We've been trying to be patient. Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti's office issued a press release Sunday announcing plans to place banners transforming the Hollywood sign into the words "RAMS HOUSE" as a gigantic celebration of the L.A. Rams' Super Bowl victory. Two days in, things haven't proceeded quite the way anyone had imagined.
You might ask, "Do you want it done fast or do you want it done right?" So far, the answer has been "neither" — the installation was set to be in place from Monday through Wednesday, but already well into Tuesday afternoon, it remained incomplete.
"R" and "A" banners have been hung, as well as "O," U," "S," and "E." But that means we have a sign currently spelling neither "Hollywood" nor "Rams House" and instead reading "RALLYOUSE."
So what kept the "RAMS HOUSE" sign from being completed faster? Some particularly un-L.A. weather put the team hanging the letters behind schedule, according to the Hollywood Sign Trust. Rain and high winds made the process a struggle. By around 3:30 on Tuesday afternoon, they'd only managed to put up two additional letters since Monday, when it read "RALLYWOSE." It's a race to the finish for the sign riggers, who were at work since 6:30 a.m. on Tuesday.
The plan is still to complete the installation by late Tuesday, which means there's still time for everything to be in place as the city celebrates that Rams win with the official victory parade on Wednesday. The plan is also for the banners to be taken down starting on Thursday. It's possible that could be pushed back, though — and considering how long it's taken to hang them, maybe it should be.
Many Angelenos will remember moments in the city's history when pranksters moved under the dark of night, quickly draping banners to read things such as "HOLLYWEED." Of course, that involved fewer banners, smaller alterations to what the sign looks like as a whole, and isn't the same scope as what this full changeover entails — and activities like this have usually been done in less inclement weather.
"This is the first time the Hollywood Sign has been transformed to reflect civic pride in Los Angeles," Hollywood Sign Trust Chair Jeff Zarrinnam said in a statement.
The effort is a partnership between the city, the Rams, the Hollywood Sign Trust, and the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. With all those groups coordinating, as well as the entire display being contingent on the Rams winning, everything didn't fully come together until the last minute, according to the Hollywood Sign Trust.
"This town has the best teams and fans in the world, and we can’t wait to show off our L.A. pride with a display that only Hollywood could deliver," Garcetti said in a statement Sunday. Sadly, the mayor and the rest of the city are all still waiting.
The Department of Transportation, Bureau of Streets Services, the Department of Recreation and Parks, and the LAPD have all been tasked with protecting the area and assist with vehicle and pedestrian traffic from the changeover.
As the city celebrates its team during Wednesday's parade, will the Hollywood Sign be proudly showing its Rams pride? Only time — and the winds — will tell.
