Sept. 30 - Mobile Avacado, Raton NM

Promoting Guacamole?  The truck was from Texas, parked outside of a Denny's.

Sept. 30 - Ice Cream Cone, Raton NM

Horrible town, but Great Cone!  Unfortunately, nothing was open at 9:30 p.m., so no cones for us....

Sept. 30th - Tinkertown, Sandia Park NM

Ross Ward's visionary environment of carvings, collections, and bottle architecture.

Carla Ward is still on-site, and has written a children's book featuring TinkerTown. Just an awe-inspiring, amazing place, which makes you realize how valuable every minute of every day is, and there's no reason to waste it on passive activities. See more on their site, Tinkertown dot com

Sept. 30th - Chevy on a Stick, Albuquerque NM

.

Sept. 28th - Wigwam Village #6, Hollbrook AZ

Sleep in a Wigwam!  They left the lights on for us...

Their site: Wigwam Motel

Sept. 28th - Hi Jolly Monument, Quartzite AZ

From WWI, an Arab camel master, commemorated at the Quartzite cemetery

Sept. 28th - Dinosaurs, Cabazon CA

 

GREAT dinosaurs, unfortunately now run by creationists, who have attached signs to the original structure promoting their revision of the fossil record. Luckily, they haven't harmed the structures, the literature is badly produced, and their exterior signage is so ridiculously executed its easy to ignore. This, too, will pass, and Claude Bell's dinosaurs can revert back to his original intention and vision.

Until then, buy your souvenirs from the adjacent Wheel In Cafe - a great authentic roadside stop, with home-made cobblers and waitresses in leopard print blouses.

Sept. 27th - Scary Clown, Venice CA

 

Sept. 27th - W.L. Binoculars, Venice CA

 

Sept. 27th - Randy's Donuts, Inglewood CA

 

 

And, in addition to T-Shirts and travel mugs, the owner picked out one of the 'real' donuts that most resembled the big donut, which is now in the permanent collection of World's Largest Things, Inc., as a commemorative donut.

Interview

Short phone interview with Gary Demuth of the Salina Journal - we chat about art at least twice a year for newspaper articles. This time it was for the 100th anniversry celebration of the Garden of Eden, October 12th. The article should come out on a friday in the Encore! section of the Salina (Kansas) Journal...

Sept. 26th - Bear House, Anaheim CA

 

Sept. 26th - Donut Hole, La Puente CA

I Heart World's Largest Things!

We had breakfast at the Donut Hole in LaPuente California today - not only great mimetic architecture (that you can drive through...) but good donuts, too! Not too sweet, nice and puffy texture, and from a Giant Donut.

While I may not be able to blog consistantly, I'm adding photos to the Flickr page while on the road... Check 'em out!

-Erika, Director, Drivin' around lookin' at Big Things in LA...

Sept. 24th - W.L. Thermometer, Baker CA

 

Sept. 24th - W.L. Watermelon Slice, Green River UT

Sept. 23rd - W.L. Van Gogh, Goodland KS

 

Kansas to L.A. World's Largest Things Whirlwind Tour!

Starting today!

Now that business is wrapped up for September, I can break out the map of circles. Possible stops on the way:

W.L. Easel, Goodland KS
W.L. Prairie Dog, Oakley KS
W.L. Flashlight, UNLV Las Vegas NV
W.L. Thermometer, Baker CA
Wigwam Village, San Bernardino CA
W.L. Cup, Riverside CA
W.L. Sack of Cement, Riverside CA
Shutter Shack, Westminster CA
Cadillac Building, Tarzana CA
The Tamale, E.LA CA
The Chili Bowl, LA CA
Watts Towers, LA CA
Museum of Jurassic Technology, Culver City CA
Chili Bowl, W. LA CA
Randy's Donuts, Inglewood CA
Donut Hole, LaPuente CA
Cabazon Dinosaurs, Cabazon CA
Cadillac Building, Long Beach CA
W.L. Binoculars, Venice CA
Burger that Ate LA, LA CA
Hi Jolly Monument, Quartsite AZ
W.L. Kachina, Carefree AZ
W.L. Sundial, Carefree AZ
TeePee Trading Post, Lupton AZ
Tinkertown, Sandia Park NM
W.L. Hercles Beetle, May Museum, Co. Springs CO
W.L. Rocking Chair, Penrose CO
Wonder Tower, Genoa CO


Whoop! I'll try to update as I travel, but it all depends on WiFi...
-Erika

Weekly Whats Large Where for October, past week..

