The Big Chicken seen from the road

Johnny Reb's was a restaurant in Marietta, GA on highway US41 that decided to stand out from the other places in town, by erecting a 56 foot tall sheet metal chicken in 1956. The top of the chicken is mechanical as the beak opens and closes while the eye spins in circles. A few years after it was built, the restaurant was sold and became a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise. Over time, the structure started to fall into disrepair and a tornado damaged it in 1993. There was talk that it might be torn down, or moved to a business in Smyrna, GA. However, the townsfolk rallied to save the local landmark. Today, the chicken and the KFC franchise still thrive, and you can even purchase a couple of souvenirs inside.

The Colonel's Mandolin Band LP

Favorite Old Church Hymns recorded by The Colonel's Mandolin Band for the glorification of Christ.

This vintage record album was seen at the mini-museum inside of the first KFC, otherwise known as Sanders Cafe, in Corbin, KY. Personally, I prefer the beauty of the human voice, but I bet I would find this album quite interesting. More than anything, just seeing this reminds me how the times have changed. Today, is there any well-known fast food chain other than Chik-Fil-A that would attempt such a recording?

Claudia Sanders Dinner House neon sign - Shelbyville, KY

Did you know that Claudia Sanders, the wife of Kentucky Fried Chicken founder Col. Harland Sanders, also ran a restaurant? Now, before you go and assume that there was some family battle or oneupmanship going on, The Colonel actually had his offices here in the earliest days of KFC. At the time, they lived in the home next door. The actual restaurant burned down in 1999 and was rebuilt a year later but I'm going to assume the neon sign is vintage. The restaurant and the sign are located on US60 in Shelbyville, KY.

The Colonel's Weather Vane

Perhaps I should have titled this "You're So Vain You've Made Yourself into a Vane"

This is one of the many wonderful things on display inside of the first Kentucky Fried Chicken museum and Restaurant in Corbin, KY.

KFC signs: Old and New - Corbin, KY

KFC started as Harlan Sanders Cafe in Corbin, Ky. He owned a motel and a restaurant along highway US25. When the interstate was built, fewer people drove past the place, and it almost went out of business until he passed the fried chicken recipe to a franchise. Now, the 11 herbs and spices are eaten everywhere.

In the foreground is the original Sanders Cafe sign which sticks out of the entrance. In the background is the really tall 1980's bucket sign that you can see from the interstate. Of course, these days the powers that be market the fast food chain in most places as KFC and not Kentucky Fried Chicken.

The Big Chicken - Marietta, GA

Johnny Reb's was a restaurant in Marietta, GA on highway US41 that decided to stand out from the other places in town, by erecting a 56 foot tall sheet metal chicken in 1956. The top of the chicken is mechanical as the beak opens and closes while the eye spins in circles. A few years after it was built, the restaurant was sold and became a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.

Over time, the structure started to fall into disrepair and a tornado damaged it in 1993. There was talk that it might be torn down, or moved to a business in Smyrna, GA. However, the townsfolk rallied to save the local landmark. Today, the chicken and the KFC franchise still thrive, and you can even purchase a couple of souvenirs inside.

The Big Chicken - Marietta, GA

Johnny Reb's was a restaurant in Marietta, GA on highway US41 that decided to stand out from the other places in town, by erecting a 56 foot tall sheet metal chicken in 1956. The top of the chicken is mechanical as the beak opens and closes while the eye spins in circles. A few years after it was built, the restaurant was sold and became a Kentucky Fried Chicken franchise.

Over time, the structure started to fall into disrepair and a tornado damaged it in 1993. There was talk that it might be torn down, or moved to a business in Smyrna, GA. However, the townsfolk rallied to save the local landmark. Today, the chicken and the KFC franchise still thrive, and you can even purchase a couple of souvenirs inside.

A Room at Sanders Court

Col. Sanders not only started KFC, but he also had a hotel on Highway 25W. When the Restaurant Chain took off, and the hotel closed down, a sample room was recreated inside the KFC first restaurant in Corbin, KY

More of my thoughts here:
brentkmoore.blogspot.com/2008/02/col-sanders-for-senator....

The Original KFC

Known at the time as Harland Sanders Cafe, is located along an old stretch of Highway, US 25W in Corbin, Ky. The inside has a statue and a bust of Col. Sanders, a replica room from the Sanders Motel that used to be next door, the original kitchen on display, and you can order the same KFC food you can get at any other KFC.