Category Archives: People

Antiques Mart Muffler Man

By | | Muffler Men, Other Big People, People
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Get this! At the “Pink Elephant Antiques Mart” in Livingston, IL (see Big Animals for the elephant) you can find the Bearded Lumberjack Muffler Man (left) inside and the Big Beachboy (right) outside. Somehow I think they got this backwards, the bathing suit boy should be inside and the lumberjack outside. After all it is cold in Illinois in winter. BTW, I have another Big Beach Boy below that I found more appropriately in a Water Park on the Jersey shore.

beach boy

Antiques Mart Beach Boy

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Antiques Mat Muffler Man

Fred the Giant Farmer

By | | Other Big People, People
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Meet Fred the Giant Farmer and his sidekick Clyde. They stand advertising the Sappington Farmers Market on Watson Road in St. Louis. We were visiting my sister and brother-in-law for Thanksgiving and decided to take some time for a Big Things hunt.

farmer

Fred the Giant Farmer

Toto Native American

By | | Native Americans, People
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It was really bugging me since I knew I had this image somewhere but not where I was looking – finally I found it. I liked this big guy a lot. He is in front of Richard’s Store next to the Toto Cafe in downtown Toto, Indiana. The Cafe looks like a great place to eat. Lot’s of people going in and out. It wasn’t lunch time yet, more like a late breakfast since Toto is in the Central Time Zone.

toto man

Toto Native American

New Castle Jockey

By | | Other Big People, People
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Outside the Ice House Tavern in New Castle, Indiana you can find this jockey, or at least I think he is a jockey. Not a muffler man for sure, check out the hands. He kind of like a large driveway jockey without the red jacket.

jockey

New Castle Jockey

Car Wash Elf

By | | Other Big People, People
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I don’t know how to explain the number of Big Things at car washes in Southwestern Indiana. You have to go to Vincennes! It seems like every car wash has Big Things. This little, actually Big if the elf legend has any truth to it, Elf was around the back of a car wash. There were even more Big Things, note the buffalo in the background.

elf

Car Wash Elf

 

Car Wash Archer

By | | People, Sports
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I think I’ve already said it all in the previous entry and on the Big Animals page. This archer stood right out in front of another car wash in Vincennes. Now Vincennes is a pretty nice town, county seat and all, but what a joy to live around all these Big Things.

archer

Car Wash Archer

Mentone Muffler Man

By | | Muffler Men, People
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This Muffler Man is out in Mentone California. A very interesting location with other items. There was a large chicken there as well. At any rate I have a description on the Animals page of the location. Here I want you to notice all the other elements in this photo. Check out the airplane in the backyard as well as the Evinrude outboards on the fence. Maybe he can waterski while sitting on his front porch.

muffman

Mentone Muffler Man

San Diego Kiss

By | | Other Big People, People
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With the whole family together we decided to spend the day in San Diego. Annie and Ben, Julia and Deb went to the zoo. Andy and I went to the Midway aircraft carrier docked in the harbor. What an interesting experience. The Midway has quite a history. If you are in San Diego be sure to visit. Many of our young people spent time on this vessel. At the end of the tour Andy and I were looking South to a city park and noticed this very large sailor locked in an embrace. I don’t know if he was leaving on a tour or coming back, but he seemed glad to see her. The image is not great since it was taken at dusk, you get the idea nonetheless.

kiss

San Diego Kiss

LA Big Guy

By | | Other Big People, People
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On our trip to LA at Christmas we went to the La Brea tar pits. I knew there was a Muffler Man nearby, when I found him, I was surprised to find someone sleeping nearby. California is great, the state is broke, there is no money to house the homeless, the mentally ill are turned out, but at least the weather is nice enough that a soul like this can sleep outside at 11am without being hassled.

big guy

LA Big Guy

Hilltop Uni-Gal

By | | Muffler Gals, People
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We were out in South Jersey this summer (2008) visiting our children and old friends. Several people including Chris Smith told us that the Big Uniroyal Gal that looked like Jackie O’ had been redone to look like Wonder Woman. So naturally on our way down to the Township to meet our swim team pals at Whelihan’s for some beer and wings we stopped in Hilltop to see what changed. Compare this shot to the one at the very bottom of this page and you can see for yourself.