Just got the fresh batch of WWLW columns off to small run newspapers for the month of October. And, this past week's Weekly What's Large Where is posted on the site and the sister blog.

World's Largest Things members are invited to read the blog version, which gives access to the archives since we've bee blogging. Join up to see what's been going on!

-Erika

WLT Press Page Update - NEW NEW NEW!

New Press Pages Online Now!

 

To see the fun, retro rollovers, go to:

www.WorldsLargestThings.com/press/press.htm

 

For those of you on dial-up, let the whole thing load for interactive frivolity...

 

Enjoy!

 

-Rachel W., Press Ed. into Service

Garden of Eden 100th Anniversary

Loosly applicable to World's Largest Things, as it's right next door...  And, ALL of the Lucas Attractions are integrally related.

Markham Street Films - Shrines and Homemade Holy Places

The Wonders of Mobile Communication - while at a rest stop in the middle of Kansas, finalized initial interviews and later filming schedule for a Canadian crew. From the email:

As per my voice mail, I am doing research for a documentary series call "Shrines and Homemade Holy Places". This series focuses on visionary environments. Please visit Shrines dot tv for more information.

R.S. suggested I call you. I was wondering if you would have a few minutes to talk to me about the Garden of Eden and the performance piece/tour you will be doing on October 12 around the Kansas Artist Craftsmen Association Conference.

Thank you in advance for your time.
A.B., BETELEVISION RESEARCH
for Markham Street Films
720 Bathurst St., Suite 300
Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 2R4


They're coming through on a scouting visit Saturday Sept. 22nd to view the Garden and other sites, with a return visit and crew for the actual production Oct. 11th and 12th.

Voice of America - Cultural Odyssey

In the midst of Kansas Arts Commission application prep, the town of Lucas had a wonderful visit from a producer/director of pieces for Voice of America, the US Government's multimedia broadcasting service in ver 44 languages.

Joseph was in town interviewing people about M.T. Liggett, an Outsider Artist in Mullinville KS with a political bent to his public art expressions. While in town, though, he thoroughly covered the other attractions here, to be used in an upcoming Cultural Odyssey program. Lots of video taken, to be editied down to a snapshot of the Grassroots Art Capital of Kansas, Lucas...

You may see the Scout Vehicle, or the World's Largest Souvenir Travel Plate if you catch a broadcast later this winter...

From the VOA Website:
Where can you go to find seven hours of TV and 98 hours of radio per week, daily comprehensive and objective news by e-mail, and a dynamic web page with text as well as audio and video – all in Chinese? VOA, of course!

With so much programming in both Mandarin and Cantonese, everyone can find a favorite program or feature. On television, for example, Issues & Opinions presents discussions Monday through Thursday on the current events everyone is talking about, and invites your participation. Cultural Odyssey provides a weekly look at arts and entertainment, and American Report gives a snapshot of the U.S. each week in Cantonese as well as in Mandarin. Local broadcasters such as ATV in Hong Kong, and TVBS and ETTV in Taiwan carry VOA television programs. All shows are also available direct from satellite.

From the last Mobile Museum appearance...

This is a drawing of part of the Mobile Museum, which was collected as part of the Collier Collection of Very Small Objects at the Sabatini Gallery. This is the official entry into the permanent collection, gathered and documented by Heather Kearns.

From July 28-29, 2007.

Where oh where has my CV gone?

Part of getting the word out there about World's Largest Things has been partnering with the institutions in KS who still support projects with individual scholars. I've been working on the application to be a part of the Kansas Arts Commission Arts on Tour roster, and realized that my CV (curriculum vitae, for non-jargon people out there - an extensive list of everything you've done that may, even remotely, relate to your professional accomplishments...) hasn't been updated in a while... AND, in a July computer crash, all the edit-able versions were lost! So, it's been a dense set of days reconstructing the over-long document, as well as gathering support material for the application.

Whew! And, Tuesday Evenings at the Lincoln Art Center are open studio nights - even though the WLT Home Base is in rural Kansas, with most cultural opportunities 1-3 hours away, a neighboring town has an amazing facility, bringing Art to an underserved community. AND, they open their doors to host people wanting to get together and create, building a stronger regional arts community. I took a couple hours off of the business end of things to go and participate, working on a piece for an upcoming Masks and Minis show... More World's Smallest Versions!

