I know what she means. Although I'm usually a big fan of cartoon mascots, I never cared much for that guy. He kind of reminded me of a mutant version of the father in the Dennis the Menace comic strip.
I'd love to know the story behind his design. Was he a caricature of someone? I originally thought he was a piece of clip art, but there are subtle differences between the two versions of him in the ads I posted last week – which makes me think that an artist rendered him and then fine-tuned him a bit.
Anyway, those photos of the former Forest City Auto Parts store got me to wondering if it was still there. I had to find out. (Gee, don't I love to waste time?)
Looking online, it was fairly easy to figure out that the particular photogenic store was at 2001 Clarke Ave. So during lunch on Monday, I took a short drive down W. 25th Street in Cleveland to Clark to see if it was still there.
Alas, the outside of the whole brick building had been painted over, including Mr. Longneck.
However, thanks to Google's mapping feature, for now you can still 'drive by' the building as it looked before it was painted over. (Click on each for a closer look.)
Today, the store is part of the Federated Auto Parts chain.
4 comments:
I've always been fascinated with the Forest City Auto Parts guy. They unfortunately painted over the FCAP sign that was once on Culver Avenue in Rochester, NY. Thanks for posting this!
As a former Manager of FCAP in toledo area, I know exactly how the long neck fellow you refer to came to be...His name is Max, and the idea was pitched to the 2 original brothers that owned the company-Stan & Arn-from a yellow page add with the caption "stop looking we have what you need" and the rest is pretty much history the add was very successful, just like the chain of auto parts store where.
As a former manager of FCAP on Culver road in Rochester, NY. I also know the story behind "MAX". anonymous is correct about Stan and Arn....and the yellow pages ad.
He is about to be more famous than ever. Thanks to his new job as Head Coach of the Chicago Bears, Marc Trestman(sp? De Coach). Jan 2013.
Anyone recall Bob Dobb, fictional character mascot of on-campus bar at U of AZ in 1970-80s? Look very similar to FCAP guy.
FCAP tried to open a store in a commercial building in my Beverly Hills neighborhood on the SW side of Chicago in early 1990s. It is still empty but has changed hands 3 times for big bucks with no user yet to occupy it.
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