The Big Chicken T-Shirt

Part of my Atlanta Icons series, the Big chicken is a fixture in Marietta, one of Atlanta’s nearer suburbs. The Big Chicken was originally built in 1963 to advertise what was then Johnny Reb’s Chick, Chuck and Shake restaurant. In 1974 it became part of the KFC chain. When there were threats to move the chicken to Smyrna in later years, there was a public uproar and the Big Chick stayed. In Marietta, everyone gives directions based on proximity to the Big Chicken, i.e. turn left at the Big Chicken, or a mile north of the Big Chicken, etc. The Big Chicken definitely qualifies as an icon of the fabric that is Marietta and Metro Atlanta.