I've been getting feverish press releases from the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences leading up to the Oscars, mostly announcing that this or that celebrity has been added to the burgeoning roster of presenters, or that Chris Rock is NOT the anti-Christ or other such necessary but marginal twaddle.

The following, though, reminded me that things just don't HAPPEN: actual people do actual important and necessary work to prepare for a show like this - kind of like reminding yourself that every single name you see in the 10 or 15 minutes of credits at the end of a film ACTUALLY DID SOMETHING that contributed to the making of the film. It would have been different if THAT PARTICULAR NAME hadn't done his/her specific job.

Street closures to facilitate the production needs of the 77th Academy Awards, as well as security strategies and public safety, have been finalized by the Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences and the City of Los Angeles.

Numerous agencies, including the L. A. Department of Transportation, Caltrans and the Los Angeles police and fire departments were consulted in the planning process and agree that the finalized plan is the best way to accommodate all of the parties involved.

Hollywood Boulevard will be closed between Highland Avenue and Orange Drive for seven days beginning at 10 p.m. on Monday, February 21, for construction of press risers, fan bleachers and pre-show stages for the 77th Annual Academy Awards red carpet.

The boulevard will reopen by 6 a.m. on Tuesday, March 1.

Additional streets will be closed on the day of the show, Sunday, February 27, including Highland Avenue from Sunset Boulevard to Franklin Avenue, and Hollywood Boulevard from Cahuenga Boulevard to La Brea Avenue.

Also closed on the day of the show will be the southbound Highland Avenue off-ramp from the 101 Freeway.

MTA subway trains will by-pass the Hollywood and Highland station following the last regularly scheduled train on Saturday, February 26, to the first train after 6 a.m. on Monday morning, February 28.

Also on the day of the show, north/south streets between Cahuenga and La Brea that cross or dead-end on Hollywood Boulevard will be restricted to residents and local business traffic for the block north and south of Hollywood Boulevard.

Franklin Avenue will remain open in both directions from La Brea Avenue to Highland Avenue, and the northbound Highland Avenue on-ramp to the 101 Freeway will be open.

Between Monday, February 21, and the day of the Academy Awards Presentation, some additional streets and sidewalks will be closed for various periods:

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