Bubblegum Alley is a tourist attraction in downtown San Luis Obispo, California, known for its accumulation of used bubble gum on the walls of an alley.[1] It is a 15-foot (4.6 m) high and 70-foot (21 m) long alley lined with chewed gum left by passers-by. It covers a stretch of 20 meters in the 700 block of Higuera Street in downtown San Luis Obispo.[1][2]
According to the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Business Improvement Association (BIA), the origin of the gum is "a little sketchy".[3] Some historians believe that the tradition of the alley started after WWII as a San Luis Obispo High School graduating class event.[4] Others believe it started in the late 1950s, as the rivalry between San Luis Obispo High School and California Polytechnic State University (Cal Poly) students.[3] By the 1970s, Bubblegum Alley was well established. When shop owners complained that it was "unsanitary and disgusting",[5] the alley underwent a full cleaning. The gum graffiti survived two full cleanings in the 1970s.[3] In 1996, the BIA unsuccessfully attempted to have another alley cleaning.
Recognition
Throughout the years, San Luis Obispo's Bubblegum Alley has been featured on a number of television shows, news programs, and in newspapers around the world. Newspapers such as The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times have addressed the disgusts and delights of the gum wall visitors. Other newspaper articles have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle, the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan, the Times Union from Albany, New York, and The Guardian in the United Kingdom. KSBY Action 6 News did a story about the alleyway.[4] TV crews filmed the alley for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, That's Incredible!, Real People, and on "California's Gold" PBS.[5]MTV featured Bubblegum Alley in the show Call to Greatness.[6] The crew picked Bubblegum Alley to film the episode on breaking the world record for largest bubblegum bubble. It featured record holder Susan "Chewsy Suzy" Williams, and at the end of the show, a graphic was shown that said that while she was there she blew a 24-inch (610 mm) bubble, which was not shown on television. (Her record bubble, which was blown on national TV in 1996, was 23 inches.) ABC’s (American Broadcasting Company) Ripley’s Believe It or Not also aired a story on October 14, 1984 about the alley. It was also featured on an episode of The Girls Next Door on E! and mentioned in an episode of United States of Tara.
Books
In chapter seventeen of the novel Mr. Monk On the Road by Lee Goldberg, Bubblegum Alley is mentioned, described, and forms the setting for Monk's discovery of a dead body. Bubblegum Alley is also mentioned throughout Megan McDonald's book Judy Moody: Around the World in 8 and a Half Days. In 2021, Bubblegum Alley became the subject of a children's book, Stuck: A Bubblegum Alley Adventure.
Music
"Weird Al" Yankovic mentioned Bubblegum Alley in his 1978 song "Take Me Down," an ode to San Luis Obispo.
Those Darn Accordions recorded the song "Wall of Gum" on their 1999 album Clownhead about an unfortunate accident occurring in Bubblegum Alley.
Controversy
Agreement whether these gum-covered walls should remain a part of quaint downtown San Luis Obispo has not been reached since its founding. While the town historian and some local politicians consider this alley to be an “eyesore”,[7] the Chamber of Commerce lists it as a “special attraction”.[8]
The Telegram Tribune reported that Bill Hales, a local pub owner, pays for the alley to be steam-cleaned once a month.[9]
Store owners’ complaints concerning upkeep are countered by the argument that it increases foot traffic and business. Deborah Holley, administrator of the Downtown Business Improvement Association, admits that despite the obvious problems it causes, it is nonetheless a landmark.[9] The alley attracts tourists to the downtown, in such large numbers that there used to be a local radio station disc jockey that led people on bimonthly tours of the gum alley gallery.[7]
As art
Professional artists
The Alley has inspired professional artists such as Matthew Hoffman. On the east end of the alley, up high on the north-facing wall, a giant self-portrait of Hoffman titled "Projectbubble Gum" is created entirely with bubble gum. The picture of the artist blowing a bubble required a tremendous amount of gum, which he was able to get with the help of the community. His theory is, "if an individual participates in their community they will earn an invested interest in their community. The community chewed the bubblegum, and many individuals [felt] as though they were a part of its creation. This instills a sense of stewardship in one’s community". Even the robotics Team 1717, featured in the book The New Cool, is depicted in neon blue gum.[10]
Poets
One Arroyo Grande poet who wishes to be known as “M” wrote in defense of the Gum Alley. His poem was published in Don Pieper’s article in the Telegram-Tribune, 30, Apr 1986, "An Ode to Gum Alley".
