Monday, September 22, 2008

A Corny Mystery Solved -- A My Town Monday Post

The world is full of unsolved mysteries.

Who built Stonehenge?
Does Bigfoot/Sasquatch/The Yeti really exist?
What came first the chicken or the egg?

I don't have an answer for any of those compelling questions but I can shed some light on another of the world's most wondered about enquiries ... Who invented the corndog?


The claim to the prize is battered and fried in doubt.

Some say the Corny Dog made it's debut at the 1942 Texas State Fair in Dallas.

The Pronto Pup folks claim to have rolled out the tasty treat at the 1941 Minnesota State Fair.

Then there is the proprietors of the Cozy Dog Drive-In located in Springfield, Illinois who say they were the first to jab a stick through a wiener.

I want to throw my vote behind the founders of the Cozy Dog Drive-In, Ed Waldmire Jr. and Don Strand. Maybe they did peddle corn battered wieners at the fairs in Dallas and Minnesota but a corn dog without a stick is like a clean and tidy, soft-spoken carnival barker. it just ain't right.

So right here and now I'm awarding the claim of corn dog inventor to the folks behind Springfield, Illinois' Cozy Dog.

Right about know you're probably saying, I thought this was a My Town Monday post. What in the name of mustard does some restaurant in the Land of Lincoln have to do with Amarillo, Texas?

Glad you asked.

Before Ed Waldmire Jr. and Don Strand partnered up in restaurant business they served together on the United States Air Force. And where were they stationed? You guessed it Amarillo, Texas. And while they were in Amarillo they made their first ever corn battered deep fried wieners. They sold their creation at the USO club and the base PX. They called their creation Crusty Curs, but when they got out of the military, Ed's wife convinced them Crusty Cur was not a name that civilian diners would go for. So their fried hot dog on a stick became the Cozy Dog and as Paul Harvey would say ...

Now you know, the rest of the story.

OTHER MY TOWN MONDAY POSTS

Debra -- Peninsula, Ohio

Clair Dickson -- Livingston county, Michigan

Linda McLaughlin -- Anaheim, California

Barbara Martin -- Toronto, Canada

Junosmom -- Everytown, Kentucky

PreTzel -- Lufkin, Texas

Robyn -- Grass Valley, California

Mary Nix -- Olmsted Falls, Ohio

Reb -- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

Beth Yarnall -- Orange County, California

Patti Abbott -- Dearborn, Michigan

Michele Ann Young -- Royal Tunbridge Wells, England

Barrie Summy -- Oklahoma City, Oklahoma

35 comments:

Kristen Painter said...

The chicken came first. That much I know.

Unknown said...

That's almost as compelling as the question...how do you post a My Town MONDAY on a SUNDAY?

When you drive from Dallas to Amarillo, if feels so far that one might be crossing over 17 timezones, thus making it tomorrow in Amarillo, today.

As always, Travis, an interesting MTM post. If your novel doesn't get published, you have a future in investigative reporting or non-fiction. I love the stuff you dig up.

SL

SL

pattinase (abbott) said...

I have never had a corndog. Another thing for my must eat list.

I'll be up at 8. Doing Dearborn, Mi tomorrow.

Spy Scribbler said...

How do you KNOW this stuff? Where do you get it?

Love it!

debra said...

My post, MTM early edition, is up, I'll be back later to read.

Junosmom said...

Hi Travis, my post will publish at midnight EST.
Junosmom

And how DO you get it to show up now? You don't actually LIE to your computer, do you? You aren't in India, are you, where it is tomorrow?
Inquiring minds want to know.

Vodka Mom said...

I love useless trivia. LOVE IT. And, anything fried is delicious. Don't we all know that?????

Linda McLaughlin said...

Fun post, Travis. Love your description of the controversy as "battered and fried in doubt". I love corn dogs, btw. Much better than in a boring old bun. :)

I've just posted my contribution to My Town Monday (yes, a little early) on our Chinese elms which I consider to be the worst tree in the world.

Linda

Clair D. said...

You are quite the storyteller, Travis!

My MTM Meme is up now. Not quite as humorous as anything you write.

Skiingred said...

Personally, not a big fan of corn dogs, but to it's credit, it has inspired many "on-a-stick" creations only enjoyed on hot summery days at fairs and festivals.

Angie Ledbetter said...

Corn dogs, one of life's original comfort foods...dipped in a little mustard and ketchup.

Celeste said...

Hm. Who knew there was so much more to it than a hot dog dipped in cornbread.

Now I'm hungry. Curse you, Travis!!

Charles Gramlich said...

Interesting. I'll take your word for it, although I must confess to only once having eaten a corn dog.

Joshua said...

Actually Corn dogs where an ancient alien technology discovered in the Rosewell crash. They were to be used as fuel but a Soldier, Enus Springs from New Jersey was so hungry he ate it. The next morning he had the most painful and explosive BM to date.

And now you know, the rest of the story

Great post man :)

Barbara Martin said...

Travis, it looks like you've been digging up information, too. Very interesting.

My MTM post is up, Part 4 of James FitzGibbon, Hero of War of 1812 (Canada)

Reb said...

I don't think I have ever had a corn dog. I suspect that is one of those foods that you have to be a southerner to enjoy. ;)

Mine is up.

Beth said...

Love corndogs! What's a county fair without them?
I have a MTM post for you about the wild green parrots in Orange County CA. Thanks!

yellowdoggranny said...

druids, yes, and the egg.
I love corn dogs..there used to be a resturant in roswell, new mexico that advertised 'the worse corn dogs in the world.'...and they were the best..

Unknown said...

Oops I posted on the post below...see too tired! I posted for your Your Town Monday! Take a peek! and take a peek at your post below also for my post! Oops!
Robyn

preTzel said...

I love me some corndogs. I never even gave it thought as to who invented them I just know they're a GENIUS! :D

My post is up and this week we're visiting your home state.

Junosmom said...

My post is up, Travis.

texlahoma said...

What came first the chicken or the egg? Why do they always leave the rooster out of this question? I'm glad they listened to the wife and changed the name. I'd hate to say
"Well, see you later, I'm going to go eat a Crusty Cur."
Just doesn't sound right.

Unknown said...

Crusty Cur. Yea, I don't think I would eat that.

But ya know, I've never had a corn dog. It just doesn't look right. Give me a bun, chilli, cheese and onions over a stick any day! LOL

Janna Leadbetter said...

Man, oh man. That corndog looks goooood. :)

Anonymous said...

Corndogs! YUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM! Fried=good! Cornbread=good!

Mary said...

I now know what a corn dog IS. Thank you! :)

Lana Gramlich said...

I'm not a big fan, myself, but I LOVE that dated old graphic you've used...Classic!

Michele said...

Yum. I love corndogs with mustard.

Melanie Hooyenga said...

Um, in MY hometown those are called Pronto Pups.

Anonymous said...

I haven't had a corn dog in ages.

Great post as always.

Barrie said...

Very very fun post! I giggled the whole way through. And FINALLY my monday post is up. Sorry. Blame it on jet lag!

Monnik said...

Ha. Awesome post.

"what in the name of mustard" indeed.

:)

Ello - Ellen Oh said...

I love corn dogs!!!!!! Almost as much as I love your MOnday posts!

Alyssa Goodnight said...

I loved reading this post--it made me want to find myself a corndog! I think I'm about due.

Lyzzydee said...

So what IS a corn dog?? they don't look very nice I have seen them on my trips to the states, but I have never been brave enough to try them. If they are sausages why are the called corn dogs?? Again we nearly speak the same language!!