Emily Carter
The Big Chicken is a 56-foot-tall steel structure in Marietta, Georgia, designed to resemble a chicken. It was originally built in 1963 for a restaurant called Johnny Reb’s Chick-Chuck-‘N’-Shake, which was part of a franchise. The Big Chicken has become a beloved landmark and a symbol of Marietta, inspiring art and music. It has also become a navigational landmark, with locals often giving directions based on its location.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of Construction | 1963 |
| Purpose | Advertising gimmick for the restaurant Johnny Reb's Chick-Chuck-'N'-Shake |
| Height | 56 feet |
| Designer | Hubert Puckett, a Georgia Tech student of architecture |
| Fabricator | Atlantic Steel |
| Owner | Stanley Reginald "Tubby" Davis |
| Current Status | A KFC restaurant with a small history museum and a gift shop |
| Address | 12 Cobb Parkway N, Marietta, GA 30062 |
| Phone Number | (770) 422-4716 |
| Landmark Status | Yes, it is one of the most well-recognized landmarks in Marietta |
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What You'll Learn
The Big Chicken's history as an advertising gimmick
The Big Chicken, a 56-foot-tall steel structure designed to resemble a chicken, was originally constructed in 1963 as an advertising gimmick for a restaurant called Johnny Reb's Chick-Chuck-'N'-Shake, located in Marietta, Georgia. The towering chicken was the brainchild of Stanley Reginald "Tubby" Davis, who owned the restaurant and wanted something tall and eye-catching to attract customers. Nicknamed "Tubby" due to his ability to devour whole buckets of chicken, Davis commissioned Georgia Tech architecture student Hubert Puckett to design the Big Chicken.
The design featured moving parts, including rolling eyes, an opening and closing beak, and a comb that moved as if in a breeze. However, when the motor for these features was turned on, the vibrations shattered every window in the restaurant. Engineers were unable to resolve this issue, and the chicken became a motionless giant. Despite this setback, the Big Chicken still served its purpose as an advertising gimmick, becoming a beloved landmark and a symbol of Marietta.
In 1974, Kentucky Fried Chicken took over the Big Chicken. Colonel Sanders, the founder of KFC, initially ordered the structure to be torn down, believing that KFC should promote him instead of a chicken. However, he relented when he learned that the Marietta restaurant was the busiest KFC franchise globally. The Big Chicken faced another threat in 1989 when KFC secretly offered to move it to a new restaurant in neighbouring Smyrna, but a populist uprising from Marietta's citizens prevented this from happening.
Over time, the Big Chicken became more than just an advertising gimmick. It became a navigational landmark, with locals often giving directions based on its location. It is also a popular meeting spot and a backdrop for countless photographs, solidifying its place as an integral part of Marietta's social and cultural landscape. The structure underwent a significant renovation in 2017 to preserve its classic features while modernizing its facilities. Today, visitors can enjoy a meal under the giant chicken's gaze, purchase merchandise, and learn about its history in the small museum inside.
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The Big Chicken as a community icon
The Big Chicken is a 56-foot-tall steel structure designed to resemble a chicken, located in Marietta, Georgia. It was originally constructed in 1963 for a restaurant called Johnny Reb’s Chick-Chuck-‘N’-Shake, which was part of a larger franchise. The towering structure, designed by Georgia Tech architecture student Hubert Puckett, was envisioned by owner Stanley Reginald "Tubby" Davis as a way to advertise his eatery and attract customers.
Over the years, The Big Chicken has become more than just a quirky landmark in Marietta. It has transcended its original purpose as an advertising gimmick and become a beloved community icon that symbolizes the charm and history of the city. The structure's prominence in the community's identity is evident in how it is deeply ingrained in the social and cultural landscape of Marietta. It is commonly used as a navigational landmark, with locals often giving directions based on its location, such as "Hang a left at the BIG CHICKEN". It is also a popular meeting spot and a backdrop for countless photographs.
The Big Chicken has inspired art and music, with a barbershop-style singing group called the Big Chicken Chorus and a Marietta-based band called The Big Chicken Beatles Band. It has also appeared in various forms of media, including a board game, a promotional card in Sim City: The Card Game, and the comic strip Zippy the Pinhead. The structure even has its own gift shop selling souvenirs emblazoned with its image, solidifying its status as an iconic symbol of Marietta.
The Big Chicken's status as a community icon was further cemented in the 1990s when it faced the threat of demolition. In January 1993, storm winds damaged the structure, and KFC initially planned to tear it down. However, the public outcry, including pilots who used the building as a reference point when approaching nearby airports, led to KFC being forced to re-erect the building. The citizens of Marietta's love for The Big Chicken was once again demonstrated in 1989 when KFC secretly offered to move the structure to a new restaurant in neighboring Smyrna. A populist uprising resulted, and the chicken stayed put.
Today, The Big Chicken stands tall as a testament to the resilience and spirit of Marietta. It continues to capture the hearts of locals and visitors alike, serving as a unique and beloved symbol of the community's identity and a source of pride for generations to come.
