Lawn flamingos, once common, now face extinction

[TechBear_Seattle]

Pink plastic flamingo faces extinction

But the original version of the plastic flamingo may be singing its swan song after inspiring countless pranks — and being alternately celebrated as a tribute to one of nature's most graceful creatures and derided as the epitome of American pop culture kitsch.

Union Products Inc. stopped producing flamingos and other lawn ornaments at its Leominster factory in June, and is going out of business Nov. 1 — a victim of rising expenses for plastic resin and electricity, as well financing problems.

The small privately held firm has been in talks with a pair of rival lawn ornament makers interested in buying the molds and resuming production of the flamingos, designed in 1957 by local son Don Featherstone.

"We think the flamingo will go on," Keith Marshall, Union Products' chief financial officer, said at the company's aging brick factory, where just a few years ago more than 100 employees churned out flamingos by the millions.

The full, sad story can be found at http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20061029/ap_on_bi_ge/flamingo_s_swan_song

[phantom power]

1. That is flip and unserious and naughty.

:rofl:

[TechBear_Seattle]

2. I figured we could all use a laugh break.

Next up: a documentary on how the craze for buffalo wings has condemned the once great wild herds of winged buffalo to a flightless existence.

:hi:

[eppur_se_muova]

12. Think of all those poor chickens walking around without their nuggets. nt

:evilgrin:

[joneschick]

3. say it ain't so!

[TechBear_Seattle]

4. Would that picture be from U. Wisconsin / Madison?

I read a book many years ago titled, "If At All Possible, Include A Cow." It was a history of the college prank. One of the items took place at UW/Madison and involved placing 500 pink flamingos on the lawn in front of the main administration building on the first day of classes. The birds were gone by noon, but made appearances at dorm parties and fraternity houses for years afterwards.

Added: The title of the book was: "If At All Possible Involve a Cow." Give it a read; it is really, really funny.

[joneschick]

5. You win. one of the flamingoes is around the house here somewhere

my husband was a grad student at the time. It was harder finding that pic than I expected. :shrug:

[htuttle]

9. Yup, that's my Mad City

I just keep hoping that one day, the Statue of Liberty will emerge from the ice of Lake Mendota again...

[TechBear_Seattle]

10. That one was in the book, too!

Along with the prankster responsible, who got himself elected student body president-for-life, and spent a big chunk of the student activity money so that students could have toys to play with while they stood in line to register. My kind of guy! :rofl:

[htuttle]

11. The old Pail and Shovel Party

I sure miss them.

http://www.stubaker.com/madison/pailandshovel/

[phantom power]

6. ooo,delete me

[phantom power]

7. Holy shit, it's the lost pink lawn flamingo burial ground!

That's like finding the southern migration destination of the monarch butterfly!

[zbdent]

8. So that would explain all the black armbands in

Parma Ohio ...

edited to add:

Now, if the place that manufactures the silver bowling balls on pedestels went out of business ... there'd be mass suicides ...

;)

[NNadir]

13. This is a surprise since their habitat is increasing.

In many places one can find woodlands and farms being replaced by lawns. One would think they would expand to fill this niche.