shortly after her death, a letter from the Beverly Hills Playhouse arrived wanting her to star in their production.  Ironically, it was about a young girl who commits suicide.

Here is the transcript of her suicide note:
"I am afraid I am a coward. I am sorry for everything. If I had done this a long time ago, it would have saved a lot of pain."

If you would like to know more about Peg, here are a few websites of interest.

Website: http://www.prairieghosts.com/hollywood3.html
http://chuckstraub.com/Letterboxing/pegentwistle.htm