Before playing William Adama in Battlestar Galactica, Edward James Olmos was mostly known for his portrayal of Jaime Escalante in Stand and Deliver. Based on real life events, the movie follows Escalante as he enters James Garfield High in Los Angeles and makes a difference on the young tough kids through his teachings of mathematics. Kinda like Dangerous Minds but with no Coolio.

Right next to MacArthur Park on Wilshire Blvd. you'll find "Los Angeles Teachers," the tall mural depicting Olmos in costume next to the real Jaime Escalante. The mural is the work of Hector Ponce, painter of the City of Angels, as he calls himself.

It's impossible for you to have missed some of his work. His large murals adorn the side of many buildings in Downtown and Hollywood. Go to his site and finally answer that question that's been in the back of your head for so long "Who made that huge mural with Elvis, Shwarzeneggerr and Marilyn?"

Other murals around MacArthur Park include "The Holy Trinity with the Virgin" by Kent Twitchell and "Fire, Earth and Water" by Tom Van Sant.

After the jump check out the recent South Park spoof with Cartman as Jaiman Escalante.