June 23, 2009
He’ll always just be “Flint Man” to me.
He stands bravely outside the derelict Dort Mall, Flint, Michigan’s first indoor mall, doubtful his original home. I found this guy while doing some research in Flint last December, and I’ve wanted to share him with the flock ever since. Frankly, like the rest of Flint, he scared me a little, but after some research I’ve changed my view. Dilaudid eyes belie his splendid past: Happy Half-wit Muffler Man. I dig his tony hat and tropical shirt.
He was moved to Detroit for the filming of Will Ferrell’s Semi-Pro, then returned to this tiny fenced lot in front of the Dort Mall. I wonder if anyone asked him if he’d prefer to stay in Detroit or return to Flint?
Read the Secret Plot of the Muffler Men.
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It’s the fence that’s creepy.
Thank you?
Sadly, he symbolizes everything I observed in Flint, Michigan. Driving the neighborhoods up there was surreal. When I took these pictures, there were only two other cars in the lot, idling in that “let’s-get-our-transaction-completed-quickly-before-the-authorities-arrive” sort of way.
…soooooo Howdy Doody.
Howdy Doody in a cage that’s too small for him, beside a dwarfed and unloved tree.
Alfred E. Neuman meets John Lurie meets Jimmy Buffett. In Flint.
What is the symbolism of his hand jive?
Picture him holding a muffler. If you can. The kind that goes on a car, not around the neck.
Picture him holding Cindy’s nessie. If you can.
Kathy, how about I swing by and pick you up on my way to Flint?
I mean, it’s not vandalism if you don’t actually deface the object, is it? What I am thinking of falls more into the category of embellishment.
The photo of the move to Detroit melts my heart.
“If only I could be a real boy . . . “
Hey Sheil~~ MGS and I just returned from a lovely Brazilian Churrascaria where we celebrated our 20th wedding anniversary. I can think of nothing better to memorialize our nuptials all those many years ago than stealing away to Flint to liberate Flint Man from his unfortunate attire. I say first we remove the palm trees from his shirt and next we fix that weird pupil thing going on in his eyes that make him look so stoned. For me, it will be just like my wedding night. What say you?
Will this be like one of those fiberglass Big Boy kidnapping capers?
Hey…. this guy used to stand outside a dime store here in Kansas City called Daddy’s Money. He was there since I could remember… I think my first recollection of him was from around 1980 or so. He was taken down maybe 5 or 6 years ago. Either he was then moved to Detroit, or there’s a family of these fellas out there somewhere.
I know where Daddy’s Money is, Lynn.The neighborhood used to be our ‘hood. It’s a pawn shop now. On Westport Road. And yes, this guy used to stand there. I thought he looked familiar.
Lynn, from what I found, the guy who owns my Flint Man has a collection that includes a Rotosphere. Who knows? Maybe Flint Man hails from Daddy’s Money in Kansas City!
Rick and Lynn~ here’s a report of a Half-wit Muffler Man reported missing from the intersection of 43rd St. and State Line Road in Kansas City Ks. (Wyandotte County). This our guy?
Holy Sweet Potato, Kathy! There’s a (non-functioning) Rotosphere just a little way down Troost from my– the greensman –office.
Holy Sweet Potato, Kathy! He is, indeed, our man!
KHS and MGS, Happy anniversary, y’all!
holy crap – is that the doofus who’s shadow loomed over me while I ate shrimp and steak at the twin city tavern?
no wonder i went through so much absolute at that place…
Danny and I lived in Troy, MI, (at Sixteen Mile, I can’t remember the North-South corner. We lived across the street, to the South of The Somerset Collection), 1994, a little over a year. We drove through Flint, once. I don’t remember seeing our man. Maybe he wasn’t there yet?
There’s a storm a-brewing here in KC. ‘Scuse me y’all, I’ve got to go in.
Thanks Rick! 28 years, and fully 20 of them sanctioned by the State.
Ah yes.. the Twin City Tavern. My mother was a barfly there for a couple of years before she married Mr. Wonderful and started making her own vodka at home. And my oh my, is there a great KC contingency here or what? Where on Troost? I work at 48th and Troost!
72nd. Just south of Soil Service. Sounds like we might have to cook up a local flockstock. If they can do it in New York, we could do it here.
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