You Will Find a Special Tribute Display in Building A for Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.
This Display will Have the Trike called MAILBOX he built during his Career and Some Memorabilia on hand to enjoy.
The Trike is on loan from TEDD CYCLE INC. and the memorabillia display is courtesy of Kevin Argus
Ed became Ed "Big Daddy" Roth, a hot-roddin' gear head, mad
scientist and struggling artist who financed his inventions by selling drawings and t-shirts at drag events, fairs and car
shows. Ed would draw cartoons of monsters that he created and pictures of cars. But when he personally airbrushed
t-shirts with the monsters driving the cars, people went crazy and would line up at his booth.
Ed's
most popular monster was Rat Fink. Rat Fink started as a drawing that Ed had put on his refrigerator. "BiG Daddy"
was a genius at designing cars but it was Rat Fink that brought him fame. By 1963, teenagers across America were buying
Rat Fink model kits and mass-produced Rat Fink T-shirts.
When Ed got so busy that his garage couldn't handle the work,
he moved his operation into a new larger shop in Maywood, California. Ed had to hire several employees to help him build
and produce more custom car and t-shirts. Revell American produced model car kits that featured the "Beatnik Bandit"
and " Road Agent". Other model kits included "Rat Fink" and the gang a group of hot rodding monsters
Ed Roth's artwork can be found throughout the late 80's and
mid 90's in underground comics produced by Roth and Sloane. You can also find Roth's artwork in tattoo parlors and in
art galleries. Yes, many of us consider Roth's work fine art. You can also find Roth's creations on concert posters
by other American cult artist Frank Kozik and Coop.
We lost our big guy on April, 4th 2001 the doctors said it was a
heart attack. Ed Roth's genius has created a timeless monster.
Rat Fink and the Gang will still reach the diverse demographic appeal of the young adults of today and us baby boomers of
the fifties. Rat Fink and the gang will continue into the new millennium capturing a new group of Finks young and old
for decades to come.
