Chicken Boy facts for kids
Chicken Boy is a famous statue in Los Angeles, California. You can find it on the historic U.S. Route 66 (North Figueroa Street) in the Highland Park area. This colorful statue is 22 feet tall and made of fiberglass. In 2010, the Governor of California, Arnold Schwarzenegger, even gave it a special award called the Governor's Historic Preservation Award.
History of Chicken Boy
Chicken Boy first stood on top of a fried chicken restaurant in downtown Los Angeles. This was back in the 1960s. The restaurant was on Broadway, which is also part of Historic Route 66. It was near a busy place called Grand Central Market.
Back then, a company called International Fiberglass in Venice, California, made large statues. These statues, like the famous Paul Bunyan and Muffler Man figures, were used as outdoor advertisements. The Los Angeles chicken restaurant bought one of these statues. They then hired an artist to change it. The artist replaced the man's head with a chicken head. The arms were also changed to hold a bucket instead of an axe.
This unique statue stayed in downtown Los Angeles until 1984. That's when the restaurant owner passed away. After many people asked about it, the statue was given to Amy Inouye. She stored Chicken Boy away for a long time, waiting to find a good new home for it. It took about 20 years to find the right spot.
Amy Inouye is an art director in Los Angeles. She saved Chicken Boy and kept it safe. In 2007, she moved the statue to its current home at 5558 North Figueroa. Amy's design company, Future Studio, had moved to a new building. This building had a strong roof that could hold the heavy statue. Many people in the community helped by donating money and effort to bring Chicken Boy back.
A newspaper columnist, Steve Harvey, wrote about Chicken Boy. He said that Amy Inouye saved the statue when its old restaurant was torn down. Chicken Boy was kept in storage for two decades. Its head was in one place and its body in another. Finally, the city allowed Amy to put it on top of her studio in Highland Park as an "art installation."
Other Famous Statues
Chicken Boy is a type of statue known as a Muffler Man. These are large fiberglass figures used for advertising. Many of them were customized, just like Chicken Boy. Here are some other famous customized statues that you can still see today:
- The Gemini Giant in Wilmington, Illinois, holds a rocket ship and wears a helmet.
- Tall Paul in Atlanta, Illinois, holds a giant hot dog.
- El Salsero in Malibu, California, wears a sombrero and holds a serving tray.
People who love road trips and pop culture often look for these statues. They even list them on websites!
Awards and Recognition
Chicken Boy has received several awards for its history and unique look:
- Governor's Historic Preservation Award, Sacramento, California, 2010.
- Community Beautification Grant, City of Los Angeles, 2005-2006.
- California Preservation Foundation, Three Minute Success Story, 2009.
- Highland Park Heritage Trust Preservation Award, 2009-2010.
- Commendation, City of Los Angeles, 2009.
- Commendation, California State Assembly, Sacramento, California, 2010.
- Won Superstar of the Week two weeks running in 2017.
