American Giants Museum Grand Opening Weekend Recap
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- Опубліковано 7 лют 2025
- If you were at the American Giants Museum Grand Opening Weekend or you missed it, this is a must watch! In this episode I go through each of the 3 days of the weekend and what happened and how two extra giants managed to show up. We also dive into the backstory of the Texaco Big Friend and how we got it and how it ended up at the AGM. Take a first row seat to all the events of the weekend including the set up of the Big Friend, the Gemini Giants and catch a glimpse of your favorite roadside social media creators. All that and more in this full weekend recap episode.
http:/patreon.com/AmericanGiants
Email me for merch! - joel@usagiants.com
Email Bill for other donation options - wthomas@teleologic.net
Back in the 70's when my friends and I were road tripping we should see these giants and talk about just how cool it would be to have a backyard full of them. I'm really happy to see people actually doing it.
‘70s. Not 70’s
I'm not crying, you're crying. I'm SO proud of you, Joel! Thanks to you and your team for preserving the beautiful history of the American Giants.
Thank you for the kind words, I enjoyed every second of it.
I hope this country goes back to being a place where children are valued, and companies go out of their way to make stories and characters come to life like this. I hope there is another generation of American children who get to experience growing up at home, innocence, safe places to play, and family vacations full of looking for things like this along the road. So much innocence has been lost.
American roadside attractions warm the heart this is so amazing,,,wow 😊❤
I don't know why but this brought a tear to my eye. I remember as a kid seeing these around, oh the memories.
Finally, a UA-cam channel that asks for money for a good cause and not personal gain. Thank You
Here in the UK we see these in movies and US TV shows and they always jump out of the screen because we dont have them here, I think it's great that they are being cherished and preserved as they really are an important part of US cultural history, Great work!
Looks like Gear Head Heros Is having a giant made in his likeness! I love it!
Your passion for this is amazing, your a keeper of America's past treasures. I salvaged a Drive In Theatre sign.
We have an Indian chief giant at riverhead raceway here on Long Island. He was fully restored by the raceway and was originally from the Danbury Fair in Connecticut. It was brought to the track in 1980. Look up Riverhead Raceway and you can see pictures of the Chief.
I need to get out there...
Ironically the muffler man from Adventure Land was located on Lake St. and the car dealership as well, about five miles west. Always wondered what happened to the Indian and Pirate.
Wow. That Texaco Big Friend is an absolute gem. Outstanding job. A true rarity.
It was a wonderful weekend, and thrilling to see that there are so many people who have a passion for these icons of advertising from the 60s and 70s. Pictures of the Texaco Big Friend are great, but don't do him justice. He is a sight to behold in person. Thanks to you and the (Re)Giant team.
Growing up in the 70s, I do remember seeing a few muffler men and they really were eye catching. I also remember the Carpeteria genies. As I recall they were on the roof of the building and they were holding up the Carpeteria sign. By the early 2000’s they were all gone. Just a cool memory, I’m so glad to see how dedicated you and your team are in preserving these fascinating objects.
Wow the waving giant turned out BEAUTIFUL. Well done! My eyes are leaking!
Saw your video on the Carpet Bagger Channel on UA-cam. It's awesome what you guys are doing. I subscribed to your channel.
Thank you! Carpet Bagger did a great job covering it!
I remember the Midas Muffler Man here in New Orleans as a Kid… this brings back memories of my childhood 😊
I now own that Midas Man, working on getting it restored. That is cool you remember him!
@ cool 😎
Hi joel... I recently visited your museum in Atlanta and it features in my route 66 vlogs.. I loved it in there and hope to plan to return to see the new giants oneday... keep up the great work... from a UK American giant fan !! 👍🇬🇧😁
Congrats on the museum. Wish i was closer. I'm around 2k miles from you. But when ever I get in that area, it will be one of the first places I go.
I remember these giants as a kid and I live about 3 miles away from an indian giant that still stands proud in our community.
