I was commuting that corridor when this work of awesomeness was done, and remember noticing the new sign, and then immediately wondering if it'd been there the whole time... Our hero!
As a former resident of San Diego who occasionally commuted to Los Angeles during that era (2001 to 2009) I greatly appreciate your work and never knew you were responsible to thank for it until today. Thank you!
@@ankrom East Coaster here, but have visited S. CA and made the drive to/fm LAX to /fm San Diego a few times. What’s the “and now the rest of the story” that’s talked about to this day for the public service you provided. This left egg on some departments face. 🍳
@@RedDawg2k the sign was up 9 years 8 months, background panel was replaced with a new 5 north sign in 2009, and on the next two gantries. the original was crushed into a block and recycled to China
@@ankrom The least the city could have done was to give you back the sign you had so lovingly crafted!! Outrageous that they crushed it. p.s. What is the charcoal powder for? Can't figure out what that does on top of the aluminum.. Thank you for your service!!
@@samsignorelli I'm not taking away from the effort, but it's kind of like someone building a plane, and someone else says, "look at how he paid attention to the aerodynamics!" ...well, yes, it did fly! Lot of other people probably wouldn't have flown.
Back in the day, the details of this operation -- the Pantone, the haircut, the pickup truck, everything -- were INFAMOUS in certain Los Angeles circles. I've retold the story many times over the years with wide-eyed admiration. Can't believe there's video of it all! A true Los Angeles Legend. I salute you.
@@cdabcdefg12345 The story doesn't end with this video. The story broke about 9 months after he installed his illegal sign and it remained installed for another 8 years, despite not being a certified legal sign. When they took the sign down, the replaced it with his addition where it remains to this day.
The techniques he was using are from a bygone era where everything was done by hand and by humans. This sign would now be made in a 1/4 of the time on a computer. Much respect to the artist for doing everything by hand. In addition the video editing is pretty impressive for 2001 Final Cut Pro standards...artfully done
I was impressed by that too.. I worked in a sign shop in the late 80's and even then, we were using a computer and a plotter that cut letters out of vinyl
I no longer live in LA (moved away in 2005). But I lived there at the time this was installed and must have seen the before and after and never noticed it (kinda the pt, right?) and, living for part of that time in So Pasadena, traveled this route regularly. So my question is does it persist today? From some comments here, I have a sense it does. But I'm also curious about the "official" story: what did "authorities" do/say -- if anything -- when the truth was out? Thanks to all artists involved!
This video honestly is like a perfect example of what I've always wanted to see in editing. The cuts, the music, the vibe. If only I could find more stuff in this style! Absolutely wonderfully and masterfully put together. And judging by the age this is late analog/early digital editing! Not only to say the whole concept and execution of the sign creation was amazing aswell
Considering this all filmed in 2001 so yea digital video was very expensive at the time. No smartphones. No camera phones. We still used film, disposable cameras, VHS tapes and VCRs were still a thing
I wonder how much it cost him in time and materials... I reckon 20 hrs of research and design time, 10 of manufacturing. 5 in planning, transport and installation? A bit under a week's work, so maybe a grand in labor and a few hundred in materials?
He did spend money to get the equipment to do that, but at least what he did was more efficient than what the Federal Department of Transportation does.
What a concept! I trust this fine young man has been rewarded for saving lives and reducing stress. I drove this stretch of freeway throughout the big 80's. Accidents in the northern-most tunnel on the 110 caused by folks jumping 3 lanes trying to get to the NORTH-5 cutoff was a weekly occurrence. Bravo sir! Thank you for your valor, keen engineering, kindness and civic-mindedness!
Total GENIUS!!!! I read about this in the newspaper several years back and have been searching the internet for this story ever since.. As a new transplant to LA from NY in 2000, I cant tell you how many times we had to cut someone off at the last minute to get over to the correct side of the 110 freeway on our way to Santa Clarita. How am I supposed to know that SANTA ANA is south of LA. When we saw the new I-5 sign we thought CALTRANS finally got their head out of their ass made the correction. It takes an independant guy like this to change the world. Good job bro!
Terrible, useless, invisible freeway signage is a pet-peeve of mine. It's so satisfying to see someone implement a carefully-considered, beautifully fabricated solution. Sometimes it seems the bureaucracies become too large to solve these simple, everyday problems for commuters. I give CalTrans credit for at least keeping it up after the fact, and admitting it actually helped!
it's almost as if they don't hire people who are smart or who care about .... anything. it's in fact almost as most people are not smart and do not care about... anything.
