pepsi – Larry Johnston, Nostalgic Artist

Billy Goat Tavern,

Chicago, IL.

I have participated in a number of Art Festivals in the Chicago area over the years, including Wells Street’s, Old Town Art Festival. Some of the painting I have done for the area, were: The Chicago Theatre; Superdawg; Wrigley Field; Hot Diggity Dog, but one of my favorites is The Billy Goat Tavern.

The Billy Goat Tavern was established in 1934 and was located across from the Chicago Stadium. . The goat wandered into his establishment. In 1964, Billy Goat moved his business to its present location.

The Curse of the Cubs – The Chicago White Stockings, became the Cubs in 1903. From 1876 to 1945, they had one of the best teams in the Country. On October 6, 1945 the Chicago Cubs entered game 4 of the World Series and to bring luck to the team, he brought his goat “Murphy”! Since they did not allow animals in the stadium, they refused entrance.

Billy went to the owner, but was still refused entrance with the goat. Being upset, he declared that the Cubs would no longer win a World Series, as long as the goat was refused entrance to Wrigley Field. They lost the series that year and has not won a World Series since.

Saturday Night Live made the Billy Goat Tavern famous! SNL highlighted the tavern, with Bill Murray, John Belushi, Dan Aykroyd and Loraine Newman. A sign outside the tavern quotes those famous lines: Cheezborger! Cheezborger! Cheezborger! “No-Pepsi – Coke”.

around the sides of the wood.

24″ X 36″ original painting on stretched canvas not available.

“Hot Diggity Dogs”

Chicago, Illinois

When you go to Chicago, everybody knows where North Michigan Street is located. Next to the Chicago River is the Wrigley Building, a Chicago landmark in itself, but across the street to the north and one level down stood a landmark of its own. Hot Diggity Dogs was a small building that sat in the midst of a huge parking area at 251 E. Ohio Street near the corner of Ohio St and Fairbanks. I am not sure when the business opened, but they had one of the best Chicago Hot Dogs around.

While exhibiting at a show across from the Wrigley Building at street level, I went down to the small building and took photos of it, front and back. Later I was at Navy Pier, just a short walk away and found the old Pepsi truck, where I couldn’t help but take photos of it. I used the back of the building as a subject and added the Pepsi truck.

“Hot Diggity Dogs” has since been torn down, but I heard that on the last day it was open, they had a line of people several blocks long waiting to be served their last famous hot dog.

Rumor has it, they since opened at a different location..