Archive for the ‘Photoblogues’ Category

Posted on November 24, 2010 - by Gary Applegary

Big Mack Attack!

So there you are… Driving down Interstate 85. The miles are limbering up. No, that’s not right. The miles are warming up. Hmm, no. The miles STRETCH on.. that’s it! 

Where ARE you, anyway? Did you see a sign that said Greensboro? Did you see something gleaming, and a tall sign that looked a little unique? You’ve arrived! The Mack Truck World Headquarters, Greensboro, North Carolina, U.S.A. 

Neato! Here’s what to see if you find yourself there. (And it’s the weekend, and the operation is closed down. WHO would do THAT?!  Well. Ahem.) MOVING ON..

At this point, I have to warn you, this complex has a quack team of security experts…

These highly trained guard-ducks can be bought off with a few crusts of bread. Then, tempted as you are to watch them feast, it’s time to move on past. 

It’s almost funny how easy a parking spot is to find when there’s nobody working.

Hey, nice license plate! Hmm, does that say there’s a store inside?

Yes, it does. Now I’m really glad I came when it was CLOSED, d’oh! Well, at least I saved money. This explains why a lot of you didn’t get bulldog keychains, bracelets with your name on it, and bumper stickers from me. Sorry ’bout that. I truly am. No Mack Truck T-shirt for me either. (The real reason I’m sorry; you caught me.)

The mirrored headquarters building is a pretty interesting sight, I think..

I like how this photo turned out, now that I reflect on it. Well, we better move on, I think we may have ruffled those guards’ feathers. There’s a couple more things to see. How about a truck? After all, it is the Mack TRUCK Headquarters.

It’s a pretty big truck. And pretty shiny, too. They’re much less scary when they’re NOT moving, and you aren’t looking at them in your rearview mirror in shock. Nice truck. Niiiiiiice truck.

It goes without saying, (well, not really, now) that you wouldn’t particularly enjoy this view if the truck was moving. Or probably the next one. (Check out the reflection on the back of the mirror; it’s pretty neat!)

The most beautiful grille in the world? Could be. That’s a lot of chrome to polish. A high-maintenance grille. (Changing the subject): Hey, look – there’s a statue over there! Let’s go see it, and then pose by it, and then leave! (Did you see its reflection in the previous picture? Look again!)

This is Mack. Say hello! I hope you brought a big bronze milkbone.. No? OK, I said I would pose by him before we leave…

Here we are! That’s me on the left. Hope you enjoyed the visit. Next time we’ll come when they’re open – if we can find a parking spot. Roger that?

G. Applegary

Posted on October 25, 2010 - by Gary Applegary

Viva Las Arby’s!

Up ahead, towering over you and lighting up the sky is a big cowboy hat that would make “Vegas Vic” envious. Is it on Las Vegas’ famous strip? No, it might be from YOUR own hometown! I’m speaking, of course, of an American icon, the old-timey “Big Neon Cowboy Hat” Arby’s sign.  Beginning in 1975, many of the franchises switched to a much simpler and in my opinion, (Sorry, Arby’s!) forgettable style. Here’s a good example of the sign, then and now:

The Big Neon Cowboy Hat harkens back to the days of Big Bold Signs. According to www.arbys.com the first restaurant was opened in 1964 by Leroy and Forrest Raffel. The RB stands for… Raffel Brothers.

(That’s Forrest on the right, Leroy on the left, and the Big Neon Cowboy Hat in the back.)  Courtesy of http://www.arbysrestaurant.com/inpage/about-history.cfm

Some of you may recall the “America’s Roast Beef Yes Sir” jingle back in the 80’s and 90’s. (The 1990’s, not the 1890’s, Smarty Pants!)  While that is no more, remarkably the B.N.C.H. survives! I have captured 2 beautiful specimens in Palm Harbor, Florida, and Winston-Salem, North Carolina. Is there one in YOUR neck of the woods? Let me know, and I just might add a snapshot of it here!  Keep your eyes peeled, and, of course, don’t forget your coupons…

I know, this isn’t exactly vintage, but I did save it for a few years, didn’t I? Why, you ask? Why not. This reminds me of the coupons that used to come out when I was little; Dad would get our orders and we’d end up with a BIG BAG of sandwiches. Good times. Nowadays, of course, your coupons might look a little different:

Clickable coupons?! Why, back in MY day, we didn’t have such things.  Speaking of back in the day, one time while the family was enjoying our roast beef sandwiches, my brother had a “brainstorm.” Why couldn’t the wax paper on the sandwich wrapper be peeled away so that the aluminum layer could be recycled? Nobody could talk him out of it, so Dad put him to work “un-layering” the wrapper bit by bit. Half an hour later, he had made little progress. He had a small pile of waxy shreds, and a large load of frustration. As I recall, Dad finally let him off the hook; otherwise, he might still be peeling the Arby’s wrapper today. 

Some years ago, this photo of my secretary, Anita Fajita, and myself was taken at the Palm Harbor Arby’s…

You can see just how old this picture is by the sepia effect that was later added. D’oh! Here is a more recent shot of the same location, where the B.N.C.H. still proudly stands..

And again…

Be sure to notice the bird on top of the sign. I think he’s keeping an eye out for any errant sesame seeds that might be dropping below. Speaking of droppings, he’d better not be doing any other business up there! Please, bird, not on the sign! 

Next, we head to Winston-Salem, to see if the Arby’s sign there is lit up…

It’s MOSTLY lit up. Let’s go closer, shall we?

