Zippy's Pal Bites The Dust

April 2, 2001 7:53 AM

Zippy's Pal Bites The Dust Anyone who reads Bill Griffith's Zippy the Pinhead comic strip will instantly recognize the Doggie Diner statue, which was toppled over by high winds on Sunday. Many SF folks love the statue as a kitsch cult icon even without the Zippy association, but I only knew of it through the strip.
posted by briank (7 comments total)

If you go cruise around on the residential/industrial back-roads in Emeryville (across the bay from San Francisco), you can find a house that has at least four of those dog heads. Two are up on the roof and more are on the lawn. The first time I stumbled across it, it was quite the surprise.

As for the famous one, I was always amazed they allowed it to remain without replacing the pole. That things was so incredibly rusted.

Now some idiots will insist that it be repaired and put back up there. Yes, it may be a remnant of the past, but let's just move on.
posted by obfusciatrist at 11:22 AM on April 2, 2001

No, let's NOT move on and put the Doggy back up! Or should we just throw away everything that starts to fall down?

RIP lil doggie.
posted by schlomo at 11:32 AM on April 2, 2001

if anyone really wants to see the heads, they are here. it is the 6300 block of Vallejo Street in emeryville. as of ½ an hour ago, there are 3 heads. although there used to be at least one on the roof, they have been removed from the roof and are on a flatbed trailer in front of the home.
posted by donkeysuck at 2:42 PM on April 2, 2001

why, oh why must it always be so difficult?? not sure why my link is not functioning properly, perhaps it is operator error on my behalf. the link works with a little persistence. feel free to abuse me.
posted by donkeysuck at 2:53 PM on April 2, 2001

Never fear, it's not your fault. Blame Cana- er, Geocities.
posted by Aaaugh! at 5:44 PM on April 2, 2001

donkey - according to the article, the owner of the three heads (three rocks?) in Emryville had marched them in the St. Stupid's Day parade. Probably why they were on the trailer.
posted by GersonK at 10:40 PM on April 2, 2001

No, let's NOT move on and put the Doggy back up! Or should we just throw away everything that starts to fall down?

No, we shouldn't just throw everything away. But then, neither is everything that is ever put up deserving of eternal reverence. I don't have a problem with it being put back up, necessarily, just with people demainding that it be put back up (likely at city expense).
posted by obfusciatrist at 1:01 PM on April 3, 2001