January 2008 Archives

Your own Silly American Adventurer finds Elvis.
198something

While most may argue against me, I think nothing goes better with a hot dog than ketchup. In fact, I am the sort who takes a little hot dog with her ketchup. Seriously, I SMOTHER them in the red blood of the gods to the point where most of it will drip all over my lap after one bite. So, of course, it's probably not surprising that one of my favorite silly sites is the World's Largest Catsup Bottle.

Unfortunately there is no ketchup in the catsup bottle, instead the structure serves as a water tower for Collinsville, Illinois — original home of the W.E. Caldwell Company for the G.S. Suppiger who bottled Brooks catsup. Completed in 1949 the giant bottle was erected as a way to supply water for plant operations and sprinkler system. Today's it's a shining red condiment in the sky that brings locals together, stops travelers in their tracks...and may be the only bottle of ketchup big enough to satisfy my cravings.

Site: World's Largest Catsup Bottle
Location: 800 South Morrison Avenue, Collinsville, Illinois
Cost: FREE!
Hours: Visible at all hours.
Date: July 15, 2007

So I don't know if this would actually be considered the world's largest hot dog, but it's pretty big...and it comes with fries and a shake...and did I forget to mention that it also flies? OK, so this is most definitely the world's largest flying hot dog that's accompanied by fries and a shake. Take that Wienermobile.

This silly American jumbo-sized meal was original served up by the band Phish. Way back when in 1994 they began a New Years Eve Concert by declaring their hunger and soon after this feast descended upon them. The band members climbed inside (it seats four) and floated out over the audience.

Nowadays the jumbo hot dog et al. are housed in the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio. The Rock Hall itself is filled with a plethora of silly wonders: everything from Michael Jackson's sparkling glove to Pink Floyd's wall. Unfortunately the museum doesn't allow photos, so I can't share anything from inside, but I was able to snap that one from the balcony of the lobby. I mean, how can you not take a picture of a giant hot dog?

Site: Jumbo Hot Dog/Rock and Roll Hall of Fame
Location: The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum, 1100 Rock and Roll Boulevard, 751 Erieside Ave., Cleveland, Ohio 44114 (East Ninth Street at Lake Erie)
Cost: General Public: Adults/$22, Greater Cleveland residents/$18 (with proper ID), Seniors (65+)/$17, Children ages 9–12/$13, Children ages 8 and under/FREE with purchase of adult admission, Museum Members/FREE
Hours: Open 363 days a year, every day from 10 a.m. – 5:30 p.m. (Wednesdays until 9 p.m.), Closed Thanksgiving and Christmas.
Date: August 18, 2007

Did you ever have something that you wanted to give away? Did you wish you had a stamp so that could easily mark it as "free"? Did that thing you wanted to give away happen to be 28-feet tall?

If you answered yes to all of those questions, I have the silly site for you! The World's Largest Rubber Stamp may be just what you need!

The stamp rests just minutes from the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame and Museum in Cleveland, Ohio. And...well...it is what it is...a GIGANTIC rubber stamp marked "FREE" (or, at least a backwards free).

Like many silly American sites there is a lot of controversy surrounding the stamp. The idea for the sculpture was originally concocted by Standard Oil and after many ideas were thrown around, the idea of a "FREE" stamp was born. However, soon after these plans were finalized, management changed hands and work on the stamp was halted and the completed parts were put into storage. Several years and another change of hands later, amidst concerns over paying for the storage, interest in displaying the pop art stamp was renewed. Willard Park was chosen as the new location, but, of course, it now met with government opposition. Luckily for the artists and silly Americans everywhere an election brought on new government officials who embraced the piece of art and let it be displayed in the park. Officially inaugurated on November 15, 1991, the bright red stamp still stands at a whopping 28-feet tall and 48-feet long and is FREE for all to see.

Site: World's Largest Rubber Stamp
Location: Willard Park, Lakeside Ave E, Cleveland, OH
Cost: FREE
Hours: Always visible.
Date: August 18, 2007