So Supernatural

"HAUNTED: The Hollywood Sign"

Date: April 3, 2026
Hosts: Rasha Pecoraro & Yvette Gentile
Producer: Audiochuck | Crime House

Episode Overview

This episode of So Supernatural explores the spectral legacy of the Hollywood Sign, focusing on the tragic story and enduring ghostly presence of 1930s actress Peg Entwistle. The hosts peel back layers of Southern California lore—mixing Hollywood dreams, personal tragedy, ghost sightings, and tales of a century-old curse at the heart of Griffith Park. Combining true crime storytelling with the surreal, they weave Peg’s fate into a broader history of strange and supernatural occurrences linked to one of America’s most iconic landmarks.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Hollywood Sign: Origins & Symbolism

• The sign was originally erected in 1923 as an advertisement for a real estate development called "Hollywoodland" ([05:05]).
  • "It wasn't meant to be a symbolic representation of the film industry. It was supposed to be a temporary advertisement for a new housing development." — Yvette Gentile ([05:05])
• Over time, it became an enduring symbol of ambition, hope, and dreams—both realized and lost.

2. Peg Entwistle: From Broadway to Tragedy

Early Life & Career

• Peg Entwistle, born in Wales, raised in New York, became a Broadway actress by age 19 ([07:09]).
• After familial losses and a failed marriage, she tried to reinvent herself in Los Angeles, seeking stardom ([09:44]).

Hollywood’s Empty Promises

• Peg landed a role in "Thirteen Women" (1932) and appeared poised for breakout success.
  • Expectations were high due to her "risky" role, but studios got cold feet, cut almost all her scenes, and let her contract expire ([13:17]).
  • "Thirteen Women wasn’t going to be the big break she’d been waiting for. Nobody would ever see her incredible performance." — Yvette ([13:17])

Her Final Days

• Devastated, Peg hiked to the Hollywoodland sign, climbed the "H," and died by suicide in 1932 ([14:43], [20:12]).
  • She left a note signed only "P.E."
  • After her death, a letter arrived offering Peg another acting role—a cruel twist of fate ([21:45]).

3. The Haunting of the Hollywood Sign

Ghostly Encounters

• Soon after her death, hikers reported seeing a sad, confused woman near the sign’s "H," often surrounded by the scent of gardenias—Peg’s favorite perfume ([22:32]).
  • She apparently "hovered above the ground," and would vanish if spoken to.
• The 1940s saw a mysterious collapse of the "H”—rumored to be the work of Peg’s restless spirit ([23:36]).
  • Official story: windstorm. Local rumor: the ghost of Peg.

Ongoing Sightings

• Park rangers and hikers continue to report seeing her ghost—sometimes mistaking her for a living person "in 1930s style clothing."
• Security alarms and cameras at the sign are regularly triggered in the absence of any physical presence ([26:58]).
• Memorable quote:
  • "People who see Peg say she's always dressed in 1930s style clothing, and she still usually smells very strongly of gardenias." — Yvette Gentile ([25:22])

Notable Encounters

• Anonymous park ranger "Jake": Experienced motion detector activation; security system “detected a person five feet away” from Jake, though no one was visible. Jake felt a strange presence ([27:56]).
• Megan Santos (2013): Jogger felt a sudden strong scent of gardenias, sneezed uncontrollably, and saw a floating blonde woman—presumed to be Peg ([29:14]).

4. Griffith Park’s Darker Secrets

Haunted Picnic Table

• In 1976, couple Rand & Nancy were killed by a falling tree branch while on a picnic table—since then, the table and branch have been linked to chilling supernatural events ([34:28]).
• Tree trimmer Morris Carl: Heard moaning, saw his chainsaw move, and "next you die" appeared in condensation on his windshield; fled in terror ([34:28]).
• Morris’ supervisor, Dennis Riggs, attempted to clear the branch later and was found dead under mysterious circumstances ([36:54]).
  • "Depending on who you talk to... his fingernails were broken and his hands were injured... there were signs that he had been dragged around before his death." — Rasha Pecoraro ([38:54])
• To this day, the branch remains on the table.

Other Haunted Sites

• Reports of ghost animals (lions, tigers), a trumpet-blaring elephant, shadowy figures at the park carousel, a werewolf-like beast, and the ghost of an unidentified little girl ([39:03]).

