Pobs Big Boy

About me:

Hi, my name is Pablo Ramos and I'm the unofficial Bob's Big Boy mascot. In 2006 I took a co-work to the Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, Ca. for lunch after taking him to the hospital for stitches and we chatted about the upcoming Halloween costume contest at our company. The Company I work has it's annual Halloween costume contest which 1st place prize is $500, 2nd place takes $200 and 3rd $125. and in all the 4 years I been at the company I never particapted. Everyone at the company is so talented and extreamely creative in their costume creations, especially this one co-worker who loves dressing up as the JOKER. Well, after thinking of what to be for Halloween I came up with nothing but, in 2006 I wanted in. It's was on the day that I took my friend Nakama Jr. to Bob's Big Boy over on Riverside in Burbank, Ca. for lunch after his accident and he said to me "why not be Bob's Big Boy, it's an easy outfit to re-create." I saw that tall colorful statue of Big Boy in his red and white checkered overall and white T-shirt with blue rings around his arms and neck and blue shoes, sure why not! I thought. A week later I brought my wife over to Bob's for lunch and told her about the idea and she thought it was an excellent idea. We bought two pairs of white overalls from Dickies, some fabric paint, a few white plain t-shirts and off to the races we went. I created a stencile checker pattern and penciled in the squares onto the overalls. Two weeks later my wife had two Bob's Big Boy(his and her)overalls. I let my hair grow out long especially the bangs so when I greased, geled and hairsprayed it so I could get that wavey pompedor look to one side, I think this is the key element for the Bob's Big Boy look. Oh yeah lots of practice with that trademark smile, that's important too. For the blue shoes I had an old pair of Doc Martin blue suede shoes. For the T-shirt logo, I typed up "BIG BOY" on quarkexpress program I had it transfered on the T-shirt by a printing company(Copymat)and made sure it was close to the T-shirt collar line. For my burger prop, my wife had cut out a styrofoam about four inches in diameter and about an inch and half thick. We painted it to look like a burger patty with cheese and lettuce and we used a sesame seed beagle for buns and for a final touch and small white plate. I've seen some other Big Boy look-a-likes and their double decker burger is just to outragousely huge that it kills the look, I think. Others may feel that it needs to be overwhelmingly big, that's going to have to be you're call if you decided to try this... Whatever works for you I guess. As you can see in the picture below this was the finished look for me and for the contest that year being my first time particapating in the contest, I came in 3rd place. Some folks said I beat out The Joker from Gotham Public Works by a hair. That was amazing I thought even though personally, Don's representation as the Joker should have won. He and his group Gothom Public Works are winners in my book and I'm greatful for Donald's (aka The Joker) advice on what to expect going in costume to the San Diego Comic-Con or another comic/pop culture convention. In July of 2007 I took the costume on the road to the San Diego Comic-Con in which it was well received by the Comic-Con attendents of all ages and I had somewhat of an idea that Bob's Big Boy is a well respected icon but, I was not prepared for the overwhelming attention I got by this costume... WOW!!! It's amazing and it was tons of fun! Walking around the convention in costume and answering questions about the Costume was cool. Also listening to peoples stories about how they stoled the statue as part of a dare or a prank back in their college days was repeated by not one but, more that 20 people. My wife got to answer some questions about the making of the costume and how long it took her to make it, she too had a good time and was pleasently surprised! Yes, I'm hooked! It's a good feeling wearing something people of all ages will appreciate. I believe I was the only one wearing a Bob's Big Boy costume but, I'm sure and I hope; I inspired others to create something similar if not a better looking Bob's Big Boy costume. Will I be in costume for Comic-Con 2008? I sure will. I might even take it to the San Fransico Wonder-Con, OH BOY! If you wish to vist Bob's Big Boy in Burbank, California inwhich the insperation for the costume came from, please visit: http://www.bobs.net/ 2007 COMPANY HALLOWEEN CONTEST. I TEAMED UP WITH LUIS TO BE SUPER MARIO AND LUIGI! WE CAME IN SECOND PLACE. CHECK OUT THE PICS I HAVE UP OF ALL THE CONTESTANTS THAT ENTERED. In October, 2008 the Halloween company contest where I work held it's annual costume contest with 35 contestents all looking great and holding no punches back. Again I had to put my "A" game on and try to outdo my last year's costume and once again I recruted my buddy Luis Ramirez to be part of it. I decided to try and tackle the Cheech and Chong look from their movie "Up In Smoke." It was not easy for me but, I think Luis fit the bill just right as Tommy Chong. I knew just looks alone would not make it and we needed a prop... Or two. Since the contest was held at a place of business using a giant joint might not go to well with some folks so I had to get creative. I had rented Up In Smoke to get some ideas and I found one! The scene in which Chong is looking around the house for something to smoke and find a living roach and crushes it with a fist and then packes it in a large pipe and tokes away. I had my idea, a GIANT COCKAROACH! I built one out of fake leather, took about 11 hours to make, since I had no idea what I was doing and winging it as I went along sewing it together. After the giant roach was done I felt it need something else to make either creepy or really funny. Then I remembered one year a co-worker had created a scary pumpkin using sounds coming out of it. He had placed a ipod inside of it and looped the sound. So I went out and bought myself a hand sized iPod speaker and stuck it inside the Roach playing nothing but Cheech and Chong tracks and some "La Cucaracha" songs to. The one song that got everyone into it was Low Rider by War. That is one of Cheech and Chongs trade mark tunes. So by the end of the day Luis and I to the room where all the winners were announced and the first place prize was awarded to us... PHEW! I was in a bit of a shock really but I was very happy we won. The other two winners were really good and they did I can imagine put a lot of hard work and effort into their costumes but, it's people like them that puch you harder to get extra creative. This is Hollywood man!