Upcoming Speaking Engagement

Yet another booking for the World's Largest Things program from the Kansas Humanities Council Speakers Bureau, scheduled for the Community Arts program at the Ida Long Goodman Memorial Library, 406 N. Monroe, St. John, KS , Thursday, Nov. 8. Dinner with the Lions Club at 6:30 and program at the library at 7:30 pm.

Paris - La Grande Valise

One of the things we WON'T see in LA...

From Roadside America:
West Hollywood, California - Tail O' the Pup
It's now gone. There is just a roped off parking lot and the boarded-up back of the restaurant. The hot-dog facade is hopefully in storage. The last thing I heard is that there's a chance the stand will resurface in Westwood, about 5 miles away (a big move from San Vicente, to where it was moved in the 80's when it's site at LaCienega and Beverly was usurped by the entirely forgettable Hotel Sofitel..).

I hope to see it come back. I had the best celeb sighting ever in all my years living in LA here: Ella Fitzgerald, in a Chanel suit, delicately munching a hot dog while her Mercedes laundaulet purred at the curb, awaiting it's mistress.... [T, 03/15/2006]

[RA: December 2006 - Tail O' the Pup was forced to close at its San Vicente Blvd location in West Hollywood in early 2006. The owner of the property refused to renew the stand's lease and plans to develop the site as condominiums and a retirement community for gays and lesbians. Tail O' the Pup has survived relocation before, and there is hope that it may reopen in Westwood Village, on a parking lot at the corner of Broxton and Weyburn Aves.]

World's Largest Kokopelli

 

From About dot com:

World's Largest Kokopelli - Kokopelli is a Symbol of Fertility

The self-proclaimed World's Largest Kokopelli is located on Hwy. 260 just off I-17 in Camp Verde, AZ.

Update: Kokopelli- Camp Verde Arizona

From a World's Largest Things fan:

Subject: Kokopelli- Camp Verde Arizona
Update: Hello Erika
This is J.D. again. Please accept my apology to begin with, i went out to camp verde and what do i see the kokopelli. i talked to the shop people and found out that the owners had it cleaned up and waited until they reopened their gift shop; and the other business' before they put it back up. Just to let you know when i was out there a couple were taking thier picture by it and said they saw it on your web site. it was fun to talk to them and hear that for i told them my story with you, and how i am now embarassed about not checking first before writing you. May be the reason i am not a reporter,(chuckle). Anyway keep up the good work, and if i find anything of interest i will drop you a line.

Sincerly yours
j.d.


Thanks for the update!  No need to apologize - it's a bizarre world out there, especially in regards to World's Largest Things.  Did you happen to take a picture of the newly refurbished Kokopelli? I may be through that way at the end of the month, and ask some probing questions about it's recent history...
Thanks again, and please, let me know of anything else you run across in the realm of Large!
-Erika

Wide Reach of the WWWeb

This morning and afternoon I attended the 100th Anniversary Celebration of the Osborne County Courthouse, and served as a dessert taste-tester (not as enjoyable as you think - chocolate is not on the top of the list of 'preferred' ingredients, and was a requirement of each of the entries...).

Since my Daily Driver Art Car Scout reflects what I do, there's always an opportunity to talk about World's Largest Things and Outsider Art to the public.

During one such conversation, I could see a lightbulb go off over one woman's head. She said "Ooooh - you're the big little big lady! We had a school assignment where the kids had to plan a trip and sites along the way from one point to another. They all did internet research to see what sites there were, and my son had your bus in Lucas as one of his stops! He loves your site..."

Can't get a better endorsement than that...

-Erika

Press Page Progressing

Didja' think I forgot? Nope, just working on all the little icons that make the page interactive... The main Press navigation page is done, now to sort out the mess of sub-pages before launching. Until then, you can take a look here:

XPress

Enjoy!
-Rachel W.

Member Packets mailed!

Two new and one renewing Member Packets sent out this morning - Thank you, Dallas, Wichita, and L.A.! Your support keeps us going, and brings us ever closer to the NEW Mobile Museum for 2009!

-Erika

Combing through Grant Opportunities...

...which is a struggle for ANY organization. Found a number that apply, and am making sure the Grant.gov registration is coming along. Note to self (and organization) - find grantwriter that loves Roadside Attractions!

External Validation

While tour-guiding over at the Garden of Eden, I received a phone call from the Russell Daily News (Lucas KS is in Russell County). The reporter had heard a rumor of an upcoming Garden event, celebrating its 100th anniversary. After filling her in on the details, she said "Is this Erika?? I just saw you on TV - the little spots promoting Lucas? I just wanted to say we really appreciate all you do to promote Lucas and Russell County."

