Hot Dog War and Measuring Up

Few will remember the great Hot Dog Size War of the late 1930′s early 1940’s but it was a big deal at the time. California Hot Dog restaurants raced to see who could offer the largest Hot Dog to eager customers. The Hot Dog war lasted only a few years and was a fun time for all. In the end Boner Billy’s Famous Hot Dogs and their signature, “Big Boner Hot Dog” won out with a 13 inch monster for its time.

This very rare billboard promoting the “Measuring Up” campaign with a pretty girl holding a measuring ruler launched around 1939. The photo taking years later is of a billboard beaten up by time, 113 temperatures and sun belched. We believe the photo was taken around 1946 as by 1947 the billboard was blown down in a desert wind storm.

Thanks so much to Clark Richardson who found this photo in an old family album and shared it with us.

Check out more Boner Billy vintage signage: Boner Billy’s Famous Hot Dogs

Boner Billy's Billboard Summer of 67

I cannot remember where and sadly Dad is gone now to tell me. I do know it was in California on the way to Shasta Lake, summer trip 1967. I was too young to get what was so funny but remember Dad laughing and turning the car around and going back to take this picture. We then ran into Boner Billy’s Famous Hot Dogs and stopped for lunch. It was the best hot dog to date and lived up to its name as I could not finish it. Dad got a shirt and hat and had them for years and whenever he had it on sure got a lot of great laughs.  

Oh the good old days,

Mike Porter

Thanks Mike for pulling this from the old family photo album and sharing it with us.