Friday, March 02, 2007

Knott's Berry Farm Mannequins

Here's an e-mail sent to me regarding western-themed mannequins that used to be on display at Knott's Berry Farm, playing poker...

I have some of the cowboys and indians that were inside the buildings....peek-ins. I remember them somewhat but not perfectly. I have two and am getting 3 more soon. They were supposedly playing poker but I dont remember exactly which one and where.

Now they don't have the windows to look in. I know a guy who bought 28 of the characters in 1998 after Knotts was sold. it was a private sale and still not sure How he pulled it off. He bought a stagecoach chassis, signs etc.

Do you have any info, pictures, or people that might remember any of characters? They called them "dummys". My email is ftk454@aol.com. That's the best way to contact me. I live here in Long Beach. I hope to hear from you. Thanks.

KIRK

P.S. The guy that wrote the book....the Piano music guy, would he know any info you think? He seems to be well informed and plus he worked there for years. Thanks again.
If you have any information about these mannequins, please click on "Post a Comment" below and tell us about it.

21 comments:

  1. All the original Ghost Town "peek-ins" are still in place -- Mostly with their original dummies. To my knowledge, the only one that's changed is the dummy sitting in the foreground of the barbershop scene, on the east wall. I don't know where your dummies came from. Possibly some of the earlier non-animated characters in the Calico Mine Ride?

    On a related note: I've seen several eBay auctions for dummies recently, which claim to be from Knott's. However, I really can't place their origins within the Berry Farm. They seem to have been made by a guy who did that kind of work in the 1970s. (I forget his name.)

    Any additional info you can provide about your dummies would be interesting and appreciated.

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  2. Hey Chip I know they came from Knotts because of the receipt and as for age I know one has an ID plate on the neck and says 1964.It also calls it "old west mannekins" . I Thought some of the buildings with peek-ins have been removed or closed up.Did you work there ? Mine are all sitting down characters. Thats another reason I think they were from peek-ins sice they usually sat at tables.I have one more to get from the guy that I swear he said his brother told him it was from the dentist chair. The cowboys teeth are all showing in a big grin or made to just show his teeth.Plus Im rusty but forgot indians being in the calico train ride... Any more info Please email me at ftk454@aol.com
    Thanks a bunch.

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  3. When I was a kid, there used to be an old jail in the Ghost Town area behind one of the buildings (in a side alley). And there was a mannequin inside and he would talk to you and say your name, etc. What I didn't know was that there was a man who sat in a window in the front of the building and the parents would go tell them your name and thats how the guy knew your name. When we were kids, we couldn't figure it out. I wonder if that is still there. Sorry, this is a tad off topic from your mannequin topic, but it made me think of that scene.

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  4. I remember the old Jail and the guy talking. When I was older I caught the guy talking into a microphone but it was in a building in front of the jail or right there somewhere.I watched a couple of kids just wonder how this jailed guy knew what they were wearing.Do you remember the peek-ins with the old cowboys and indians?

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  5. I posted this on the main Knotts Berry Farm memories thread on this site, but I'll also add it here.

    My wife pruchased a unique Father's Day gift for me this year..it's a mannequin from Knott's Berry Farms that she bought from an antique type store.

    The mannequin was advertised as being a likeness of Ronald Reagan that was part of an exhibit at 'the original Knotts Berry Farms'.

    The mannequin has some likeness to Reagan but you really have to go back to the Death Valley Days Mule Team days (Reagan used to host the show for it's sponsor, Borax) to pick up the likeness.

    The mannequin looks as if it might have been part of a saloon scene or, perhaps, he was perched up on a chuck wagon -- it's definitely came from an in-doors exhibit.

    If anyone has information (or a photo!) of such a mannequin in a Knott's Berry Farm exhibit in the past, I'd appreciate hearing about or seeing the photo.

    The 'Reagan' mannequinis currently stationed at the bar in my den with a whiskey bottle in one hand and a shot glass in the other.

