06/03/2007 (through) BIG DADDY ROTH AT THE PETERSEN
This article is from our archives and has not been updated and integrated with our "new" site yet... Even so, it's still awesome - so keep reading!
Published on Mon, May 28, 2007
By: The LACar Editorial Staff
Ed "Big Daddy" Roth: The Original Rat Fink explores the life, times, and
creations of designer, entrepreneur, and car fabricator Ed "Big Daddy" Roth.
Roth rose to celebrity status in the car-crazed youth culture of the 1960s,
reinventing the custom car aesthetic with wild, fiberglass-bodied fantasy hot
rods. He amazed car show attendees with vehicles like the Outlaw, the Beatnik
Bandit, and ROTAR. His company, Roth Studios, produced striking art and
typography with caricatures of monsters in musclecars and hot rods. The
archetypal Roth character, Rat Fink, was widely regarded as Mickey Mouse's alter
ego. Kids loved it and moms hated it. The imagery of Rat Fink and his monstrous
brethren struck a chord with teenagers across America and served as the
foundation for a mail-order empire that funded "Big Daddy" Roth's automotive
enterprises. His creations are still admired for their individuality,
playfulness, and ability to provoke a response.
Museum Hours: Tuesday through Sunday, 10 am - 6 pm
The Museum will be open on Memorial Day.
Admission: Adults $10, seniors & students $5, children $3.
Free for Museum members and children under 5.
Petersen Automotive Museum
www.petersen.org