uni-gal

Hilltop Uni-Gal

 

Evansville Uncle Sam

By | | Other Big People, People
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On our way to visit New Harmony, an intentional community,  where we were to meet up with Catherine and Dale we passed through Evansville.  Before we got there we hit a bonanza of Big Things.  Most were Animals at Jim Hipp’s Nursery, but we did get this Big Uncle Sam outside Busler’s 24 Hour Market.  I think he needs a little more care than he gets.

unclesam

Evansville Uncle Sam

 

Louisville Lady

By | | Other Big People, People
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We were in Louisville celebrating our 35th Wedding Anniversary. Of course I have a photo of the big Louisville Slugger Bat (See Big Objects page) but on the way home we made a quick side trip to Jeffersonville, Indiana to grab this Big Lady metal sculpture just across the border in Indiana. She stands proudly nearby a lumber yard on Dutch Lane.

lady

Louisville Lady

Portland Lumberjack

By | | Lumberjacks, People
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Here I am “working.” This time in Portland. Jim, Brad and I were out seeing a customer and of course I had researched Big Things. I wanted to get this guy and he was BIG! Unfortunately there wasn’t much space for Jim to take the photo without getting run down. Thanks Jim for risking your life.

lumberjack

Portland Lumberjack

 

Ready for the Super Bowl

By | | Inflatables, People, Sports
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I haven’t had the opportunity to experience a city with a team playing in the Super Bowl, having grown up in Detroit (not a chance) and Philadelphia (eventually.) Indianapolis was a lot of fun, a small-Big City and did they support the team. Outside lights on building changed to blue and at this car dealer a big guy. Deb and I were driving on I-465 and spotted this guy. We had to circle back, I climbed over a fence and here’s the result. Thanks Bill Estes Chevrolet for the team support.

colt

Ready for the Super Bowl

Wal-Mart Keebler

By | | Inflatables, Other Big People, People
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Here I am “working” again – I like the sound of that and use it often. At any rate I was at a Grand Opening of a store and there were many vendors there with inflatables. More inflatables from this event are on the Automotive and Objects pages. Here is the Keebler guy, a Leprechaun I guess.

keebler

Wal-Mart Keebler

Michigan v. IU Football

By | | Inflatables, People, Sports
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A couple of years ago Deb and I wandered into Big Ten “enemy” territory going to a Michigan at Indiana (IU) football game. What a great day. The IU fans were good losers. the Michigan fans, stuck in a corner of the end zone, but overflowing some, had a lot to cheer about. Unfortunately the IU band at half-time performed better than the football team. (I guess I might get some comments from rabid IU fans.) To give them credit, Michigan did go to the Rose Bowl that year. So did Deb!

football

Michigan v. IU Football

Colorado Muffler Man

By | | Muffler Men, People
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Here I am “working” again. Actually we finished early and had some extra time outside Denver and decided to drive up to Estes Park for lunch. After a great lunch at the Estes Park Brewery we headed back to the airport. While driving along Colorado 66 and near Lyons I spotted this giant in someones front yard. I went to ask for permission to enter the yard and met Steve, hospital who, lo and behold, said that he had visited this website. “Sure,” he said. “Go take your photo.” Thanks Steve, you have a great view of the Rockies from your yard.

muff man

Colorado Muffler Man

Riverbend Golf Muffler Man

By | | Muffler Men, People
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Another found image from yesteryear that is not finding the light of day, so to speak.  It was a wet, rainy day, the Friday after Thanksgiving in Detroit with the Davidsons.  Greg, Erica and I went on a big things safari.  The Muffler Man stands at the Riverbend Mini-golf and Driving range.

muffler man

Riverbend Golf Muffler Man

St. Johns Big Boy

By | | Other Big People, People
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I spent a lot of time cruising the Big Boy restaurants on 8 Mile Road as a teenager. Their strawberry pie was my favorite but the “Big Boy” hamburger was a Big Mac before we had Big Mac’s, with it’s own secret sauce and all. I had to include this home town favorite.

bigboy

St. Johns Big Boy