So this video was great but what put the cherry on top was you bringing to close a mystery from my youth by mentioning and showing a picture of the giant Paul Bunyan which was an iconic piece of our local community of Bristol, CT back in the 70's. The pic you showed at 14:58 of him standing in front of Kemptons Discount Tire and Bristol Auto Parts, opened those old memories of seeing Paul Bunyan as a kid, and trading "what if" stories with local kids friends and family alike, about imagining him coming to life and walking around the streets of town at night scaring everyone. For some reason, no-one has any memories of what ever happened to the statue, as he seemed to disappear overnight all those years ago. As kids, we made up a story, that Paul got tired of holding up that huge tire day in and day out, and one night just walked off the job, and was out there somewhere in the woods of New England, looking for his axe and Babe the Blue Ox.
Thank you for opening fond memories from our youth 50 plus years ago and bringing the mystery to an end!!!
So glad I snuck that picture in there. It is a slide that was recently found on ebay by my friend on facebook at Vintage Roadside. Today that giant is at 540 W. Johnson Ave., Cheshire, CT
Wondered what happened to our giant on RT 20 in Bartlett…drove past it often then one day it was gone. No idea it was there all along, hibernating in the attic of the barn!
This was an absolutely great video! I love these giants, I wish that while I was traveling all over the country I had known about these because I would have been able to visit all of them.
I'm 58 yrs old and still love this old nostalgic time where people built this kind of thing. The video made me a little sad to see time go by and even pass me by.
I hope you guys keep this alive forever.
What an amazing story and a fantastic site. I can't believe that your channel doesn't have at least 250k subs. Thank you for all of your hard work and passion.
Thank you!
What a cool video! What a great project! Your passion shines through with this project! Looks like a great grand opening. Can't wait to visit the museum someday!
There was a Paul Bunion in Bemidji Minnesota in 2003
There was a happy chef that had one with a speaker in it. You'd push a button on it and it'd read the days specials.
It is so awesome that you have worked so hard to make all of this happen! I've loved Muffler Men since I first saw one of them from the freeway in Los Angeles on a road trip in the 90s. I've been seeking them out ever since and I hope to get a chance to come to the museum soon!
Meet Lee in Feb. 2024, he gave me a great tour of the property and let me take all the pictures I wanted. Great experince
I remember seeing the giant. Paul Bunyan at the Danbury Fair in the '60s or early '70s, it must have appeared in Old family films.
loved this, wish I could have made it, but I will come visit the music sometime, I grew up traveling Route 66 from Chicago to California and back visiting grandparents both directions
That is a great story. Can’t wait to visit the museum later this summer.
Wonderful video Joel!! Thanks for the recap of the weekend and all the great backstory.
This is Great!!👏🏻👏🏻👏🏻
We have to say coming to this opening was so worth the drive from Long Island. Planning a trip around being there was such a great idea. It was great to see the museum and meet everyone. Thank you for being so nice and informative with your knowledge. Our video of the opening just went live today. We really hope the museum does hold other events so we can all gather again.
AWESOME ! THANK YOU !
I remember Big Ben, just down the road from the Wickes Lumber yard!
An obsession I never considered! Love it!
CONGRATULATIONS on a job(s!) WELL DONE!
All the best going forward!
What a fun obsession!
We were so stinking close yet it just didn't work out but we'll stop by on the way back through town. Bummer because we really would have enjoyed the event and meeting you!!
What a wonderful video, Joel! We had a great time sharing the day with you, your family, the ReGiant Crew, Lee, Bill, all the Giant enthusiasts, and the folks of Atlanta. I loved the cameo appearance of my Texaco Big Friendly bobblehead in your video! 💜
Yeah that shot fit in so well! I laughed when I saw it. We had a blast hanging out with you!
Good people, being safe & happy......go figure!.
Good to see you made many people very happy. I can remember buying A & W Root Beer at a keg shaped stand outside Saugatuck Michigan in the late fifties.
great video !
Just happened upon this. Are you familiar with the Giant in Elmsford NY off I-287? It's been there BEFORE I was a child in early 1960s, i think from the 50s. I think it was AMOCO station at the time. A significant landmark
A giant pied piper from old enchanted Forrest, Baltimore, is now located on old route 30 near Somerset Pa. FYI
Bring back memories of seeing Paul Bunyan and variants (like the axe replaced with a golf club) along the highways of California.
Texaco man looks incredible! Great job! I drive by a muffler man and a pink elephant with a martini glass every day. They are not at the same location. Can you use 4"+ foam when transporting for better cushioning? Thank you for the video.
