| We were out in South Jersey this summer (2007) 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 Wheilihan'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. |  |
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I haven't had the opportunity to experience a city with a team playing in the Superbowl, having grown up in Detroit (not a chance) and Philadelphia. 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. Debbie 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. |
| A couple of years ago Debbie 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 Debbie! |  |
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Here I am "working." This time in Portland. We, Jim and Brad 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. |
| Here is another "found" image. This one taken at Groff's Nursery in Glassboro, New Jersey a few years ago. Judging by the decorations we must have been picking up some corn stalks to decorate for fall, what do you think?. |  |
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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 Leprachan I guess. |
| Here is another Big thing in Springdale, Arkansas. It's on the main road from Rogers to Springdale outside what must be a spinach packaging plant. A buyer, Bob H had called and told me about this guy. |  |
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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, who, lo and behold, said that he had visited this website. "Sure," he said, I could take my photo. Thanks Steve, you have a great view of the Rockies from your yard. |
| Here is another Alfred E. Newman derivation Muffler Man near Flint Michigan. He is outside the Bargain Hunter Store on Atherton Rd just west of Dort Highway. He has a nice Hawaiian shirt but can't get around because he's fenced in. Thanks to Raodside America for the info. (GPS=N42.98950 W083.65542) |  |
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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. (GPS=N42.98779 W084.54347) |
| This really BIG guy is a is not a Muffler Man, too big. He is pretty impressive standing outside the Timbers Lodge on the corner of Kilgore (SR32) and Tillotson across the street from the rail line. We didn't stop at the Lodge since it was only 10am. Thanks Steph!. |  |
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This guy who looks like a Big Jockey to me was standing inside the Pam Reason's Auto Sales lot. The lot looked closed with few autos but if you want to see this guy it is at 305 W 26th Street at the corner of Elm. 1 block West of Madison. |
| On the way from Maryland to Indianapolis we stopped to get an image of a Big Gorilla that Julia spotted. Right next to it was this big Uncle Sam outside Rainbow Industries in Harmony, Ohio. By the way, there is a good vegetable stand right across the street. |  |
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Julia spotted this big guy along side I-69 in Muncie, Indiana. It was early in the morning and I was surprised that she was awake. MacAllister Rental at Exit 41 has this guy watching the traffic go by. Muncie, by the way, is the home of Ball State University. |
| The Amish woman makes up part of an Amish couple standing in welcome outside a Holiday Inn in Lancaster, PA. If you didn't know it already, this is in the heart of Amish country. Shoo Fly pie anyone? |  |
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This is the second half of the Lancaster Amish duo. We took these images after dropping Julia of at Millerburg College. She was starting an orientation session prior to leaving on an American Music Abroad program. |
| This inflatable Uncle Sam is the first of a very rare "triple." Driving into Michigan on July 3rd there is a pair of fireworks stores at Sterns Road (Exit 1) and US-23. This photo was taken at Star Fireworks. they must have great prices since they had a man directing traffic into the parking lot and a huge pile of empty fireworks boxes. |  |
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Across US-23 on the west side of the road was the All American Fireworks store. The crowd wasn't quite as big but they were hustling some pretty good numbers here as well. This Uncle Sam stood watch over the entrance. Notice the "No Smoking" sign, Duh. |
| Now this is the Uncle Sam inflatable that caught Debbie's eye as we were driving up 23. Actually she was looking for a White Castle so we could get a fix, but spotted this guy up on his platform and decked out for the 4th of July. |  |
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Now I've been going to Minneapolis on a regular basis. At least once a month for the past 3 years. I had my eye on this Big Guy for a couple of years but never got the chance to grab the photo. Now I've got it. Outside the Thunderbird Motel off I-494. |
| This photo completed the "double up" with the photo just above. It was February, Minneapolis, and (need I say) COLD. Mark was quite the trooper however and trudged through the snow in his dress shoes to take this photo. Thanks a lot pal. |  |
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A new "Birddog," Dennis Wall, told me about this big guy. He stands at the entrance to a Jersey Shore restaurant named Two Mile Landing. It's on Ocean Drive south of Wildwood Crest. |
| A lot of luck is involved in getting the opportunity to get a good photograph. Parents Weekend 1998 at JMU and we were staying 25 miles from school. Our motel restaurant was packed so we figured to go to the next exit and eat there. Wham! A Big Picture opportunity. Debbie even had an apple in her handbag. |  |
