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
Clair Dickson -- Livingston county, Michigan
Linda McLaughlin -- Anaheim, California
Barbara Martin -- Toronto, Canada
Junosmom -- Everytown, Kentucky
Robyn -- Grass Valley, California
Mary Nix -- Olmsted Falls, Ohio
Reb -- Edmonton, Alberta, Canada
Beth Yarnall -- Orange County, California
Patti Abbott -- Dearborn, Michigan
The chicken came first. That much I know.
ReplyDeleteThat's almost as compelling as the question...how do you post a My Town MONDAY on a SUNDAY?
ReplyDeleteWhen 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
I have never had a corndog. Another thing for my must eat list.
ReplyDeleteI'll be up at 8. Doing Dearborn, Mi tomorrow.
How do you KNOW this stuff? Where do you get it?
ReplyDeleteLove it!
My post, MTM early edition, is up, I'll be back later to read.
ReplyDeleteHi Travis, my post will publish at midnight EST.
ReplyDeleteJunosmom
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.
I love useless trivia. LOVE IT. And, anything fried is delicious. Don't we all know that?????
ReplyDeleteFun 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. :)
ReplyDeleteI'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
You are quite the storyteller, Travis!
ReplyDeleteMy MTM Meme is up now. Not quite as humorous as anything you write.
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.
ReplyDeleteCorn dogs, one of life's original comfort foods...dipped in a little mustard and ketchup.
ReplyDeleteHm. Who knew there was so much more to it than a hot dog dipped in cornbread.
ReplyDeleteNow I'm hungry. Curse you, Travis!!
Interesting. I'll take your word for it, although I must confess to only once having eaten a corn dog.
ReplyDeleteActually 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.
ReplyDeleteAnd now you know, the rest of the story
Great post man :)
Travis, it looks like you've been digging up information, too. Very interesting.
ReplyDeleteMy MTM post is up, Part 4 of James FitzGibbon, Hero of War of 1812 (Canada)
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. ;)
ReplyDeleteMine is up.
Love corndogs! What's a county fair without them?
ReplyDeleteI have a MTM post for you about the wild green parrots in Orange County CA. Thanks!
druids, yes, and the egg.
ReplyDeleteI 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..
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!
ReplyDeleteRobyn
I love me some corndogs. I never even gave it thought as to who invented them I just know they're a GENIUS! :D
ReplyDeleteMy post is up and this week we're visiting your home state.
My post is up, Travis.
ReplyDeleteWhat 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
ReplyDelete"Well, see you later, I'm going to go eat a Crusty Cur."
Just doesn't sound right.
Crusty Cur. Yea, I don't think I would eat that.
ReplyDeleteBut 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
Man, oh man. That corndog looks goooood. :)
ReplyDeleteCorndogs! YUUUUUUUUUUMMMMMMMMMMM! Fried=good! Cornbread=good!
ReplyDeleteI now know what a corn dog IS. Thank you! :)
ReplyDeleteI'm not a big fan, myself, but I LOVE that dated old graphic you've used...Classic!
ReplyDeleteYum. I love corndogs with mustard.
ReplyDeleteUm, in MY hometown those are called Pronto Pups.
ReplyDeleteI haven't had a corn dog in ages.
ReplyDeleteGreat post as always.
Very very fun post! I giggled the whole way through. And FINALLY my monday post is up. Sorry. Blame it on jet lag!
ReplyDeleteHa. Awesome post.
ReplyDelete"what in the name of mustard" indeed.
:)
I love corn dogs!!!!!! Almost as much as I love your MOnday posts!
ReplyDeleteI loved reading this post--it made me want to find myself a corndog! I think I'm about due.
ReplyDeleteSo 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!!
ReplyDelete