The A&W Burger Family may not be the biggest giants out there but they are arguably the cutest. In 1963, A&W introduced four choices of hamburgers and their corresponding Burger Family members: Papa Burger, Mama Burger, Baby Burger, and Teen Burger. Canada used a Grandpa Burger in their advertising but he was never used in the U.S. These statues were created for A&W by International Fiberglass. Papa Burger is 8 1/2 feet tall and his mug is 3 feet tall. In 1974, A&W introduced the Great Root Bear as their new mascot and instructed their restaurant operators to use him in their advertising. The stores were also encouraged to get rid of their Burger Family statues at that point but many of them did not.

Burger Family Rolla, MO

The Rolla A&W Family was on top of a tractor trailer at "Goodies Discount Grocery" in 2005 when the top two rows of photos were taken. The Teen statue went missing around 2009. By 2010, all the statues were removed. The Mama and Papa are now stored in the building behind where the tractor trailer was (bottom photos). I don't know if the other two statues are hidden there as well. For more, see this website.

Mama Burger & Papa Burger Brooklyn, NY

This Papa Burger and Mama Burger are on the roof of Paul's Daughter, a snack bar on Coney Island's Boardwalk. In 2009, the Rocket between the two statues was removed as part of a Boardwalk redevelopment project. There are plans to reinstall the rocket elsewhere. In 2012, Mama Burger was knocked over during Hurricane Sandy. She was found on the roof missing her burger and mug of beer. For more, see this website.

Mama, Baby & Teen Burger [gone] Cortez, CO

This partial Burger Family (no Papa) was on the roof of an antique shop. As of 2006, they are gone. [photos thanks Rich Birley]

Teen Burgers & Baby Burger Lake George, NY

The Lake George Teen Burgers and Baby Burger are among many giant statues at Magic Forest. The Teen Burgers have been altered to hold ice cream cones. One of them has a tongue sticking out which may or may not have been the original design as I have seen just as many with/without this detail.

Teen Burger [gone] Cambridge, KS

This Cambridge Teen Burger was originally installed on the roof of an A&W in Burden, KS. He was on display in someone's front yard when these photos were taken in 2010. In 2011, he was sold to a private collector.

Eskimo King Swansea, MA		Marion's Dairy Bar East Tawas, MI

The Eskimo King is another altered Teen Burger with a cone. I don't know if this stand was once an A&W or if the statue was moved here from someplace else. Marion's Dairy Bar features a greatly altered Teen Burger on the roof of their building.

Burger Family Tipton, IA

This Burger Family has been here at the mini golf of Hunt's Cedar River Campground since at least the early 1970s. The figures were repainted in 1999. At one point, the "T" on Teen Burger's sweater was changed to an "I" for the Iowa Hawkeyes but it has since been changed back. [info thanks Rich Birley] For more, see this website.

Burger Family Portland, OR

These Portland Burger Family statues are located in the backyard of a private residence. The unrestored Papa Burger was originally in Santa Clara, CA. In the 1970s, he was moved to a pumpkin patch / produce stand and remodeled to look like a farmer. He was moved here to Portland in 2006 and will be restored. The same owners acquired this complete Burger Family in 2007. The figures were found in a field in South Dakota around 1995 and then brought to northern California. They were restored and repainted their original colors. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

Burger Family Hillsboro, OR

This Burger Family was originally installed in front of the A&W in town. The Teen Burger statue disappeared in the 1970s and it's not clear what happened to him. After the A&W closed in the 1980s, the three remaining statues were declared a Cultural Resource. They wound up at a pizza place where their burgers were painted to look like fat pizzas and their root beers became Cokes. Their clothing was also repainted. Later, they were moved across the street as "pop art". In 1990, they were donated to the City. They were restored, repainted their original colors, and installed in Shute Park Aquatic & Recreation Center in 1993. In 1996, a Teen Burger was discovered in Longview, WA to complete the family. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2.

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A&W Family (page 3)

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