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The Big Chicken's design and architecture
The Big Chicken is a 56-foot-tall steel structure designed to resemble a chicken. It was originally built in 1963 for a restaurant called Johnny Reb’s Chick-Chuck-‘N’-Shake, which was part of a larger franchise. The owner, Stanley Reginald "Tubby" Davis, opened the restaurant in 1956 and later commissioned the construction of the Big Chicken as a way to advertise his eatery. Davis earned the nickname "Tubby" due to his ability to devour whole buckets (tubs) of chicken.
The Big Chicken was designed by Hubert Puckett, a Georgia Tech student of architecture. It featured a moving beak and rolling eyes, meant to attract the attention of passersby on the busy intersection of Cobb Parkway and Roswell Road. The chicken was rendered as an abstraction, a huge corrugated steel flange painted red, with goggled eyes visible from a mile away. There were additional embellishments, such as a comb that moved as if in a breeze, but the motor for these features caused vibrations that shattered the windows of the restaurant. As a result, the chicken became a motionless giant.
The Big Chicken has become a beloved landmark and a symbol of Marietta's charm and history. It has inspired art and song, with a popular chorus named after it. The structure is commonly used in directions and is said to be a reliable beacon even for aircraft pilots. It has transcended its original purpose as an advertising gimmick and become an integral part of Marietta's social and cultural landscape.
In 2017, the Big Chicken underwent a significant renovation, preserving its classic features while modernizing its facilities. Today, visitors can enjoy a meal under the gaze of the giant chicken, purchase merchandise, and learn about the landmark's history. The Big Chicken is more than just a quirky piece of architecture; it has become a community icon that captures the spirit of this vibrant Georgian city.
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The Big Chicken's brushes with death
The Big Chicken in Marietta, Georgia, has become a beloved landmark and a symbol of the city. The 56-foot-tall steel structure, designed to resemble a chicken with moving parts, was originally built in 1963 for a restaurant called Johnny Reb’s Chick-Chuck-‘N’-Shake. The owner, Stanley Reginald “Tubby” Davis, opened the restaurant in 1956 and later commissioned the construction of the Big Chicken as a way to advertise his eatery.
However, the Big Chicken has had several brushes with death over the years. One such instance occurred when Colonel Sanders, the founder of Kentucky Fried Chicken (KFC), visited the Big Chicken and ordered it to be torn down, believing that KFC should promote him instead of a chicken. Sanders was a formidable opponent, having previously been involved in a deadly gun battle with a competing gas station owner over a sign in the 1930s. Fortunately, the Colonel relented when he learned that the Marietta restaurant was the busiest KFC franchise globally.
Another near-death experience for the chicken happened in 1989 when KFC secretly offered to tear down the structure and move it to a new restaurant in neighboring Smyrna when its old Marietta lease expired. However, the citizens of Marietta got wind of the deal, and a populist uprising resulted in the chicken staying put.
In January 1993, the Big Chicken faced another threat when storm winds damaged the structure. KFC initially intended to tear it down, but public outcry, including complaints from pilots who used the building as a reference point when approaching nearby airports, forced the company to re-erect the building. The new Big Chicken retained the original design of a moving beak and eyes, but this time, the vibrations that plagued the first structure were eliminated.
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The Big Chicken's impact on local culture
The Big Chicken, a 56-foot-tall steel structure in Marietta, Georgia, has become a beloved landmark and a symbol of the city's charm and history. Initially constructed in 1963 as an advertising gimmick for the Johnny Reb's Chick-Chuck-'N'-Shake restaurant, the towering red rooster has transcended its original purpose and become an integral part of Marietta's social and cultural landscape.
One of the most well-recognized landmarks in Marietta, the Big Chicken has an established history of impacting local culture. Its quirky design has inspired art and song, with a popular chorus named after it and a barbershop-style singing group called the Big Chicken Chorus formed in 1986. The structure has also been featured on promotional materials for the city, including a board game produced in 1985 and a promotional card in Sim City: The Card Game. Additionally, there is a Marietta-based band called The Big Chicken Beatles Band, which often performs at town activities.
The Big Chicken has also become a navigational landmark, with locals commonly giving directions based on its location. Phrases like "hang a left at the BIG CHICKEN" or "go past the BIG CHICKEN" have become part of the routine vocabulary in Marietta. It is also a popular meeting spot and a backdrop for countless photographs, further solidifying its place in the community's identity.
The Big Chicken has survived several near-death experiences, including a storm in the 1990s that damaged the structure. Public outcry led to its reconstruction, with pilots who used the building as a reference point when approaching nearby airports among those opposed to its demolition. In 2017, the Big Chicken underwent a significant renovation, preserving its classic features while modernizing its facilities. Today, visitors can enjoy a meal under the giant chicken's gaze, purchase souvenirs, and learn about the landmark's history at the small museum inside.
The Big Chicken has become more than just a quirky piece of architecture; it has captured the hearts of locals and visitors alike and continues to be an iconic symbol of Marietta's unique charm and spirit.
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Frequently asked questions
The Big Chicken is a 56-foot-tall steel structure designed to resemble a chicken. It was originally built in 1963 for a restaurant called Johnny Reb’s Chick-Chuck-‘N’-Shake.
The owner of Johnny Reb’s Chick-Chuck-‘N’-Shake, Stanley Reginald "Tubby" Davis, commissioned the construction of the Big Chicken as a way to advertise his eatery.
Inside the Big Chicken, there is a small history museum, a gift shop selling souvenirs, and a KFC restaurant.
