Lots of recent good news and bad news to share from the Statues section at my website which I just updated thoroughly.

FIRST THE SAD NEWS

This trio of A&W statues in Thermopolis, WY has been gone since around 2014.  One of my photos from 2012:

There are still a couple dozen or so A&W Burger Family statues still out there:
http://www.roadarch.com/giants/aw.html

The Tastee-Freez “Eff” statue in Kenly, NC disappeared earlier this year.  Rumor has it that it might be repaired and return but I’ll believe it when I see it.  My photo from 2009:

The Cowboy Cleaners statue in Wichita is also gone now.  Still there in 2014 but gone in 2015.  My photo from 2010:

The Johnny Appleseed Restaurant in New Market, VA closed in October.  It’s not known what will happen with the statue in front of the building.  One of my photos from 2008:

One Stop Wedding in Pittsburgh, PA closed around 2014 and this sign disappeared from the roof at the same time.  My photo from 2010:

The Hobo Joe statue in Buckeye, AZ was removed earlier this year.  The property had been sold and the City snagged the statue before something could happen to it.  The statue may be restored and reinstalled some day.   Don’t hold your breath though.  The statue is 27 feet tall and will cost a fortune to restore.  Here’s an article about the recent removal:
http://westvalleyview.com/articles/2016/10/05/buckeye%E2%80%99s-hobo-joe-statue-hiding

One of my photos from 2012:

NOW FOR THE GOOD NEWS!

There are only a handful of Carpeteria genie statues left.  The one in Las Vegas had been abandoned for many years. Then, earlier this year, a new flooring place moved into the building and repainted the statue and adapted the sign.  He looks great!

One of my photos from 2014:

And now this photo from the Nevada Public Radio blog post:
http://knpr.org/desert-companion/2016-01/open-topic-hey-look

In Davenport, IA, these statues which depict Seurat’s painting “A Sunday on La Grande Jatte” in 3-D form were installed in 1998 in Credit Island Park.  One of my photos from 2006 (yes, that’s Sparkle in the background):

The statues were removed in 2008 and everyone assumed they were gone for good.  I just found out they were restored and reinstalled in 2010!  Some photos from 2012 at this blog:
https://thepurpledogpaintingblog.com/2012/08/15/seurat-sundays-and-top-hats/

One of the biggest miracles is the restoration of Tex Randall in Canyon, TX.  This 47 foot tall cowboy was built in 1959.  By the time I got photos of him in 2011, he was very endangered:

He’s nearly done as you can see in this photo from Kim Canada at the Tex Randall Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/The-Tex-Randall-Project-122697051112305/

From Cowboys to Indians…  The giant Indian in Oak Lawn, IL has also been restored.  Here’s one of my photos from 2006:

Here’s an article about the restoration:
http://patch.com/illinois/oaklawn/southwest-highways-big-chief-ready-his-makeover
And a photo from 2015 by Rick Drew:
https://www.flickr.com/photos/rickthephotoguy/20880200700/

Another miracle and restoration — the Last Chance Joe statue in Sparks, NV.   This 36 foot tall statue was built in 1952.  In 2014, the Nuggest Casino was sold to Global Gaming which had no interest in keeping the statue.   The Sparks Heritage Museum came to the rescue and, with the help of many donations, got the statue moved in front of museum.  The restoration of the statue is coming along.  Here’s one of my photos from 2014 at the old location when his fate was still hanging in the balance:

And the work in progress at the new location from the Last Chance Joe Facebook page:
https://www.facebook.com/LastChanceJoe/

The International Fiberglass “Waving Man” statue at the Plantation Inn was a landmark in Chicopee since 1999.  In 2013, the hotel and property were put up for sale.  The statue was sold for $11,500 and moved to Agawam.  I think this makes the third time this 22 foot tall statue was moved — which is no small feat!  He was originally at a pizza shop, then a car dealership, then the Plantation Inn, and now over at a strip mall in Agawam, MA.  Here’s one of my photos from 2010 during his Chicopee days:

There are no photos on the ‘net yet of him in his new home.  But Google Street View has a shot of him next to the Partners Restaurant.  Google blurred out his face but you get the idea.  He looks much shorter there, doesn’t he?:

And finally — another major miracle.  The  34 foot tall Santa statue at Busler’s Truck Stop in Haubtstadt, IN was thought to be beyond repair and doomed.  Then someone bought him in 2012 and trucked him off saying the statue would be restored and put up on public view again.  Yeah, right.  But then, two months ago, the statue reappeared in Evansville, IN — fully restored — just in time for Christmas!