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  6. This is in response to the Ronald Reagan Likeness. I do not remember any or hearing of any Reagan Mannequin. It doesnt mean its not possible but I dont recall. I will see what I can find out. Please email me at ftk454@aol.com ,I put that email in one of the earlier post. I would like to talk with you more on that and etc. Thanks.
    KIRK

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  7. Hey Chris, I was curious if you ever worked at Knotts and do you have any or access to any photos of any of the mannequins(dummies)? I am amazed at how hard it is to find any pictures of the them. I have wondered where some of the dummies came from. Im still rusty on who was where and where most of the indians were located. My mannequins are the ones made in 1953.If anyone has any info or pictures on the old cowboy and indian mannequins please let me know.Im considering selling a couple from my collection to a Old Ghost Town here in California. They would look great playing poker just like they did way back when.I might sell acouple more as well. My email is ftk454@aol.com

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  8. mannequins you may be referring to could be the ones that sat at a very long table and it appeared that they were eating dinner. That I know is no longer in the park.

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  9. I remember the peek-ins. I also remember seeing post cards sold in the shops, some of which had a photograph of the card player dummies. Just a thought.
    PS.
    Remember the out-house, and the guy with the mirror?

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  10. I worked at Knott's for years and one with the family eating dinner was right next to the candy store in old town, it was of a family eating dinner, with the girls wearing bonnets and eating turkey, I saw it alot as it was right next to the break room. All the dummies are still in the peek ins in old town. These types of dummies were also used alot in old pipe stores else where, so they could be from there too and they were made by west Mannekins. I even see them at antique swapmeets for sale. But none at Knotts is missing. They are the same old ones that have been there forever.

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  11. My mannequins were not the ones made by West mannekins. They had the metal tag saying Knott's Berry Farm Mannekins and the date 1955 05 58(I somehow forgot).I Sold 4 to a Ghost town up in Bodfish California(Lake Isabella)and they are now in a old saloon. Pretty neat place.I gave them a great home. I sold 4 other ones privately. I had the best ones you had ever seen.Absolute mint.But I cant place them in a particular place in Knott's but yet they were acquired from there so the mystery is still there. Any info email me at ftk454@aol.com Thanks for keeping the memories alive.

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  12. Anyone out there have any of the old mannequins from Knott's Berry Farm? Wondering how many are out there. Pretty cool piece of history !

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  13. We just bought an Indian Mannequin
    that was supposed to have been modeled after a real person in 1953 by Nelson Studios. The person who
    sold it also has the stage couch and
    many other items.
    What I' m interested in is any
    photos from that time period

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  14. I just bought a mannequin that is
    supposed to been made by the Nelson
    Studios in 1953. It's an Indian figure and the person that sold it
    has the stage couch and other items.
    I would be interested in seeing any
    old photos of the Indians, or any
    information that's available.

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  15. I too purchased an indian (and a cowboy). A closer look shows the eyebrows on the indian have been air brushed, probably not what they did in 1953, or even the 60's but could have been retouched in 80's or 90's at the park or a previous owner and still be authentic. Same goes for the epoxy glue over the nailhead on the neck.It does make me suspicious though. Either way its a great conversation piece and a work of art.

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  16. I currently work at Knott's, and I can tell you that many of the peek-ins are still there. There's one behind the candy store in Ghost Town, A row of them across from the Ghost Rider's entrance, a Post Office Peek-in across from the double doors of the Craft Barn, and a few more, including 2 men in small rooms near the graveyard and one right next to the Birdcage Theater, where people take pictures inside a coffin.

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  17. Anyone interested in cowboy and Indian manikins should check out westernmanikins.com.

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  18. I don't mean to rile anyone, but I grew up three blocks from Knott's, across from Cresent Junior High School (now a union hall), on Lemon Circle. I went to Knott's two or three times a week - no entry fee. One exhibit showed a mannequin husband who was about to beat his wife with a whip, the mannequin wife was tied by her hair to the headboard, and her feet tied, her hands up to defend the blows. I was horrified as a kid to see this. Does anyone remember how and when this was dismantled?

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  19. western mankins...mannequins are junk plaster,will fall apart in a month.i got them on ebay.the man is in texas...beware buyers..jay robinson ceder city,ut.

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  20. i bought some manniquins and this guy named HANK DOMINICK said he was the guy who made all the manniquins for ,knotts berry farm and started making them in the late 40s

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  21. IF ANYONE IS INTERESTED IN PURCHASING A MANNIQUIN FROM KNOTTS 1953 CONTACT lafevers60@yahoo.com for more info

    ReplyDelete

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