Frank-N-Stein
Frank-N-Stein was a one of a kind, large fiberglass sculpture similar to Universal Pictures' 1931 version of Frankenstein's Monster. It was located near the intersections of US Highway 12 and US Highway 20 in the Miller Beach and Aetna neighborhoods of Lake County, Indiana. The giant statue was designed by noted Indiana artist Richard Kishel and was displayed from 1967 to 1982.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7]
History
[edit]John Gourdey and Ralph Peterson, two life-long friends whom attended Horace Mann High School together in Gary, Indiana, planned to start a national chain of restaurants selling hotdogs and rootbeer. They chose the name Frank-N-Stein. They contacted Fiber Forms who then commissioned Indiana artist Richard Kishel, an art professor from Muncie, Indiana.
The Universal Pictures version of Frankenstein's monster was chosen as a symbol for the restaurant. A short time after the 20 foot tall fiberglass roadside attraction was installed, Universal Pictures sent the owners a cease and desist notice for copyright infringement. The owners could not agree with royalty fees asked and decided to change the appearance of their statue.
An agreement was reached with Universal Pictures that they needed to remove the neck bolts, forehead scar, green face and hands plus change the black jacket and pants to red and gray, respectively.[8]
Notability
[edit]- The May 30, 1969 issue of Life Magazine prominently featured a photo of Frank-N-Stein. The article accused the statue of being a "Roadside Distraction" along a congested US Highway, an attitude which echoed the 1965 Highway Beautification Act.[9]
- In the October 10, 1976 issue of the Chicago Tribune, Paul Gapp included a photo and nominated the Frank-N-Stein statue as "one of the most gorgeous works of kitsch in the nation."[10]
- In the August 11, 2024 issue of the Chicago Tribune, Paul Eisenberg describes Frank-N-Stein as being "an iconic fiberglass giant that once greeted visitors traveling along U.S. 20 toward northwest Indiana's Duneland beaches."[11]
- Notable Photojournalists whom published pictures of Frank-N-Stein: Declan Haun - Freelance Chicago Illinois 1967 [12] , Ralph (Rudy) Crane-Life Magazine 1969 [13], Roy Hall - Chicago Tribune 1973. [14] and Dave Jordano Fine Arts - Chicago 1975. [15]
Disposition
[edit]Despite the Highway Beautification Act, Frank-N-Stein survived until 1982, when a strong storm hit Lake County, Indiana and toppled the giant statue. A contractor was hired to remove the statue and he placed it as a birthday gag gift at a friend's house in Lakes of the Four Seasons, Indiana.[16] The contractor eventually removed it and took it to his farm near Hebron, Indiana and later burned the remnants in a brush fire in 1982.[17]
In March 2025, a full-sized replica of Frank-N-Stein had begun. The remake is being documented on a public Facebook Group titled 'Frank-N-Stein: Arise from the Ashes'. [18] [19]
See also
[edit]- Roadside attraction
- Muffler men
- Chicken Boy
- Gemini Giant
- Big Tex
- Blue Whale of Catoosa
- The Big Fish (roadside attraction)
References
[edit]- ^ "Frankie1965". The Star Press. 1965-12-19. p. 37. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ "Richard Kishel". The Indianapolis Star. 1977-06-05. p. 203. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ "Frankie". The Indianapolis Star. 1977-06-05. p. 204. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ "Kishel1966a". The Indianapolis Star. 1966-05-01. p. 237. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ "Kishel1966b". The Indianapolis Star. 1966-05-01. p. 238. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ "Kishel1966c". The Indianapolis Star. 1966-05-01. p. 239. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ "Frankie". Muncie Evening Press. 1967-06-20. p. 1. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ Phone Interview with Ralph Peterson original co-owner of the Frank-N-Stein Restaurant 2024 Unpublished via Kevin McCarthy
- ^ LIFE. Time Inc. 1969-05-30. p. 31.
- ^ "Oct 10, 1976, page 141 - Chicago Tribune at Newspapers.com - Newspapers.com". www.newspapers.com. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ Eisenberg, Paul (2024-08-11). "Landmarks: Fiberglass advertising giants having 'a bit of a Renaissance'". www.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ "Joseph Bellows Gallery Featured works of Declan Haun". www.josephbellows.com. Retrieved 2025-07-26.
- ^ LIFE. Time Inc. 1969-05-30. p. 31.
- ^ Eisenberg, Paul (2024-08-11). "Landmarks: Fiberglass advertising giants having 'a bit of a Renaissance'". www.chicagotribune.com. Retrieved 2025-04-28.
- ^ "Gary, Indiana: Frank-N-Stein (Gone)". www.roadsideamerica.com. Retrieved 2025-07-28.
- ^ Pete, Joseph S. (2024-08-08). "42-year-old mystery about fate of Frank-N-Stein solved with plans underway to revive monster 25-foot-tall statue". nwitimes.com. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ A. O. L. Staff (2024-08-11). "Landmarks: Fiberglass advertising giants having 'a bit of a Renaissance'". www.aol.com. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ Pete, Joseph S. (2025-03-28). "Historic roadside Frank-N-Stein monster to be resurrected". nwitimes.com. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
- ^ Distler, Dave (2025-03-05). "Frank-N-Stein: Arise from the Ashes". facebook.com. Retrieved 2025-04-23.
External links
[edit]- "Frank-N-Stein". www.roadsideamerica.com.