BIG STATUES 2 - Miss Uniroyal (aka Uniroyal Gal)

Miss Uniroyal was made as a companion idea to the Muffler Man, being moved around to different Uniroyal Tire & Rubber Company stores and gas stations for various events. She held a Uniroyal Tire sign in her raised left hand and wore a watch on her right wrist. Originally they all were clad in only a bikini, but complaints that the statues were too racy caused many of them to be sent back to receive skirts and blouses (although underneath, the bikini still remains). But Miss Uniroyal never became quite as popular as her male counterpart. Hundreds of the sculptures were produced before the advertising campaign ended around 1970. Only 15 are known to have survived.

-- IDAHO --

Martha's Cafe in Blackfoot - The statue used to stand in front of the White Eagle Drive-Thru gas station a few blocks down. She was moved to the cafe in 1990. Originally she was blonde and held a plate with fries and a cheeseburger. In 2011, she underwent a make-over and returned with different make-up, hair color, outfit ... and a giant diamond ring on her finger!

-- ILLINOIS --

Lumi the Pie Lady in Atlanta - This Mark Cline creation gets her name from the co-owner of the restaurant next door, who is an Illinois State Fair Grand Champion pie baker. I was told she had been erected only a week prior.

Vanna Whitewall in Peoria - She arrived here in 1968 as part of a grand opening promotion of the Plaza Tire Co. She then moved on to other places. When Uniroyal decided to focus on a new mascot in 1971, the store owners bought her for $1. She's 17 feet tall, weighs 450 pounds and has the sexy measurements of 108-72-107. In 1988, she got a makeover as well as her current name. In 2000, she underwent repairs to fix her paint and rock dings (although she was clearly peeling again). The clasps of her skirt and top were also repaired, so she could now sport her bikini in summer and be more warmly clad in winter.

Miss Uniroyal in Mount Vernon - In 1970, she stood in front of Stan the Tire Man's store in Salem IL. In 2007, she was moved to Stan's Mount Vernon location. When that business closed in 2015, she was purchased by Bruce Kennedy, who made a fiberglass mold of her in order to produce future statues. She was fixed up and returned to her old spot in 2022. Under her material dress, she is wearing her original pink polka-dot bikini.

-- MICHIGAN --

JoLean in Northport - She resided in Kentucky (where she lay in a field) and then in Ohio (in a backyard) before being restored and brought here in 2021. She gets her name from Olean's Dispensary, which she towers above. Olean... JoLean.

Her clothing used to come off during summer bikini season, but the clasps were starting to become damaged so now her clothing is left permanently on.

As a rare treat, a friend who owned an airplane gave me an aerial view of her!

-- NEBRASKA --

Suzibelle in Omaha - She was located inside the showroom of Lyles Tires and Wheels but I was unable to find anyone to let me in. She is named after the owner's oldest daughter. She had been in storage since the 1990s but was fully restored in 2024.