I always found interesting that he was a latecomer when it came to chicken restaurants in Lorain, with several others (Chicken Delight, Minnie Pearl, etc.) making chicken tracks into town before him. The Lorain store on Oberlin Avenue didn't open until April 1971.
We didn't have it very often in the early years. I remember Mom suggesting having it for dinner by saying, "How about Colonel Sanders tonight?" In later years, we brought it on picnics.
I've written before how I played 'Happy Birthday' on my trombone for the Colonel, when he visited the Ohio State Fair in 1976 and I was a member of the All-Ohio State Fair Band. He stood about ten or twelve away from me and the other trombones in our small group, and I remember thinking, "Wow, is he short!"
And I once visited his grave down in Louisville, Kentucky while visiting my sister, who lives in that fine city. (No, I didn't leave a grease-stained KFC bucket filled with flowers as a memorial.) We went to the Colonel Sanders Museum that same day as well.
Anyway, here's an interesting article about the Colonel, showing him at his crankiest. He was visiting some Kentucky Fried Chicken outlets and was less than pleased with how his famous recipe was being followed. The article (which is pretty hilarious) ran in the Journal back on Sept. 19, 1976.
The Colonel made a cameo appearance in a bikesploitation film called HELL'S BLOODY DEVILS; by all accounts, the cast and crew ate KFC until it was coming out of their ears.
ReplyDeletehttps://youtu.be/MrAHeirLObE?is=yLYjuuIbAORGFSrd
There is a KFC around LIma that has a shrine to the colonel with one of his small suits. And table service to boot! I met him at a hotel in Louisville on his 85th birthday. I was racing at the SCCA Solo II Regional Championship headquartered in the same hotel. "C'mon boys, there's chicken for everyone!"
ReplyDeleteThe kiddies of today have no idea what KFC stands for.They just think it's some letters thrown together cause it sounds cool.Yes,it is very bad for you as is all fast food garbage.But nobody can beat that chicken taste.I like to get a meal then stick in the fridge first,then eat it cold the following day.It takes off some of the greasiness after sitting for awhile.
ReplyDeleteI love it cold too!
DeleteOver where I was, the same chicken was sold by a guy named "Kenny King!"
ReplyDeleteThing is, and perhaps TMI... I love the stuff, but can't it eat 'cause it "express trains" me.
When I worked at ESCO, I'd grab lunch or dinner at the Oberlin KFC - and that place had the best french fries I've ever had, before or since.
ReplyDeleteI agree, Mike – the French Fries were truly great!
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