One of my photos from 2010:

And while he was being restored — photo from this article:
http://wkdq.com/santa-will-soon-be-standing-back-up/

And in Evansville at his new location — waving to passersby one again [photo & story from:
http://wiky.com/news/articles/2016/sep/26/santa-statue-returns-to-highway-41/

If you’d like to see lots & lots of surviving people statues  (other sections for animals & things), my section is here:
http://www.roadarch.com/giants/main.html

Back soon with news on other subjects,

dj

I’m continuing to bang away at the website updating.  I’ve wrapped up the Drive-ins, Diners, Mini Golf, Five & Dime Stores, and more.  But still a long way to go.  Time to pause for a moment & share some news.

This building in Enid, OK was demolished earlier this year.  What a beauty — my photo from 2011:

A few Dairy Queens losses  to report.  This unique sign in Verona, PA disappeared sometime between 2013 and 2016.  My photo from 2012:

In the last couple of years, Dairy Queen corporate has been very actively going after their franchisees to replace their vintage signs with the ugly new swoosh DQ logo.  They are also demanding building replacements as well.  With all the costs to be paid by the franchisee.  There have been many threats and a number of losses.  The rare plastic sign in Topeka, KS came down just this week.  They are hoping to donate it to a local museum.  The Stamford, CT location is breathing a sign of relief this week as their local government stood up to DQ’s demands to replace their 1960s barn-like building and sign.

I just Googled to see the status of the Andover, OH location and sadly it closed a few years ago.  Dairy Oasis opened in the building earlier this year.  This sign which is the same sign that was in Topeka and survives in Stamford is gone now.  But the barn building and the very rare “lips”-shaped weathervane on the roof survive.  My photo from 2010:

 
Let’s move on to Car Dealerships — with lots of news from the last couple of years.

A devastating loss in San Carlos, CA.  The Neufeld & Freeborn dealership was built in 1960, selling Porsches and Volkswagens.  The building was vacant and boarded up for many years.  Then, demolished earlier this year.  There’s a vacant lot there now.  My photo from 2014:

The Leach-Wilson Chevrolet-Buick dealership in Shelbyville, IL got a heavy-handed remodeling from corporate recently.  My photo from 2010:

And from last year — okay, at least they left the stair-step showroom on the left and the removed the ugly vinyl slats from the windows – but did they have to cover up the brick?  [Google Street View]:

The good news is that three of these Chevrolet “OK” signs still remain at Leach-Wilson in the used car lot behind the building:

In Lexington, KY, the Paul Miller sign had been partially replaced with backlit plastic letters – my photo from 2010:

and the news via Google Street View (yes, at least the hyperbolic parabola showroom is intact):

This nice building in Lexington, TN was demolished earlier this year.  I couldn’t find any explanation of why.  The dealership moved in 2013 and the building remained vacant after that:

 

In 2014, this fun mid-century dome Chevrolet dealership (my photo from 2011):

… was updated with that hideous silver and blue “consistent corporate branding” crap:

This silver and blue stuff is being plastered on Chevy dealerships from coast to coast, little dealers and big ones.  Like DQ, Chevy has no respect or understanding of history.    I’m hoping they didn’t screw around with the interior.  Luckily, I think it would be too difficult (my photo from 2005):

Let’s not leave things on such a depressing note — how about a little sign news:

The bad news — the Charcoal Oven in Oklahoma City closed recently.  The good news — at least the sign was saved and it is resting comfortably at G&S Signs in OKC.  The owner  of the sign is still deciding what to do with it.  It will most likely be displayed at a sign museum which the owner of G&S hopes to open within the next few years:

Some really good news in Sacramento — six vintage, local signs have been restored and are now on display at the recently opened Golden 1 Center.  Here’s one of the signs which I shot in the shade in 2008:

More about the restorations, great photos & history of the “lucky six” here:
http://www.centerforsacramentohistory.org/exhibits/current-exhibits/neon-signs

Lots more surviving car dealerships at my website here:
http://www.roadarch.com/showrooms/main.html

And the Dairy Queen section starts here (seven very full pages):
http://www.roadarch.com/eateries/dq.html

Back with more news & photos on other topics soon,

dj