It made my day. She was referring to a series of spots the Lucas Chamber of Commerce put together with a Hays TV station, with little 20 second spots featuring things to see and do in Lucas. They did some shots of the World's Largest Souvenir Travel Plate, and a mini-interview with me and the Traveling Roadside Attraction and Museum.

I haven't seen them yet, but if anyone posts them to YouTube, let me know, please!
Thanks for Living Large!
-Erika, director World's Largest Things, Inc.

Road Trip

Just got news that there may be an impromptu LA trip in the works - just imagine, giant donuts, tamales, hotdogs, dinosaurs, cadillac building, and more!!! Whoop! It'll be fast and furious, but there's ALWAYS time to stop and see "The Thing" between Kansas and California...

Road Report - inside the Statue of Liberty

This sent from a World's Largest Things Board Member - he promises a road report of additional sightings, but he just couldn't resist sending this one RIGHT NOW!!!

We're eagerly awaiting your report, Big Tomato!

-Erika

Press Page re-design

...while Erika is mucking out the basement of WLThings Headquarters, I'm re-vamping the Press page.

Prototype is online now: XPress page

Getting the graphics together at the moment, functionality will come next. I'll be separating out the different media into their own pages, and adding some rollover doodads to keep people poking around the screen...

-Rachel, Wondrous Webber of Worlds Largest

Gerstenslager History

Why, exactly, did World's Largest Things Inc. decide upon a Gerstenslager to house its World's Largest Collection of the World's Smallest Versions of the World's Largest Things? Because of its long history of producing quality bookmobiles, and super extra added roadside icon bonus, they produced 5 Weinermobiles!

Constructed in 1936, the original Oscar Mayer Wiener mobile was a 13 ft (4 mj hot dog on wheels used to transport the hot dog chef known as little Oscar.

(From the collections of Henry Ford Museum & Greenfield Village, Dearborn, Michigan.)

 

Product promotion requires a willingness to "take a chance." The Oscar Mayer Wienermobile, used to promote Oscar Mayer hot dogs, was an audacious promotion that was successful. The original Oscar Mayer Wienermobile was constructed in 1936 by the company founder's nephew, Carl. It was a 13 ft (4 m) hot dog on wheels used to transport the hot dog chef known as "Little Oscar," featured open cockpits at the rear and center and was primarily driven in Chicago.

The Wienermobile proved very popular and was modified over the next sixty years The car, currently on exhibit in Henry Ford Museum in Dearborn, Michigan, was made between 1950 and 1954 and is one of five second-generation Wienermobiles. It is made by the Gerstenslager Company, a custom truck and trailer manufacturer that modified a sheet bodies on a customized Dodge chassis. This Wienermobile is 22 ft (6.7 m) long, has glass over the cockpit, and weighs about 8,000 Ib (3,632 kg). This, along with the other four made around 1954, were stationed near key distribution plants and deployed for promotional events along with hot dog chef Little Oscar. The company continued to modify its successful promotional car and produced versions of it in 1958, 1969, 1988, and 1995. Kids still delight in sporting the Wienermobile (sightings of it often makes the local paper) and love to play kazoos in the form of Wienermobiles to the tune of "I'd love to be an Oscar Mayer Wiener."

-from www.madehow.com/Volume-4/Hot-Dog.html

More Gerstenslager history can be found here: Coachbuilt dot com

Gerstenslager Report

 

Got an unofficial report from the Gerstenslager committee, headed by IVO Studios. With their extensive background in touring and tour production, they're double-checking the budget figures for getting the New Museum on the road for '09, as well as starting development of budgets for actually hiring the museum once it's operational.

And, there had been an intermittant ingition problem - rebuilt starter has seemed to fix that issue.

Thanks, Gerstenslager crew!

-Erika

Backyard Visitors - Hours

Here's the advantage of having a self-serve version of the WLCoWSVoWLT - fielded a phone call from a fan, asking if the Mobile Museum was available today. Yes, although no one would be there to give an official tour. Always Open when Parked, located just south of the Garden of Eden in Lucas Kansas. Stop on by!

Backyard Visitors

During the annual Adam's Apple Festival in Lucas, ran into a group of four asking about the Mobile Museum - they'd been following the website for a couple of years, and the guy was ecstatic that they were in the ACTUAL TOWN where the mobile museum lives... I sent 'em over, as the MM is Always Open when Parked, and I was occupied playing the part of S.P. Dinsmoor for the day...

-Erika