I have a fun pair for you today! Starting with this wacky photo from out in front of the Disneyland Hotel. That's no giant! Well, I guess in a way, it is... it's one of those fiberglass muffler men that used to be seen all over the country. He is rugged, but friendly, welcoming guests to an event. But what event?
It's hard to be sure, but it looks like the sign says, "Welcome to the 3rd Annual M.I.A. Show". I don't think "M.I.A." stands for "Missing In Action" in this case...
And even when zoomed in, I can't quite decipher the lettering at the bottom of the sign. "National..."; and maybe something to do with automobiles. Any ideas?
Meanwhile, over in Tomorrowland... folks of all ages love the Autopia. Those Mark VI vehicles are pretty cool, even though they do look kind of angry, as if they might eat us. Notice the man with the red windbreaker in the background holding a "SLOW" sign. Slower than 6.5 mph??
Major, correct me if I'm wrong, but isn't that Ralph sitting in the blue car? And that looks like his son, Alfred, posing with the Muffler Man. And if that IS them, then the lady in the car behind Ralph is Florence's sister, Isabelle. If you tell me that I'm wrong, then I definitely have a bad case of "Ralph And Florence On The Brain."
ReplyDeleteMajor-
ReplyDeleteMr. Bendo is looking quite dapper holding the exhaust pipe, displaying all those 'bends'. It's too bad the rippling in the sign has obscured just what exactly the "3rd Annual" event is. (I certainly hope the convention organizers booked a room for Mr. Bendo with a California King bed-!)
I didn't realize my 1962 sighting of the 'Muffler Man' [dressed as Paul Bunyan] sitting adjacent to the Paul Bunyan Restaurant in Redding, CA was right at the beginning of this 'gigantism' craze.
Thanks, Major.
Mr. Bendo may be rugged (the beard tells us that), but he's a wimp! Because he's got guy wires attached to him in several key places to keep him from falling over. A real rugged man would take his chances without the wires! He's actually quite realistic (except for the cartoony face) and well-sculpted. Also, nice view of the "erector set" beams.
ReplyDeletePaint his pants blue, and his shirt red plaid, and he could stand in for Paul Bunyan.
Our friend, Google, suggests that MIA stands for Motorsport Industry Association. (Among other things). The last word of the small print does look like "ASSN", for "Association".
The Autopia: It looks like a dapper Carl Reiner is in the car closest to us. Behind him, I think that's the real Maria von Trapp being helped out, or in. In the back, Gilligan is in his red shirt with white collar and white sailor's cap. And of course, NASA guys everywhere.
Nanook, ah, so Mr. Bendo was, at times, Paul Bunyan!
Interesting people in today's photo, Major. Gigantic and otherwise.
In Orange County I’ve seen that same figure at a golf course , a lumber company , and a used car dealer…
ReplyDeleteSorry I was unable to respond yesterday but the PEOPLEMOVER trains all feature actual functioning bumpers on the end cars . The center ones are called “coupler skirts” . Off hand I cannot recall the actual turquoise PeopleMover color …. But technically there was 3 different versions .. the 1967 ABS impregnated turquoise color…. The 1968 fiberglass turquoise color and then there’s the 1976 / 1977 repaint which is really a green color - the original was “too 60’s looking” for the late 70’s and wasn’t available any longer. Offhand I can only recall the yellow PeopleMover color which was called FIESTA YELLOW.
If any of you rode the PeopleMover you probably remember the gentle “collisions” of the trains as they came into the unloading turntable …. And they continued to push against each other until the “frog” drive wheel dispatched the trains from the PeopleMover station .
The 1969 Monorail Station Roof and the PeopleMover Canopies have nothing design wise with each other EXCEPT the design is functional : to display water. Water cannot collect on the monorail station roof … nor the PeopleMover cars …….. however there was a design flaw in the PeopleMover roofs : a lip around the canopy edge was included so water would never drip onto passengers entering / exiting … or onto the slopped beamways . So a hole was drilled on each PM roof end … any water trapped on the roof lip drains when the roof canopy tilts.
BTW: Bob Gurr copied the PeopleMover roof zig-zag pattern From a 1960’s plastic soap dish ! In fact the PeopleMover canopy is almost a direct lift of the soap dish.
DISPLACE WATER ( not display)
ReplyDeleteThe PeopleMover coupler covers are not bumpers - one bumpers are on the ends of each PeopleMover train.
Ah, there you are, Mike....you were missing for a few days...I was starting to wonder...
ReplyDeleteWe had a Paul Bunyan outside of Adventureland, in the Chicagoland area, years ago. He later moved a couple miles down the road and became a Muffler Man. I think there was also an Indian, at Adventureland, but I can't find pictures online, at the moment, to confirm.
