Chicken Boy facts for kids
Chicken Boy is a very tall statue in Los Angeles, California. It stands on North Figueroa Street in the Highland Park area. This amazing statue is 22 feet (about 6.7 meters) high. It is made from a strong material called fiberglass. In 2010, the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, gave Chicken Boy a special award for its history.
Contents
The Story of Chicken Boy
How Chicken Boy Began
The Chicken Boy statue was first made in the 1960s. It was created for a restaurant called Chicken Boy Fried Chicken. This restaurant was in Downtown Los Angeles on Broadway.
Back then, a company named International Fiberglass made giant statues. These statues, like "Muffler Men," were used to advertise businesses along roads. The Chicken Boy restaurant bought one of these statues.
Chicken Boy's Makeover
An artist was hired to change the statue. They replaced the man's head with a chicken head. The statue's arms were also changed. Instead of holding an axe, it now held a bucket. This made it look like a giant chicken mascot.
Finding a New Home
Chicken Boy stayed at the restaurant until 1984. After the restaurant owner passed away, the statue was given to an artist named Amy Inouye. She kept the statue safe for many years.
In 2007, Amy Inouye moved Chicken Boy to its current spot. Her design company, Future Studio, moved to a building with a very strong roof. This roof was perfect for holding the large statue. Many people in the community helped save Chicken Boy. They also donated money to make sure it could be preserved.
Awards and Recognition
Chicken Boy has received several awards for its history and for making the community more beautiful. These awards show how important the statue is to people.
- Governor's Historic Preservation Award: This award was given in Sacramento, California, in 2010. It recognized Chicken Boy as an important historical item.
- Community Beautification Grant: The City of Los Angeles gave this grant in 2005-2006. It helped make the area around Chicken Boy look better.
- Three Minute Success Story: The California Preservation Foundation honored Chicken Boy in 2009.
- Preservation Award: The Highland Park Heritage Trust gave this award in 2009-2010. It celebrated the effort to keep Chicken Boy safe.
- Commendation: The City of Los Angeles also gave a special mention in 2009.
- Commendation: The California State Assembly in Sacramento gave another special mention in 2010.