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Unlike the Johnny Appleseed above, I knew this guy was in San Jose. So, when I had some business (ha, ha) there I went hunting for this muffler shop. This is a true Muffler Man. Check out the muffler. |
| I'll have to say that this is one of the more "interesting (at least to me) Big People." Certainly has big "attributes" that fit the category. Funny thing was that this was one of the harder photos to take because there were so many people attracted to this object. |  |
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Found this "Desert Storm" Big Man courtesy of Roadside America. Pass by Havre de Grace in Maryland quite often but never got off I-95 long enough to get this picture. |
| I was in search of some more Muffler Men in Seaside Heights, NJ and was parking the car when lo and behold here was Waterboy. Debbie talked us into the Water Works Waterpark on Ocean Side between Grant and Sherman (Longstreet was nowhere to be found) and we got this guy. |  |
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Here's another "Alfred" located on the Casino Pier in Seaside Heights, NJ. The nice folks working there allowed us to take a couple of photos while escorting us out because we were on the pier before opening time. |
| This is the other Muffler Man located in the Casino Pier Amusement Park. I couldn't get too close to him without dire consequences, but he's there nonetheless. |  |
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Still in Seaside Heights (a veritable gold mine of Big Pictures) at the Wacky Golf minature course, located upstairs on the boardwalk, is another Muffler Man with the head of Alfred E. Newman. This makes 4 that I have photos with. |
| A very nice young man allowed us onto the course without paying the greens fees to get this image of another Muffler Man. |  |
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Here's a cool guy. Definitely someone to be reckoned with. Found him (remember the found art stuff) on the way to the shore with 6 women in the car (Lucky me?). At any rate since he is "substantial" the purists can be happy. He can be found on Rt 47 in S. Dennis in South Jersey |
| I think that when I found Mr. Zinn I realized what "found art" meant. We had stopped for breakfast here and were walking up to the diner when lo and behold a big picture opportunity! And this wasn't this first time we stopped as Zinn's either. Let that be a lesson to you. |  |
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Another "found art." Out to lunch with a customer, check out the clothes, I was working (ha, ha) and on the way to lunch when we found this lumberjack in Everett, WA. Next to the lumberjack was the seahawk found on the animals page.. |
| A Paul Bunyon in Grayling, MI. There are lot's of Paul's spread out over the upper mid-West. I think he is made out of car parts. This was the first of many big pictures taken on my original "Big Picture" safari. To see the others taken on this trek, look for the hat! |  |
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Paul & The Babe outside St. Ignace, MI. The only time I spent money to get a "Big Picture." It cost 50 cents (25 cents apiece) to get into this little park from the gift shop. Not much of a gift shop either. See the hat, I wasn't kidding! |
| Houghton Lake, MI in front of Zubler's Indian Village on M-55. They have simulated Indian Pow-Wows twice a day at 10am and 2pm. Really hoaky, but the gift shop is first rate. |  |
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Here's another Indian. This one has seen better days, check out the fence. Found it (while working, ha ha!) on the way from Modesto to San Jose in California. |
| This is the Trio Tire Man on US-30 in Berlin, NJ. I have several of these guys. There is almost a cult being developed by the guys that write "Roadside America." They call them Muffler Men. If you have a sense of humor and enjoy the offbeat things people do, check out these guys. |  |
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Check out this face. Mad Magazine and 30 feet tall! These big guys come with the same body but a variety of heads and garb. I wonder if the salesman has one of those books with celluloido verlays to compare different looks? |
| Chicagoland this time just South of O'Hare Airport. At work (ha, ha!) again. I guess the lumberjack is appropriate since he was outside a lumberyard. |  |
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This guy looks similar but stands outside the Cowtown Rodeo in South Jersey. Lots of these Big Guys around. |
| Caught this Big Guy outside a muffler shop in Indianapolis on 16th Street a couple of miles East of the track. Thanks Mike for climbing over the cars. |  |
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Another Alfred E. Newman type in New Jersey off I-195 near Great Adventure. Widely reported and glad to have him. |
| This gal is one of my favorites, and close to home too! She's the only "Big Gal" that I've seen so far, but I'm sure there are more around. See what the "Experts" have to say. |  |
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Went hunting for this guy up in Seattle area. Another case of knowing he was out there. However, the location was not quite as described by my source. Close enough that I was able to find him. Couldn't get any closer than this. |