Overall, I think freeway / expressway signs are pretty good. I remember when the "Wrong Way" signs went up, people kept going up "off" ramps to get ON the expressway.
I just got started in the sign printing business and the work this person did to make that is nothing short of incredible. I was in awe watching them prepare and execute the actual making of the sign. Amazing
I'm 62 years old now and have been traveling to Los Angeles every few years since I was 19 years old and I remember this section of highway being so confusing prior to 2001. I had no idea of Richard Ankrom's heroic fix of this sign 8 years before California fixed it themselves. 🇺🇸 THANK YOU!!!
Can I just say how much I like this! Someone who actually took the time, effort and expense to fix something instead of just complaining about it. Way to go! I just wonder how many accidents were avoided by this repair? Way to go Richard!
As an old school sign painter, and former employee of NYCDOT, who has made literally hundreds of these overhead gantry highway signs, it warms my heart to see this. So many of these signs designed by local and state DOT "engineers" are not done accurately. Kudos to Richard Ankrom for taking matters into his own hands. Side note: when I saw that he was cutting the interstate shield out of .080 aluminum I laughed out loud (literally), because that is EXACTLY the gauge used. Dope.
As someone who has driven by this exit many times, I can guarantee you this man single handedly saved hundreds of hours of traffic congestion, and saved thousands of commuters hundreds of hours of time, not to mention he also prevented an untold number of traffic collisions due to "last minute" lane changes.
I can only think of one word to describe the thought process, the creativity, the industry, the precision and the daring of this useful public service performed without public assistance: AWESOME!
Dear Mr Ankram, A generation of frantic drivers thanks you, if they only knew! I lived in LA fifty years, and you have to be psychic to navigate those freeways. And you could spend 20 years trying to go through channels. God love you.
Absolutely brilliant. Not sure why RU-vid recommended another video about this video, but I love it. The production, music, and the story is outstanding. Thanks for making a difference
Not all heroes wear capes. Some wear orange vests. You, sir, are a legitimate HERO! Can’t tell you how frustrating that stretch of freeway was, people always cutting in at the last second, or worse, STOPPING in the #2 lane! You have saved countless accidents, and probably some lives as well. THANK YOU for your service! 🏅
I’m a traffic engineer and national expert on traffic control devices (engineer jargon for signs, markings, and signals). I was literally laughing out loud as I watched this. You nailed it! My only critique (and I’m picking nits here) is the “N” should have been slightly taller than the “ORTH”, but using a larger initial letter in cardinal directions was a relatively new practice in 2001 and may not have been adopted by Caltrans yet. And did you look into using reflective sheeting? The cats eyes were the next best thing, though. Anyway, from a left brained engineer to a right brained artist, kudos to you sir, and thank you for the laughs! We truly want to be helpful and serve the public, but sometimes bureaucracy and politics get in the way.
So we have you to blame for the horrible state of traffic “engineering” these days? Funny title- traffic engineer- as you guys literally engineer traffic into existence 🤣
In June 2021, I took a road trip from Arizona (drove alone) to upstate NY, with a stop in Ft. Wayne, Indiana. Part of my route was the Ohio Turnpike (I-80, co-located with I-90 between Maumee and Cleveland). At some point, I no longer was seeing the I-90 signs and stopped at a rest area to ask for clarification (directions). I had missed my exit to continue along Lake Erie into PA and NY. Subsequently, I ended up driving an extra hour and a few (maybe 70 or so) miles. The scenery was lovely but it was a nuisance. I wasn't going to back track to figure out how I got sidetracked, but just now saw this very cool video that gives a plausible explanation. I was trying to be diligent about watching highway directional signage.
Nice work Richard. I like the way that the official sign designer, who made the sign to replace the sign that you "hacked", altered the design to give the I-5 exit even *better* clarity (rather than reverting to the older official sign that didn't show I-5). I would really love to know if that Caltrans designer was aware that he was basing his new sign on your "hack" or if he was fooled by your attempt to make your signs look official and old and built a sign to replace what he thought was already an approved design.
What I love is that he spent so much effort getting the green right for the North sign, and it doesn't match. That's because the green he researched is the MUTCD green color, and California signs use a darker green and are not standard.
This was fantastic. The whole thing! The Jambi-esque head with the glowing red eyes, then the plan and the carrying out of the plan, which was genius and perfectly executed. What talent! And what a blessing you are to a lot of people because somebody had to make that sign, and it was you. By the way, Now I Know sent me here.
