Muffler Men of Old Route 66 in Illinois

I drove down to St. Louis, Mo from Chicago on the Old Rte 66 last week.  I had already done some of the drive this summer, so I got off the Interstate in Springfield to photograph one of the Muffler Men that stand on the Rte 66.

I read about these giants (stands between 18-25 feet tall) but had no ideas what the attractions were. While I was taking pictures of the Gemini Giant (the Muffler Men on the right) cars would drive up and people will pile out and get their pictures taken with it.  It is pretty amusing that these fiberglass guys that were made back in the 1960's are getting their pictures taken with the i-phones and i-pads. 

Let me introduce you to the Muffler Men from the old Rte 66 that I encountered.. From left, this guy stands in Livingston,IL in front of the Pink Elephant Antique Mall. The Harley Davidson guy was moved from Kansas and after arriving here, he was painted with the Harley Davidson name on his chest. I think it is pretty fitting that so many Harley Davidson motorcyle riders drive on the Old Rte 66. In Springfield,IL there is the "Lauterbach Tire men" whose head was decapitated back in 2006 by the Tornado that hit the area. Now with his head screwed back on, he holds an American Flag.  I wondered what he used to hold, maybe a giant wrench.  Next is  "The Hot Dog man" in Atlanta, IL this guy used to stand in front of the Bunyon's in Cicero from 1963 to 2003.  After the place closed it was moved to the Rte 66 in Atlanta and is now called "Tall Paul"  It still holds the giant hot dog from the days.  The last is the "Gemini Giant" of the Wilmington IL.  He stands at the corner of the parking lot at the Launching pad drive-ins (which is now closed and up for sale along with the Gemini Giant).  His rockets were stolen and had to be replaced twice. What would you do with the 8 foot long styrofoam rocket in your garage?

Since I had mentioned the Pink Elephant Antique Mall I wanted to share with you "The Pink Elephant" that stands in front.  It is visible from the Interstate and there is no way that you can miss it if you are driving on I-55.  If you would like to see it up close and personal get off at Exit 33 and take the frontage road.  As you can see it is painted bubble gum Pink.....If you would like to know the locations of the Muffler Men drop me a note, I can direct you to them.