He’s a legend a giant a feathered friend. Chicken Boy stands tall. He’s a 22-foot fiberglass icon in Highland Park Los Angeles. This isn’t just any chicken. This is Chicken Boy.
Originally he wasn’t in Highland Park. Chicken Boy began life in the 1960s. He perched atop a fried chicken restaurant downtown. His body was a modified Muffler Man. His head a custom-made chicken. He held a bucket promising the best chicken in town. For twenty years he was a Downtown Los Angeles landmark.
But the restaurant closed in 1984. Chicken Boy faced an uncertain future. Artist Amy Inouye saved him. She rescued him from oblivion. For 23 years Chicken Boy was in storage. He moved from garage to warehouse to backyard.
Finally in 2007 Chicken Boy found a new home. He now stands proudly atop Future Studio Gallery. It’s a testament to community effort. Donated funds and Ms Inouye’s dedication brought him back. His arrival in Highland Park was a stealth operation. It involved a flatbed truck and a midnight move through the city streets.
Chicken Boy’s fame grew. He received the Governor’s Historic Preservation Award in 2010. Arnold Schwarzenegger himself gave the award. Chicken Boy even has his own movie a quirky 1991 production. He’s become a symbol of Los Angeles’s unique spirit. He’s a reminder of the city’s quirky charm and resilience. Look up. See Chicken Boy. He’s more than just a statue. He’s a symbol of preservation community and a whole lot of chicken.