The internet states there are 180 known remaining Muffler Men (Paul Bunyans), with four still standing on Rt. 66. The first statues were of Paul Bunyan holding an axe, but he evolved over the years, and can even be found now holding a giant hotdog and bun, in Cicero, Illinois.
Thanks, Major, fun pics.
That looks to me more like “M.I.7” than “M.I.A.,” but I don’t know what that would mean in this context, either.
ReplyDeleteMr. Bendo appears to have been a very specific model of Giant Man manufactured by International Fiberglass in Venice, CA. According to this report, it appears that less than 10 were made and were not manufactured for a particular chain of businesses.
For more info on “Muffler Men,” check out this website
Good to know that the Lions Club met at the Disneyland Hotel. They were the pride of Anaheim.
Note that among the 10 guests driving Autopia cars, there are no small children. Love the cardigan on the Autopianaut at the extreme right. I wonder if that was a costume item or he was just a rebel? He appears to be receiving an intercranial message from his masters on Altair IV.
Thanks, Cobra!
A Muffler Man at the Disneyland Hotel is a mid-century crossover of epic proportions! I'm most familiar with the Muffler Man pirate at Jolly Roger Amusement Park in Ocean City, Maryland, but I also spotted one on the West Virginia roadside a few years ago alongside a few other figures.
ReplyDeleteMajor, I think the Muffler Man might be the single oddest picture I’ve seen on GDB and that includes the Corn Palace.
ReplyDeleteThe whole “giant bearded hipster” craze was definitely a thing. I remember one (or more) from youth, but can’t recall where they were, other than somewhere in the Valley (San Joaquin).
Mr. Cardigan in photo 2 is really with MI7 and he’s touching his earpiece receiver, which action could identify him for elimination by SMERSH.
Thanks for these!
JG
It looks like "M.I.T." to me, but that really doesn't help either.
ReplyDeleteAll the "Muffler Men" around here have their arms in a different position. One bent at the waist, palm up, and the other a little higher, palm down. This was so they could hold the big muffler.
The waving guy is friendlier, but he isn't working as hard.
TokyoMagic!, you are right, that is Ralph! I didn’t know his son’s name was Alfred, though I might have labeled slides with that info. And yes, that is Florence’s sister, though I did not know her name either. You’ll see her in a future blog post (or two)!
ReplyDeleteNanook, I’d hoped “Mr. Bendo” would be a useful clue, but it sure didn’t help me. I love those Muffler Men, and wish I had one in my collection of advertising mascots.
JB, Mr. Bendo changed his last name from “Benderini”, he wanted to assimilate into his new homeland. His realistic face reminds me of G.I. Joe with lifelike hair. Hm, “Motorsport Industry Assciation”, I’m liking the sound of that, it seems very apt at any rate. Carl Reiner: I saw him at a tribute to Mel Brooks, Mel had the audience sing “Happy Birthday” to him.
Mike Cozart, I still see a Muffler Man somewhere in the Canoga Park area, I couldn’t tell you exactly where he is, but when I drive past him it’s always a pleasant surprise. He might be on Sherman Way. Thank you for all of the info about the Peoplemover! I don’t remember the trains colliding at the load area, but I wish I did! So many of those little details fade over the years. I’ve always been interested in the angular shapes of the Peoplemover cars, I would think that a simple slightly domed curve would do, but maybe that would be structurally weaker than the angles. I have Bob Gurr’s book, but can’t remember if he relayed the story about the soap dish in it.
Mike Cozart, gotcha.
Lou and Sue, wow, I’m actually amazed that there are still 180 Muffler Men still around. And glad. I wonder how much one would cost if one had the opportunity to buy one? And how have they stood up against the elements after 60+ years? I think the one I mentioned earlier might actually be holding a giant muffler!
Chuck, it does look like M.I.7., was it a British secret service branch? I’ll have to look at your links a bit later, but I am interested to know that there were less than 10 of that particular style of Muffler Man. “The Pride of Anaheim”, blarf! Cardigan Man… wasn’t he on the Grassy Knoll??
Andrew, whoa, that’s some picture! Of those figures, I still think the classic Muffler Man is the best, but admit that I am biased.
JG, that photo was a fun one, I was looking forward to sharing it! There was a Muffler Man at the 1964 World’s Fair, he was dressed as a viking. And I have a slide of one at Astroland (?) in New York, wearing a sort of space helmet. I hope SMERSH never comes after me!
Stu29573, I guess it makes sense that the Muffler Men were offered in different poses depending on their use. Or could they have been modified by the owners? Fiberglass is so versatile!