1st of your videos I’ve watched, really loved this and so so interesting, I’m in Scotland definitely planing a visit 👍
The Indian and the muffler man are standing at Crystal Lake Green House. Always a favorite to drive past.
i remember when I was a kid there was a texaco man at our local station! thanks so much!
Where at?
My favorite giant from my childhood, now long gone…Frank N Stein on route 20 in Gary Indiana…Frankie with a hot dog in one hand and a mug of root beer in the other…there are photos online…
Also love the Wilmington Gemini Giant…locals by me called him the Route 66 Rocket Man…i drove to Wilmington to take his picture one day..Turned left off the hiway, left again in the neighborhood, left again and stopped opposite the giant, exited my car camera in hand…that fast i turned to see the Wilmington Constabulary behind me watching…they love their giant in Wilmington….
Wisconsin is great for giants, Paul Bunyan and Babe his blue ox, giant muskelunges, hormel giant cans of beans and chili…etcetera
It's good to see you protecting your passion, thank you for sharing 🇬🇧😍
The Big Ben's Bargain Barn Tire figure was a landmark on my way to and from school in Bartlett/ Hanover Park, IL. A photo of him used to be hung in the recently closed (and sold to Google) James R. Thompson Center, (State of Illinois Building). He was given a badly-made sombrero at some point, and where his waving hand was missing, the tire shop had hung a large tractor tire, for many years. Gemini Giant, I got to see in his original spot before he was moved. There's a small collection of large figures like this at the Pink Elephant antique store; a converted public school building just 30 minutes down the road from Springfield , IL. on rt. 55 in Livingston, IL. Along with the giants are big elephants and one of the very rare Futuro "flying saucer" homes, which originally was a display at the Illinois State Fair in the 70's.
Interesting information, thank you for sharing. I wish I could see that photo! The sombrero or cowboy hat came with him and I agree, it's poorly made. From everything I am hearing, I have yet to prove this guy really was at Adventureland. The tractor tire seems to be something many remember, I wonder where the hand went.
You must know about the Muffler Man at 3110 Williamson Rd in Roanoke VA. He has been there forever, likely in the original location since purchased. Wanted to be sure.
The Danbury fair grounds in Danbury Conn. had a paul Bunyan if I'm correct. The fairgrounds are long gone replaced by the Danbury mall. Not sure if it is still there or not.
Fyi, we had one at muffler man in bay city mi. Now tuffys it was bought sometime in the 80s by a business man from Texas. Hope this helps you.
We have a great cowboy giant in Norwich CT
So glad I found this show, what a fascinating thing to know about! Say, just fyi, I grew up in a town called Flagstaff, Arizona that has this University called NAU and out front of the stadium there there's a Muffler Man holding an axe, meant to resemble their mascot - the Lumberjacks. I never knew he was one of many others lol.
He's actually the father of them all, he was the first one made back around 1962.
@AmericanGiants wow if it wasn't you who told me that I wouldn't believe it!
Did you find the giant that was located in a side yard in Chincoteague, Va. He was no longer there this September.
We don't have nothing like this in the UK I wish we did, I think the giants are fantastic 👍
One of my dreams is to help get a Muffler Man to Europe
In the country outside of Ash Grove Missouri is the Giant foods grocery store Giant I remember in the 60s as a small kid he held two bags of groceries on battlefield Street in Springfield Missouri and for the last 35 years or more he has sit out on the hillside outside of Ash Grove in a field about 6 mi from here. Is torso still standing the grocery bags are gone and his arms are extended and his legs are laying on the ground off to the side of him. He's actually in fairly good condition it's a shame that no one has done nothing with him and I don't really know what the owner's plans are but he's been there for many decades now...
While I am pretty sure you are aware of this Giant since it appears briefly in every episode in the opening of the Sopranos it is in Jersey City by a store that may or may not be still in business Giant Carpet. I have not driven through there in a long time and last time through I saw a sign saying they were going to be going out of business. The road is called 440 if the Giant is still there it very possibly could be available. I know a short distance away a gas station now gone had a giant kitten with a hat on roof.
Do you know anything about one that looked like Uncle Sam around Toledo, OH. I remember it from when I was a kid in the seventies. I think it was in front of a drive-in.
