"It all began in 1936 when Bob Wian, the owner of a 10-seat diner in Glendale, California, invented an extraordinary double-decker hamburger and the "Big Boy" was born. The sandwich's success inspired Bob to name his diner Bob's Big Boy. When a customer sketched on a napkin a boy in overalls with a curl in his hair, the likeness became the diner's logo and is now one of the world's most recognized and beloved corporate icons."
Of course we collect Big Boys, how can you not? My lifelong dream is to own a giant Big Boy statue from a restaurant. We can use all of these Big Boy banks to save up for the Grandaddy of them all!!!
19 comments:
Oh! I LOVE that guy! What's not to love--the checkerboard pants, those eyes, that curl of the hair.
And a juicy hamburger too!
Shoot. Now I'm hungry.
But they don't serve the double decker anymore. I was really disappointed when they took it off the menu.
Oh well, I haven't been there for quite awhile. Maybe I need to go and find a new favorite.
Well, you've simplified my dinner plans now, a hamburger is a must :) We don't have Big Boy in Portland but the Village Inn does great burgers with crispy onion rings on top.
There use to be one of these big guys outside the one in Chelsea and in Jackson. As time progressed they took them down. I love your collection!
Love your collection they are so cute. Where do you have them in your kitchen on the counter??
Love your collection they are so cute. Where do you have them in your kitchen on the counter??
The Fan will vouch for me on this one:
MY lifelong dream is to own my very own giant Big Boy statue from a restaurant. I want to take out the diving board at our pool and secure him to the patio.
Not making this up.
The Fan will vouch for me on this one:
MY lifelong dream is to own my very own giant Big Boy statue from a restaurant. I want to take out the diving board at our pool and secure him to the patio.
Not making this up.
I haven't been to one of these in ages... when you finally have a giant big boy in your home, you MUST post pictures :)
I love the image of big boy! Though I never have seen it before so 'worlds...icons' is perhaps wishful thinking of a Mr. Wian's descendant. We do know burger king and MacDonalds over here, which is too bad, as this guy is so much more fun. I can see a birthday card for hubby coming up, thanks for sharing!
Love this photo of them all lined up looking at the camera! Now you've got me craving a burger!
I remember Bob's big Boy! How fun to see him again.
I am dying to know the shade of the bluish room you have posted on your sidebar! Puleese do tell!
Hi Linda! I mentioned you in my blog tonight as one of my life's tour guides. You always bring such fun and interesting things to your audience. I have some connections to this post, for once - you are usually too worldly and cool for me.
I love your Big Boys. (we have one old one that is not in near as good condition) I live "next door" to Glendale in Eagle Rock where my in-laws and their kids grew up. The pantry picture you show was already gone by the time my in-laws were eating at Bob's when they grew up. What they know as "the first one" is gone too. I've been in the area for 20 years and most of the ones I have eaten in have disappeared. In fact, we are down to one that we know of in Toluca Lake which we still go to occasionally. Anyway, my in-laws knew Bob Wian and thought he was such a nice man and so good to his employees. He used to give them all stocks in the business and we know one couple that was able to use those stocks to start their own successful business later in life. Across the street from the Bob's they knew as the first one, was The Kitchen where Bob's did all of their baking and put their waitresses and cooks through training. My father-in-law eventually became a new construction plumber for all the Bob's Big Boy restaurants that were built up and down the West Coast in the 70's and 80's. We have several old menus that are fun to look at.
Next time I visit the one Bob's Big Boy we have around us, I'll see if I can pick up something cool for you. Loved this post and thank you for your indulgence in letting me write so much about it! It was fun!
marsha
We used to drive up to the one in Kenosha, WI for family dinner. I was so sad to see it go...especially the statue out front!
I love Big Boy! Such a part of my childhood - I was always so excited to go and have lunch or dinner at the local Big Boy. And the double-decker! Heaven! Of course, now I'm a vegetarian, so I wouldn't be indulging!
there was a Big Boy restaurant in one of the towns we lived in--how I loved their malts--they'd bring them to the table with the big silver mixing cup.
He brings back such happy childhood memories. I'm not sure if we have any Big Boys left around here??? Love your little collection :)
Linda, it was fun finding your site and reading about your dream of owning a full sized Bob's statue...my Dad, Bob Wian, founded it, and everyone keeps asking me why I don't have one in my backyard! I live in Portland, Oregon now...I'm thinking he might get stoned by tofu. It's both odd and wonderful you have more BBB banks that I do...cute! Best, Julie Wian
Dear Julie,
Thank you for your comments. You need a Big Boy statue more than I do. I know that even vegans have to love a Big Boy statue.
Thanks,
Linda
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