I know what you’re thinking… “The Wise Roast Beef Sandwich IS DELICIOU!” As a matter of fact, it IS, Y’s Guy. Let’s stand BENEATH the neon sign, OK? Yes, let’s! 

 

Ain’t it beautiful? It’s kinda making me hungry… Lemme see if I can go in for some food… 

Mmmm, tasty. And blurry. Sorry ’bout that. Well, I feel better now. Time to head home.

No way! Not a shot from the rear-view mirror! Yes! Yes, indeed.

I was glad to see a new promotion keeping the old-school sign concept alive…

Hooray for Arby Junior! Let’s hope he makes it big!

Well, it’s a start.

Finally (for now), I found where some of the old discarded Arby’s signs ended up. At the sign museum in Cincinnati, Ohio! (Which is a neat visit if you get the chance.) Here’s a couple shots of the poor, forgotten, left-outside and graffiti-ed B.N.C.H…. 

Kinda sad. (No, I’m NOT talking about the shirt.) Let’s hope more Big Neon Cowboy Hats don’t wind up dismembered and “custom painted” here. I’m willing to put one up in my backyard if it saves it from a similar fate. I’m sure changing the light bulbs is quite a chore; no doubt my overjoyed neighbors would contribute to the cause.

Like I said, I’m always looking for more vintage Arby’s signs to photograph. If you see one, let me know. Now, get on your Horsey, and giddyup out thar, pardners! Those neon lights won’t steer you wrong! So long.

Gary Arbygary

FEEDBACK:

Dear Gary,

 Thank you for your email.  I enjoyed reading your blog and seeing the pictures that you’ve taken over the years at various Arby’s locations.  Unfortunately, we do not have a list of the Arby’s restaurants that still have our 10-gallon Cowboy Hat sign.

 Thank you again for your feedback!

 J.M.   Coordinator, Customer Relations

Posted on October 20, 2010 - by Gary Applegary

Let’s Visit Pencil-vania!

“PENCIL-VANIA?!?!”

OK, so I got you here under false pretenses. Sorry if I misled you, but you will get the point later on. You might be happy to know, though, that we AREN’T going to visit Pennsylvania! No, we are actually going to visit….

WYTH, VIRGI! No, almost… wait for it…

Yes, Wytheville, Virginia. (Pronounced “With-E-Ville… by me, and ONLY me.) Guess what? It’s got a pretty cool-colorful-stripey-hot air balloon-looking water tower! Hmm, I should have taken a picture of it.  

 Oh, OK! There it is. As you can see, I climbed halfway up it. Not really. Kids, do NOT climb water towers… without permission. Glad we settled that. Let’s see what else Wytheville has.

 This is a BEAUTIFUL weeping willow. Interestingly (to me at least), it was difficult to focus the camera on because of the many textures of the willowy leaves.

Wytheville has some significant Civil War history. Yep, almost 150 years ago, folks with muskrats were tromping through here. Whoops, make that MUSKETS. 

So evidently, this here General Toland had a severe allergic reaction to gunfire right at this here spot. As you can see, he also clearly had some plaque buildup. Learning is fun!

This is the old Millwald Theater, where no doubt the soldiers would spend the evenings after a long day battling. “Rebel Without a Cause” and “Yankee Doodle Dandy” were big hits back in the day.

Mmmmm, hot dogs…… (Their breakfast dog is… unique. Okay, I made that up. Maybe.)

 

After a Skeeter Dog, you might be wanting a Coke. And a haircut. And some Rustoleum.

Hey! Wait a second… what is THIS we see coming up??? Is THIS the reason for those lame pencil puns earlier? (You can scroll back up if you missed them; we’ll wait. OK, you’re right, not worth it. Let’s move on.) 

Whoa! It’s a GIANT PENCIL! This isn’t one of those novelty ones you get at Niagara Falls or Disneyland, no sir! It’s much bigger than a grown man, or the guy in this picture! 

As always, I had to take a shot from right underneath. I think this came out kinda cool. (NOTE: I didn’t use any special filters or alter these photos afterwards; it REALLY was that beautiful of a day, and the sky was really that blue!)

Inside the office supply store was a slightly smaller “Giant Pencil.” (Fire extinguisher normal size.)

So, it seems the Paint Store also got into the supersized spirit of things. Cool Giant Can O’ Paint! And, DIRECTLY ACROSS THE STREET from the Wytheville Office Supply Store, Home of the Giant Pencil, we find….

“The PAPER CLIP?!?!” Not really! The PAPER CLIP?!! Say it isn’t so! Sadly it is; right across the street from the Giant Pencil. This is just wrong. That’s not even a real giant-sized paper clip, it’s just a window decal. VERY disappointing. Hopefully the REAL office supply store doesn’t lose any business to these clippy-heads. Anyways, right after this picture was taken, “somebody” threw a brick through the window of The Paper Clip. And that was all the pictures we took in Wytheville — we had to leave real sudden. Kids, do NOT throw bricks through windows of lame ripoffs of cool stores… without permission. Goodbye for now from Wytheville, where police are still looking for “somebody.” (Remember what I said, kids.)

P.S. Oh yeah, we made an interesting stop on the way back, at a restaurant I won’t name. Anyway, this place specializes in Roast Beef sandwiches, I’m thinking. We got some interesting food here… 

  

Fortunately, I didn’t eat the pot cake, as I was driving. (Kids, don’t ever eat pot cakes.)  I did have the Large Jamocha Lettuce, which wasn’t bad tasting, but I think it was very overpriced! Bye for now.