Chicago's Mr Bendo Muffler Man

[@JoJoHOPPE-i7j]

I grew up with a boy named Billy, born when his parents were in their 40s, whose every interest was indulged. He had been gifted the entire basement of his home to devote solely to Billy's myriad hobbies. Eventually, it became the gathering spot for every kid in our subdivision in North Florida. At any given time, you would find one (or several!) kid in that basement working on constructing another village for Billy's miniature trains, or just running the cool trains, mesmerized by the absolute splendor of the various trains gliding on the meticulously arranged tracks, occasionally hitting the whistles, which I can vividly hear to this very day! The outside door to the "train room" was never locked, even when Billy and his folks were away on vacation! Even as a young child, I suffered attacks of insomnia and Billy's train sets were such a blessed relief for me, for I lived directly across the street from this safe, incredibly entertaining family. Anytime I run into former neighborhood "kids" when I visit my hometown, the "train room" is INEVITABLY referred to, and spoken about with absolute reverence. When Billy's mom passed away in 1989, HUNDREDS attended the funeral home visitation and the service/burial. The fact that nearly every one of the former inhabitants of our subdivision, now grown, came from all over the globe was such a testament to how very much that family meant to us! Same thing when his Pop died in 2004. "Pop & Mama" just loved it when we brought our spouses - and later on, our children - to meet them. Pop would insist that we take our snacks and beverages downstairs for a little "train track therapy." My two kids had heard me talk about the magic of the miniature world in the basement of that wonderful family's home. Wide eyed and spellbound, my son whispered, "Mommy, it's just like you said!" The hobby shop in this video, to this adult child that grew up building trains, planes, cars and boats from kits, it was like seeing Mecca!

[@AlienRendel]

I drive by this muffler shop all the time and saw Mr. Bendo in pieces on the roof one day. When he disappeared, I always wondered what had become of him. We miss him, but I am glad to know he's been restored!

[@patriottowing4973]

so glad i found this series thank you for keeping these GIANTS alive and well

[@mikeflohr4043]

FANTASTIC STORIES ❤⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

[@johnkelley9877]

That was a great story. Thank you for sharing it.

[@markdwyer3286]

Fabulous video! I distinctly remember a Mr. Bendo suddenly appearing alongside a muffler shop on the main drag in my small hometown of Latham, NY back in the Sixties. To say he was an icon is a bit of an understatement. He was quite controversial when he first appeared as he literally dominated what was known as the Miracle Mile-actually more like a half-mile=in either direction. You couldn't miss him, even if you wanted to, and there were some who wished they could. I believe the town quickly enacted an ordnance prohibiting any more of his kind, as there were never any others, Since his installation pre=dated the ordnance, and his being there violated no other existing rules or regulations he was allowed to stay, but only at that location. The shop changed ownership a few times, and eventually Mr. Bendo disappeared sometime around the mid=Seventies, IIRC.. By that time the long, harsh winters had taken their toll and he had become more of an eyesore than an icon. As a result, his removal went unlamented by the general population.. Thanks for rekindling the long dormant memories!

[@AmericanGiants]

What an amazing story, I wonder if he is languishing in someones barn up there. I'll make a note that there used to be one in Latham. Thanks!

[@mikeflohr4043]

​@@AmericanGiants I guess this how you find em....you jus start asking questions to right people 😊

[@davebrittain9216]

In 1968 my family went for a big vacation from Canada through out the US and we saw a few of these giants and as a seven year old I found them absolutely fascinating. The one I remember the most was a Paul Bunyan. The nostalgia seems to kick right in and of course I dream of having one for myself too. I really enjoyed this video to see how everything fell into place for this father and son.

[@Alcarods]

I LOVE this channel! I was hoping to find the one at Ced's mufflers on Grand Ave in Chicago. I drove past it for years and it was definitely an icon. So glad it was saved and restored!

[@Reindeer911]

That's a bitter-sweet story! Mr. Hobby was in many ways what defined Free Time Hobbies! Even shopping online, it is/was the hobby shop with the giant in front!

[@Whammytap]

It's amazing to me that so many of these original International Fiberglass giants are still around. Fiberglass, to my knowledge, isn't the sturdiest/most stable outdoor building material around, I've seen how it breaks down out in the elements from wind and rain and UV exposure. I wonder if International Fiberglass expected their giants to still be around 50 years later. Many buildings and bridges aren't meant to last that long nowadays. I'm quite curious about how these work structurally, as well (have garnered a few snippets from these vids). There are pictures of people sitting in the hands of these giants. The arms really are strong enough to hold the weight of a person?

[@TroyAPeterson]

What an awesome Christmas Gift! A new AG Episode. Happy New Years! Thanks for making my day!

[@russlowe60]

Thanks Joel! what a great video. Thanks for sharing "our" story. None of this would have been possible without you and your followers.

[@courtneyrogers7683]

As always, what an incredible story! These videos are so well done.

[@100chuckjones]

Thanks for the cool Christmas gift Joel.

[@alankroll1734]

What a great story. Keep them coming.

[@MrGoosePit]

Great story! Thanks for another awesome American Giants video!

[@diandian9827]

Great channel; deserves way more subscribers.

[@mary8273]

Just came across this video. There a big guy like that here in Indianapolis on west 16th Street/

[@michaelmacina2365]

Wow beautiful

[@nilesingalls]

I pass the one in Indianapolis often, it's quite an amazing sight.

[@Jay-hu5si]

It's on 16th Street just East of the Old Busch Stadium that has been turned into a Apartment Complex poorly showing the old Ballpark Outline that is not in Dirt or Grass!

[@jamesdavis5096]

Pretty good story there is a muffler man in Litchfield Illinois

[@wmason1961]

I just found out that I am only 3.25 hours from AGM. I intend to visit as aoon as the snow melts a bit.

[@pickeljarsforhillary102]

I met Brandon years ago at a model fest at the USS Alabama.

[@missionalgirl]

I swore up and down that Mr. Bendo was Burt Reynolds. 😂

[@lisasmith9311]

Original was made by sculpture and artist Bill Swan.

[@PeterBoulden]

Mr Bendo ------> Mr Hobby ------> Dr BlueRidge (coming Summer 2020) :)

[@JREone]

There is a big statue of Trump in Illinois, how cool would that be to convert one of these reproductions to a Trump