The Big Chicken Marietta, Georgia

Johnny Reb's was a Marietta (Marietta city history) greasy spoon with a challenge. Owner Tubby Davis was facing increasing competition and he needed a means of attracting customers to his establishment. "Reb" burgers at 15 cents a shot were no longer unique, but his fried chicken might just do the trick.

He turned to Georgia Tech ('57) graduate Hubert Puckett to design and build the sheet metal structure that rose 56 feet above the ground. Puckett was employed by a division of Atlanta Steel, a structural design and building firm. The eyes were designed to rotate and the beak would open and close. A ruffle on the top of the Big Chicken's head would move from side-to-side in the wind.

In 1966 S.R. Davis sold the restaurant to this brother A.T. Davis who owned one of the early Kentucky Fried Chicken franchises.

In 1974 Kentucky Fried Chicken (K.F.C.) leased the restaurant which was one of the highest dollar volume K.F.C. operations until the construction of I-75 parallel to U.S. 41 relocated the traffic through the area.

Over the years the structure created at the corner of Highway 120 and U. S. 41 gained a certain renown with local folks who used the chicken as a landmark for directions. "In the shadow of the Big Chicken" or "first light south of the Big Chicken" are still common phrases used on television and radio to describe a location in Marietta. In fact, Marietta Square is just six blocks west of the Big Chicken.

Time and the elements took its toll on the last remnant of Tubby's fast food restaurant. First the mechanical beak and eyes were shut off because of malfunctions. The rumbling of the animation machinery broke several windows in the restaurant, causing thousands of dollars in damage. And the structure needed a good paint job. The riveting, holding the sheet metal to the steel skeleton, was in constant need of repair. Pigeons and other birds had made nests inside the superstructure, and their droppings were rotting and weakening the metal.

Finally, in 1993, the end of the Big Chicken was near. After a period of neglect and damage from an unnamed stormed, the roadside landmark had seen better days and the cost of repair would be too great. When plans of the Chicken's demise were leaked to the public, an unexpected outcry of support was kindled. Thousands of support letters were delivered to the restaurant from from all over the world. The owners of the KFC franchise were forced to rethink their options.

KFC held a contest to get the public's feedback on a design for the new Big Chicken. Should the original design be restored, or should a new, feminine version (complete with blinking eyelashes) be developed instead. After publishing both artist renderings in the newspaper, and receiving votes for a while, KFC was not surprised to find that the public overwhelmingly wanted the original design of the Chicken restored to its former glory.

KFC and Pepsico turned again to Atlantic Steel (now part of Timken Corp.) to help with the repair. The entire restaurant was demolished and rebuilt to be one of KFC's most famous restaurants. Although Mr. Puckett no longer worked with the firm, Atlantic Steel was more than happy to help reconstruct the now famous landmark. Technological advancements made it easier to create the movement in the beak and eyes.

A large press briefing was held prior to closing the restaurant. And an even larger press event was held for the rededication and opening of the new KFC, with several local diginitaries and politicians. Commemorative T-shirts and free food were distributed compliments of KFC. And the Big Chicken Chorus performed for both the closing and grand re-opening of the restaurant.

The Big Chicken is located on US 41, at Roswell Street, in Marietta.