So cool! 🇺🇲
Did you say AdventureLand closed in 1971? I’m pretty sure that is not correct as I remember going there in the mid-70’s. Very enjoyable video! Congrats on the Museum!
You are correct, I miss spoke, they closed in 1977.
this was so cool to see. why are they called muffler men?
The guys at roadside America started noticing them and the first ones they saw were in Dallas holding mufflers and they assumed they all held mufflers. They called them muffler men and the name stuck. Only 4 or 5 actually hold mufflers.
I'm from Conn. and I swear that Bunyan was at House of Doors for years in Cheshire.
Yep he's the one. The one they have standing there is shown in that picture at 14:59 and the one at Lee's shop is the one that was on the ground and never made it up.
Why not put the museum location in the video description? Marketing fail!
You can easily Google it, it’s not that difficult!!
Or at least mention it, fairly soon.
0:48 aint that the same indian from the soprano's??? He had his hand opened too and everything else like that.
We’re they reinforced when restored ? To keep them falling in wind storms ?
There was a cute Rich Hall off the beaten path comedy movie in the 90s called “Vanishing America” of Hall on a quest to obtain an autographed basketball he won some twenty years earlier. Somewhere in his travels he encounters a man with a crazy dog that goes around to a chain of fast food restaurants that have a giant statues are of a boy holding a burger. The dog thinks the burger is real and bites the burger and arm off the statues. The dogs owner had a yard full of fiberglass giant burgers. If you are good you can find the entire movie on UA-cam. Unfortunately a dvd was never produced for it.
I have big plans for the Route 66 anniversary/USA anniversary in 2026, I'll send y'all emails soon, but feel free to get in touch before that happens, too!
Where is it?
There's a muffler man on The Alameda in San Jose, Ca.
I happen to know where 1 of your big giant friends are You probably also already know too he is in Pennsylvania standing outside of the cadet restaurant holding a hamburger He's been he's been there my whole life Which is 63 years and he is still in good shape Thank you thank you for honoring them big fiber glass fellows I help build a 5 story dinosaur and pigeon forge TennesseeProbably 25 years ago
He's actually not a Texaco Big Friend but one of the Cowboy versions made, yes I have visited him, he's unique in that he has a bow tie, not many Cowboy versions did.
The video titled "The Magic Forest Muffler Men" won't let me post. I have a question about the one with the yellow shirt seen in the thumbnail. Do you know anything about one located on Rt 130, Edgewater Park New Jersey? It was located in front of a small diner. The diner was called Tom's, and no longer exists. I know I've seen that statue when I was very little! (mid 1970s)
I think that is the Snerd that is at Mr Bills, still in NJ.
@AmericanGiants I'm almost positive that it was a second one in Edgewater Park New Jersey. I was very young though, and may be wrong on the location. I think one hand was broken off, too.
Muffler man in the opening credits for Sopranos?
Why is it closed? 😢
isn't the Indian in Oklahoma?
ITS PEOPLE LIKE U & YOUR GROUP THAT THIS TRULY AMERICAN INDUSTRIAL ART FORM IS ACTIVITY BEING LOOKED FOR AND FOUND & ITS HISTORY PRESERVE YOUR KINDA THE NEW INDIANA JONES INSTEAD OF GOLD IDOLS YOUR GOING AFTER TALL MUFFLER MEN!!!! HAPPY HUNTING & MUCH SUCCESS "INDY"👍👍👍😉😉😉
How much are the bobbleheads
Check with Lee on Texaco Big Friend Bobble Heads and pricing, he can ship to your door. leetowmanwoods@gmail.com
Was a great time Joel! Thank you for all that you do for these muffler men!!
The giant statues are impressive. I would have to catagorize them as primitive and Native American folk art. They all lack refinement in color, form, construction methods and most of all contrapposto! As advertising gimmicks they worked well.
"As advertising gimmicks they worked well."
You just don't see people doing things like this anymore. I wish they would. It's what made America great at one point. 🥳
These could house homeless people make them into some kinda advertisment sign shelters
Wonder what a muffler man is.
Some muffler repair shops had giant fiberglass men standing in front with a muffler in its hands to draw attention to them.
Isn't that pirate at Jolly Roger's in Ocean City, Maryland?
Giant “Harvey the rabbit”
21250 SW Tualatin Valley Hwy
Hillsboro, OR 97003
United States