News and views from the Dutch Uncle of dreamland.
These sarcophagus-sized pissoirs are just two of the many alluring aspects of Centralia's beautifully-preserved Olympic Club Hotel and Theater Brewery. The porcelain on these receptacles comes nearly up to to man's shoulders, imparting a certain sense of unwanted security. So enchanting are they that Thomas Churchill gave 'em a shout-out in his book Centralia Death March.
posted by Jim Woodring at 10:57 AM
I was born in the foothills of the San Gabriel Mountains in Southern California and enjoyed an exciting childhood full of poetry and paroniria among the snakes, rats and tarantulas of that enchanted realm. I eventually grew into an inquisitive bearlike man who has had three exciting careers; garbage collector, merry-go-round-operator and cartoonist. Some of my work is collected in THE BOOK OF JIM, THE FRANK BOOK and SEEING THINGS (all published by Fantagraphics) and in various toys, fabrics, prints and urban legends. Thank you for your interest.
10 Comments:
Looks like it would provide one a sense of accomplishment.....
That has to be a McMinamin's Brothers property, right?
The McMinamins' "Imbrie Roadhouse" has a couple of urinials with what might be described as pipe art above it. The water pipes rise from the top of the fixtures into this bizarre maze of valves, meters, and fittings.
It looks like a place where Norse Gods relieve themselves. "Götterdämmerung Loki, now my weasel is truly drained!"
Right you are, Stefan, this is a McMinamins joint. The pipes are majestic but no more complicated than necessary.
Götterdämmerung Woodring, great reporting and thanks for the laugh!
It's been a few years now, but last I was at the Oregon Hotel in McMinville, another McMinamins establishment, they had one urinal like these with a modern standard size floor length urinal next to it. It was quite a sight.
Guess which one I peed in.
SO GLAD TO SEE SOMEONE ELSE HAS NOTICED THESE! I stopped in there some years ago, right after mcmenamins acquired the place and it was unchanged from original. I was ASTOUNDED by the size and figured Paul Bunyan musta drank there! Did you know they found a Harley Servicar in the basement? Evidently there was a tunnel running from the basement to the other side of the tracks put in during prohibition...great sandwiches too!
If you're ever in Portland, look up old uncle 'cartoonmonkey', and I'll take you out for a beer at the horrifying Matador on West Burnside St.
It's urinal is on par with this one, perhaps the same era, with a huge gaping crack through the center. It stands in my memory like a monolith.
I could take a nap in one of those.
Well, there's a muscular receptacle fit for a hearty slash! Makes you want to go out and drink thirty pints of hoegaarden just to feel the fresh spray of the backsplash on your face! Ahhh!
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