Friday, July 24, 2009
Mysteries Who (or Where) Was This Scary Creature?
Posted by Vance Lauderdale on Fri, Jul 24, 2009 at 10:15 AM
Several months ago — okay, maybe it was more than a year ago — time is but a blur these days — I was at an estate sale in Raleigh and wandered into the backyard, where I spotted this neglected creature, just standing by the fence, looking as if he had been there for years. He — or it — stands about four feet tall and is apparently a chef, sporting black-and-white checked pants, a blue apron, and even wearing wire-rimmed glasses, all (except the glasses) nicely crafted from fiberglass, carrying a tray that once held — what? I'm not sure why he has Shrek-like green skin, unless the sun discolored him that way.
The figure looks vaguely familiar, so I'm convinced that years ago he stood outside a Memphis restaurant. Some type of pizza parlor, perhaps?
Does anybody remember where this fellow originally came from?
And in case you're wondering: No, I didn't buy it, though the fellow would have looked quite fine on the front lawn of the Lauderdale Mansion, perhaps collecting mail or — even better — donations from visitors.
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I saw this and Pasquale's Pizza parlor by the old Parkway Village movie theater at Mendenhall and Knight Arnold immediately came to mind - I am almost certain I saw it there as a wee lad.
I've eaten at the old Pasquales Pizza on Park and Getwell many a time, and don't remember any green-faced chef, or any rectangular pans.
I guess it's possible the color changed because he's been standing outdoors for years and years, though if anything you'd think it (or his face) would have gotten lighter, not darker. I can't imagine this was the original color, though, since it's kind of a puke-green and not very appetizing. Now here's another thing. I turned up a Pasquale's menu recently (thought I can't seem to find it NOW, dang it), and it didn't have this guy as a logo or mascot or anything on it. So I'm not entirely convinced, critter 42, that he came from Pasquale's, though at the moment nobody seems to have any other ideas.
He looks a little like the guy who owns Little Italy on Union.... Maybe it's from his old place on North Hollywood (or was it Watkins) in Frayser? Mr. G's?
That rectangular pan makes me think more of a bakery than pizza. Did it look like it was the original pan?
Was it Shakee's Pizza's? Does anyone remember Shakee's on Poplar near Evergreen? They had the player piano & they served beer in pitchers before anyone else did that I recall.
Shakey's Pizza Parlor was a national chain, and their mascot wore a derby and striped shirt.
I'm with Tseneau here. I'm quite familiar with the Shakey's chain, and this odd little fellow was not part of it. At one time, Shakey's had a half dozen outlets here, though most people mainly remember the ones at Poplar and Evergreen (now the site of a Taco Bell), Perkins south of I-240 (now a vacant lot), and Summer and Mendenhall (the building has survived as the Lamp Shade House). They were curious places, a mix of Olde English pub, barbershop quartet (complete with piano and banjo player), and W.C. Fields movies shown from a 16mm projector hanging from the ceiling. Everybody sat at long rows of sturdy wooden tables and benches, and you could sip Miller and Falstaff beer served in ice-cold mugs and goblets, or served by the pitcher. And they served pretty good pizza, too. The Hawaiian Delight (Canadian bacon and pineapple) was my favorite.
I think this is from Tony's, which was in the fairgrounds / Cooper-Young area on Central Ave.
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