Category Archives: People

During our visit to Cincinnati we were on our way to Jungle Jim’s International Market (if you haven’t been there, go!) The chief photographer spotted this big Big Boy dressed up for Halloween and we circled back to grab this image.

“Big” Big Boy

There are so many people that have fun with their business. In this case it is Jacobs Mechanical on Hopple St. in Cincinnati. They must be in heating and cooling, thus the Big Duct Man. One warning, Hopple Street is pretty dangerous to cross, traffic moves fast and there are hills and curves that hides traffic until it is on top of you. No standing in the street to get this image, the Chief Photographer actually had to go to the end of the block to cross with the light.

Big Duct Man

A Big Genie greets visitors to the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati. I wonder where this Big Beauty stood before relocating to Cincinnati. Anyway, he is one of several Big Things outside the museum. We were in Cincinnati for Fall Break from school (actually only 1 night, big deal) planning to have some chili and visit the Underground History Museum. In my opinion the museum was much better than the chili. Sorry Cincinnati, I like the Coney Dog chili in Detroit better.

Sign Museum Genie

This was a great surprise. One morning when we traveled up from Ocean City, Maryland we stopped in Bethany Beach to walk around. Bethany looks like a real nice place to spend some time, stop by if you get in the area. On the way out of town we took some side streets and spotted this Big Skelton Pirate, as you guessed, in a minature golf course.

Bethany Beach Pirate

Also in Pigeon Forge is The Hollywood Wax Museum, currently under construction but looks to open soon. Despite the construction we were able to get this image. We guessed the profiles were John Wayne, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe and Charlie Chaplin. Do you agree? There appears to be more Big Things to come on this site.

 UPDATE: I later received the following e-mail from a finishing artist on this project, this is what he has to say.

Jim,

I helped as the finishing artist on this ‘Mt Rushmore’ at the Hollywood Wax Museum in Pigeon Forge. It’s unique as it was computer sculpted in Styrofoam and then hard coated with 2 unique hard coats. One is a wall spray ‘concrete’. The other is my own invention: Flex-a-Rock… A flexible cement-like sculpting paste. Flex-a-Rock is the only material that can make a faux brick or stone wall on canvas or Tyvek and be shipped rolled up like a poster. It will, I believe, change the way textures and decorative surfaces will be applied in theme parks, zoos and as faux finishes.

Sincerely, John Votel

Pigeon Forge “Mt. Rushmore”

Mills Fleet Farm Stores is a chain of general merchandise stores in the upper mid-West. While they have a broad range of products, of course their focus is on products that appeal to small town, rural farmer-types. In Albert Leas,Minnesota (pop. 18,356) the Mills Farm Fleet store has this guy standing out front. Locally they call him Pitchfork Pete. He looks happy enough.

Pitchfork Pete

We were making the run home from the sights in South Dakota but decided to take time to slip off I-90 for a quick stop in Blue Earth, Minnesota, location of this 55 ft. Jolly Green Giant. It was worth the trip since it is REALLY BIG!

Blue Earth Jolly Green Giant

Tires, doctor Tires, Tires walks the walk and talks the talk. Outside their store on East Omaha Street in Rapid City, SD stands this tireman. Just the statement needed from a store that sells tires exclusively. There is another big tire man in Sioux City that I know about but it is not nearly as colorful or well mannered as this example. BTW, stop in for a sandwich and a malt beverage at Firehouse Brewery.

Rapid City Tire Man

This is Johnny One Feather, immortalized as an immense advertising symbol. Used to draw attention to the the pan-for-gold attraction behind his statue. I didn’t go in to try my luck panning for gold, seemed like a tourist trap, where they salt the stream and gravel with some gold. Maybe I’m just too cynical. By the way he is located right next to a big Muffler Man. You can park in one spot and visit both.

Johnny One Feather

Just north of Lewie’s Saloon & Eatery on US-85 south of Lead, South Dakota (see Big Bear holding a fish in the Big Animals section) we happened upon Presidents Park. It’s closed now but would be a mecca for Big Presidential Busts. This big bust of Honest Abe stands outside the park to lure tourists into the park.

Lincoln Bust

While it appears that Presidents Park is closed these three Big Busts are located in the area on SD-79 south of Rapid City in front of the Rockin’ R Saloon & Steakhouse which is in Hermosa, SD. I call this The Good, The Bad, and the Ugly. I’ll let you decide which is which.

The Good, the Bad, and the Ugly