The Martin Denny music is the icing on the cake! And this could actually be the very last newly made and installed button copy sign in the USA (that's what those dots are called). Most states switched from button copy to reflective lettering in the 1990s, and the last holdout, which was Arizona, stopped installing new button copy signs in 2000.
We thought we were pretty bold when we could not get any signage on our dirt road and were tired of redirecting people. We ordered signs off the internet and while we were at it we added a few incorrect ones. That is; No Outlet, Private Property, No Trespassing and so on. It has really discouraged the riff raff. What you have done is provide a public service as well as an amazing work of art. Good thing the statute of limitations has run or the unions would sue you!
Wonderful artistry with impeccable execution. The video is so fantastic and the concept was completely nailed. Absolutely one of my favorite "living" art pieces ever! You rock.
In Australia I learned to drive on the wrong (left) side of the road (high anxiety!) and was very thankful that their road signs are easy to understand by anyone from any country with any language! Totally simple and visual!
This story is so "LA". Bad freeway signs that are ambiguous or don't show exits or transitions well drive you nuts. I've driven that stretch of road many, many times and he was exactly right - the 110-to-5 transition is an odd one and if you don't know what to look for, you're going to miss it.
Right here!! Born and raised in Southern California. Never heard of this before, but have definitely had the Experience of trying to jump across lanes. Kinda like Dallas
*Does Mr. Ankrom know if his brilliantly executed new signage has ever been inadvertently captured by any TV or movie crews (as Los Angeles freeway signs often are) and turned up on the big screen? Whatever the case, he did what the California Highway Department failed to do.*👍👍👍
I was referred to this video by "The Drive". The commentator had likened it to a David Lynch film. I concur. The score, some of the filming style, transitions, and especially the the misaligned audio with the disembodied red eyed giant head.....amazing.
Funny, Caltrans didn't adopt the then current federal MUTCD, they used their own state manual. That state could learn a thing or two about signing exits, particularly on how to sign exit numbers on tabs like the rest of the country does. To folks thinking this video is "new", Richard posted it online back in 2001-02. Still a good watch though. The modem and Netscape Communicator screen shots seem to quaint today.
Brillant!!! Kudos to you and your entire team. I've lived here for over 30 years and never heard this story. You have helped me not miss that exit many, many times. Thank you.
Bravo! Probably many lives saved, countless accidents avoided. This guy pioneered the concept of #CustomerObsession before it became mainstream. #hatsoff for a well executed public service
I wish the world had been able to keep a little bit of this magic. Thank you for recording the entire process-us younger people more than appreciate it!
all of the support material (sketches, script, images) have been archived and will be on display during the Brewery Artwalk Oct. 5-6 2024 Los Angeles Ca.
Wow, this is rad... I remember driving this route all the time and remember seeing this correction/new upgrade. It was great... I remember when it was gone too. I was pissed... I always wondered why Cal-trans would remove it. I had friends in a band at the Art colony at the Winery on Main Street there. They were called the Cal-transvestites...
I've most probably seen that sign circa 2008-2010 and I always wondered why is the arrow under the 5 sign a little off to the left but its because it was done by this great artist. If anything, this project highlights the inefficiencies of the public sector, 5 freeway connects the entire west-coast together, but at one of the most important junctions in one of the biggest cities in the planet it doesn't have proper signage. Amazing work. We need this spirit of can-do-ism everywhere
Another "Now I Know" reader here! It's gratifying to see there are so many other Now I Know subscribers interested in more depth and content than the typical fire hose of talking points that inundate my mailbox. This is a remarkable initiative/undertaking by the artist. A very interesting story and one I'll long remember.
This is fantastic and shows that how aside from talent and preparation, confidence and the right props are keys to the con! In broad daylight no less!! 🤯🤯🤯 Jim Rockford would be proud!
BTW I-5 doesn't go through San Francisco, it does go through Sacramento. It's like a direct bypass. The way some people would think of it, you take the 580 to Oakland and then take 80 to SF, then go back on the 505 to reconnect to I-5, it's known as I-5W.
Thank you for doing this. Like everyone else, I thought CalTrans did it, till I heard on the news that it was you. I just heard about this video 20 minutes ago by watching a video about this.
This is so awesome that you did this!! Love it! Thank you for being considerate and doing such an awesome public service!!! Also love your attention to detail and engineering effort!