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Mangled Bob’s Big Boy statue in Downey gets Halloween makeover
Bob's head was mangled in a car crash. But now, he's ready for spooky season.
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Courtesy Bob's Big Boy in Downey
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The Bob’s Big Boy statue in Downey that had its hairdo ripped off in a car crash has become even more horrifying for Halloween.
Is he Frankenstein’s monster? A Zombie? You can be the judge. The beloved mascot has been painted green, with pink “brains” where the top of his head once was.
The backstory
Residents in Downey were shocked after a high-speed car crash damaged a Bob’s Big Boy statue last month.
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The Big Boy in Downey
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Robert Garrova / LAist
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Security camera footage the restaurant shared on social media shows a car slamming into a fire hydrant in front of the diner and causing an explosion.
A restaurant worker said the statue’s head was broken into three parts.
Why it matters
The community has rallied around the Big Boy and his mid-century or Googie-style diner, which originally opened in 1958 as Harvey’s Broiler.
Charles Phoenix, L.A. cultural critic and so-called Ambassador of Americana, told LAist that the statue created a craze when it was unveiled: “It immediately became the absolute place to see and be seen in your custom car in the late '50s and '60s." It has become a popular part of the in SoCal landscape ever since.
What’s next
Eventually, the restaurant plans to restore or replace the Big Boy statue.
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