5. The Curse of Griffith Park

The Legend of Antonio Felice & Petronia

• 1860s: Antonio Felice, landowner, was reportedly coerced into bequeathing all to Antonio Coronel, bypassing his niece, Petronia ([40:36]).
• Petronia cursed Coronel, the lawyer, and the land, swearing it would bring misfortune and unprofitability ([42:16]):
  • Quote: “The one, she shall die in an untimely death, and the other in blood and violence."
• Both men met tragic ends. The land was plagued by disasters, croplands failed, and livestock perished ([43:32]).

The Ostrich Farm Calamity

• Griffith J. Griffith tried to make the land profitable with an ostrich farm but faced endless disasters and a vengeful ex-tenant who shot him ([45:48]).
  • Griffith, increasingly paranoid, shot his wife, survived, and ended up donating the cursed land to the city in 1896—creating Griffith Park ([47:49]).

Persistent Misfortune

• Owners and tenants over generations have experienced violence or ruin, feeding the legend of the land’s “portal-like” supernatural qualities and its hold on restless spirits ([48:40]).

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• "It was supposed to be a temporary advertisement... but as soon as it went up, it became a beloved landmark." — Yvette ([05:05])
• "Thirteen Women wasn’t going to be the big break she’d been waiting for..." — Yvette ([13:17])
• "She appeared both day and night and... hovered just a little bit above [the ground]. Plus, she always smelled strongly of gardenias..." — Yvette ([22:32])
• "Multiple people have seen her walking to the H... her feet are not touching the ground... some have even called 911 to report a possible suicide attempt." — Yvette ([26:22])
• "The alarms do activate late at night... when the park rangers check the video feed... there's nothing. Not even wild animals. It's almost like... something that's invisible..." — Yvette ([26:58])
• "After she uttered those words, she reportedly dropped dead herself. Apparently, whatever magic she was using came with a high price." — Rasha ([42:16])

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Segment/Topic | |-----------|-----------------------------------------------------| | 05:05 | History & Symbolism of the Hollywood Sign | | 07:09 | Peg Entwistle's Backstory & Early Career | | 13:17 | "Thirteen Women" and Hollywood Rejection | | 14:43 | Peg’s Final Night | | 20:12 | Discovery & Aftermath of Peg’s Suicide | | 22:32 | First Ghost Sightings at the Sign | | 23:36 | The Falling "H" Letter Incident | | 25:22 | Modern Supernatural Sightings by Park Rangers | | 27:56 | Ranger "Jake’s" Paranormal Experience | | 29:14 | Hiker Megan Santos' Encounter with Peg’s Ghost | | 34:28 | Haunted Picnic Table Tragedy and Hauntings | | 39:03 | Other Griffith Park Hauntings (Zoo, Carousel, etc.) | | 40:36 | The Legend of Felice, Coronel, Petronia’s Curse | | 45:48 | Ostrich Farm & Griffith J. Griffith’s Tragedy | | 47:49 | Griffith Park’s Persistent Misfortune & Ghosts | | 49:13 | Peg’s Legacy & “Hollywood Sign Girl” |

Closing Reflections

The episode balances supernatural intrigue with a sensitive retelling of Peg Entwistle’s life and the roots of the park’s haunted reputation. The hosts highlight Peg’s struggle, the fickle nature of the Hollywood dream, and how tragedy can anchor spirits to a place. Griffith Park's "curse" threads through stories of mishap and mystery, painting it as "a portal" for restless souls.

Final message:
"Peg can represent so much more than that. She is a reminder to never give up on your dreams and to keep persevering through it all. Through the ups and downs... Because your next life changing moment may just be a phone call away. Stay hopeful and just keep believing." — Yvette Gentile ([49:13])

For Listeners

• Content warning: Suicide and self-harm are discussed.
• For more on haunted Hollywood and Griffith Park legends, follow @sosupernaturalpod on Instagram or visit sosupernaturalpodcast.com.
• Next episode preview: More mysteries and spooky tales from So Supernatural.

Peg Entwistle's real story and the mythos around the Hollywood Sign blend sadness, glamour, and the supernatural—reminding us of the sometimes thin boundary between dreams and darkness in the City of Angels.