As you might imagine, some neighbors took...
As you might imagine, some neighbors took issue with the First Interstate Bank spokesman who recently answered critics of the skyscraper’s new gold “I” logos by writing to the Downtown News:
”. . . Our sign is monochromatic (unlike Bank of America and Union Bank), sensitively scaled (compare the Security Pacific logos), and virtually complete (which Wells Fargo seems unable to do).”
B of A refrained from pointing out that Interstate’s old building, far from being monochromatic (fancy talk for “one color”), sports a brilliant orange logo.
Security Pacific responded gravely that its jumbo “S’s” are in “very good taste.”
And Wells Fargo, referring indirectly to First Interstate’s situation, explained that its logo was still in development because “signage is an important issue and we want to make sure that ours is right.”
You could almost see those gold “I’s” blushing red.
But, whoa! Wells Fargo.
Whatever happened to your stagecoach logo? You know, the one that was visible in the opening shot of the “L.A. Law” TV show?
A check of the downtown skyline found no such carriage clinging to the side of a building.
Spokesman Wes Lockwood explained that the company junked the coach when it moved over to Bunker Hill from its old digs (now the “444” building).
Oddly enough, Wells Fargo’s current logo is “GO.”
GO? Is that some type of corporate inspirational statement, like “Just do it”?
Actually, Lockwood said, it’s “test signage . . . an aesthetic test.”
They’re “mock-up letters,” he explained. “It’s our second time around. We had ‘WEL’ up there for a while earlier.” He didn’t say who’s voting on the dummies, but the company isn’t soliciting public reaction.
In the meantime, as temporary logos go, “WEL” and “GO” do seem preferable to “THIS IS ONLY A TEST.”
Another reminder that reporters shouldn’t become part of the story they’re covering:
“Editors,” a news service advised Wednesday. “Contact says, for Mayor Tom Bradley’s 3:45 p.m. news conference on rush-hour towing, the media should park in the parking lot of the Travelodge, 7051 Sunset Blvd.”
Beam Me Up, Your Honor:
A woman filed a $3-million palimony suit in Los Angeles against the man she says was her “companion, confidante and homemaker” for five years--actor William Shatner, Captain Kirk of “Star Trek” fame. Presumably, that’s five Earth years.
In a West Hollywood restaurant, Fred Piegonski noticed “Local Chicken Breast” on the menu. He asked the waitress what exactly that was.
“She said it was chicken from ‘in the state,’ ” related Piegonski, a public information officer at L.A. City College. “I ordered some and it did taste pretty fresh. Then I went in there about a week later and there was a slight change in the menu. That dish was now ‘Low-Cal Chicken Breast.’ ”
While you’re munching on that one, stop to consider: Have you ever noticed that even the street people seem more hip in West L.A.? Just the other day, a young shabbily dressed man was spotted walking down Santa Monica Boulevard while eating out of a container . . . with chopsticks.
