| Land of the Giants |
| CALIFORNIA: MISC. GIANTS |
| Baby Long Beach, CA |
Western Exterminator Oxnard, CA |
Atlas Sacramento, CA |
Captain Jack's Prime Rib Sunset Beach, CA |
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The Giant Baby peers over the wall of the Long Beach Museum of Art. The 16' tall ceramic piece, entitled "Child", was created by Matt Wedel. The neighbors have not been thrilled with the bright yellow, naked sculpture which was installed in 2006 as a temporary exhibit. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, and 4.
Western Exterminator was founded in Los Angeles, CA in 1921. Many of their locations feature this "Kernel Kleenup" guy on their signs and vehicles including those in Phoenix, AZ and Las Vegas, NV. This trailer in Oxnard is missing the mouse. For more, see their website. This Atlas statue stands in front of California Family Fitness. It was originally installed when this place was a Jack LaLanne Fitness Center. Another example can be found in Reno, NV. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, and 3. Captain Jack's Prime Rib opened in 1964. It features this sailor and a tiki-themed interior. For more, see this website. [photos thanks R.B. Reed] |
| Chef Los Angeles, CA |
A.J. Spurs Saloon & Dining Grover Beach, CA |
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This Chef statue stands near the roof of the Capri Italian Restaurant. The restaurant has been here since 1963 and this guy was probably installed then.
I believe A.J. Spurs Saloon & Dining has been here since the 1990s. Does anyone know anything about the history of this statue? |
| Eiler Larsen Laguna Beach, CA |
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| The Laguna Beach statue is a tribute to Eiler Larsen, also known as "The Greeter". From the mid-1930s through the 1970s, Larsen stood on a corner in town and waved to passing cars and greeted people on the street. This concrete statue was created by Charles Beauvais as a tribute to Larsen who died in 1979. There is also a wooden statue of him in town. For more, see these websites: 1, 2, 3, 4, and 5. |
| Giant Golfers Palm Desert, CA |
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| These Giant Golfers were commissioned for the Bob Hope Chrysler Classic Golf Tournament. The figures are about 18' tall and represent, from left to right, comedians George Lopez and Bob Hope, and Charley Hoffman (the winner of the 2007 Tournament). Lopez hosted the tournament in 2007 and 2008. I believe the only figure still standing now is Bob Hope. These two-dimensional painted plywood figures were created by John Cerney who has created many other giant people including the Little Girl and Dalmatian (Dunlap, IA) and Big Baby with Tractors (Goodyear, AZ). For more, see his website. |
| former Carpeteria Genie North Hollywood, CA |
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| This Carpeteria is now L&S Carpet but they have kept the Giant Genie sign. These signs are double sided with an identical front view on both sides. Once commonplace, I believe the only Genie statues left now are in Las Vegas, NV, Reno, NV, and at the American Sign Museum in Cincinnati, OH. |
| sculpture group Auburn, CA |
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Kenneth Fox began building this concrete |
| Chinese Coolie Auburn, CA |
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| This statue entitled Chinese Coolie was also created by Ken Fox. It is a tribute to the Chinese laborers that contributed to the construction of the transcontinental railroad through the Sierra Nevadas. The concrete and steel statue is 22' tall and 33' long. It was created in 1972 and installed at Fox's dental practice. It was moved to its present location at the former train station in 1989. For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. |
| Claude Chana Auburn, CA |
Farmer Porterville, CA |
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This statue of Claude Chana was installed in 1975. Chana is credited with the discovery of gold in 1848 which led to the establishment of Auburn. The concrete statue was also created by Ken Fox. For more, see this website.
This Farmer was created by Ken Fox in 1977 for the city's Bicentennial. It is entitled "Salute to the Farmer". For more, see these websites: 1 and 2. Ken Fox, now in his 80s, also created this statue in Auburn, CA. |
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More CA Giants:
Junipero Serra: 1, 2, 3 (Hillsborough) |
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CA Muffler Men |
Giants Main Page |
| [Main Roadside Page] |
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