bubblegum, alley, this, article, needs, additional, citations, verification, please, help, improve, this, article, adding, citations, reliable, sources, unsourced, material, challenged, removed, find, sources, news, newspapers, books, scholar, jstor, december,. This article needs additional citations for verification Please help improve this article by adding citations to reliable sources Unsourced material may be challenged and removed Find sources Bubblegum Alley news newspapers books scholar JSTOR December 2014 Learn how and when to remove this template message Bubblegum Alley is a tourist attraction in downtown San Luis Obispo California known for its accumulation of used bubble gum on the walls of an alley 1 It is a 15 foot 4 6 m high and 70 foot 21 m long alley lined with chewed gum left by passers by It covers a stretch of 20 meters in the 700 block of Higuera Street in downtown San Luis Obispo 1 2 Bubblegum Alley Contents 1 History 2 Recognition 2 1 Books 2 2 Music 3 Controversy 4 As art 4 1 Professional artists 4 2 Poets 5 Images 6 See also 7 References 8 External linksHistory EditAccording to the San Luis Obispo Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Business Improvement Association BIA the origin of the gum is a little sketchy 3 Some historians believe that the tradition of the alley started after WWII as a San Luis Obispo High School graduating class event 4 Others believe it started in the late 1950s as the rivalry between San Luis Obispo High School and California Polytechnic State University Cal Poly students 3 By the 1970s Bubblegum Alley was well established When shop owners complained that it was unsanitary and disgusting 5 the alley underwent a full cleaning The gum graffiti survived two full cleanings in the 1970s 3 In 1996 the BIA unsuccessfully attempted to have another alley cleaning Recognition EditThroughout the years San Luis Obispo s Bubblegum Alley has been featured on a number of television shows news programs and in newspapers around the world Newspapers such as The New York Times and the Los Angeles Times have addressed the disgusts and delights of the gum wall visitors Other newspaper articles have appeared in the San Francisco Chronicle the Grand Rapids Press in Michigan the Times Union from Albany New York and The Guardian in the United Kingdom KSBY Action 6 News did a story about the alleyway 4 TV crews filmed the alley for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson That s Incredible Real People and on California s Gold PBS 5 MTV featured Bubblegum Alley in the show Call to Greatness 6 The crew picked Bubblegum Alley to film the episode on breaking the world record for largest bubblegum bubble It featured record holder Susan Chewsy Suzy Williams and at the end of the show a graphic was shown that said that while she was there she blew a 24 inch 610 mm bubble which was not shown on television Her record bubble which was blown on national TV in 1996 was 23 inches ABC s American Broadcasting Company Ripley s Believe It or Not also aired a story on October 14 1984 about the alley It was also featured on an episode of The Girls Next Door on E and mentioned in an episode of United States of Tara Books Edit In chapter seventeen of the novel Mr Monk On the Road by Lee Goldberg Bubblegum Alley is mentioned described and forms the setting for Monk s discovery of a dead body Bubblegum Alley is also mentioned throughout Megan McDonald s book Judy Moody Around the World in 8 and a Half Days In 2021 Bubblegum Alley became the subject of a children s book Stuck A Bubblegum Alley Adventure Music Edit Weird Al Yankovic mentioned Bubblegum Alley in his 1978 song Take Me Down an ode to San Luis Obispo Those Darn Accordions recorded the song Wall of Gum on their 1999 album Clownhead about an unfortunate accident occurring in Bubblegum Alley Controversy EditAgreement whether these gum covered walls should remain a part of quaint downtown San Luis Obispo has not been reached since its founding While the town historian and some local politicians consider this alley to be an eyesore 7 the Chamber of Commerce lists it as a special attraction 8 The Telegram Tribune reported that Bill Hales a local pub owner pays for the alley to be steam cleaned once a month 9 Store owners complaints concerning upkeep are countered by the argument that it increases foot traffic and business Deborah Holley administrator of the Downtown Business Improvement Association admits that despite the obvious problems it causes it is nonetheless a landmark 9 The alley attracts tourists to the downtown in such large numbers that there used to be a local radio station disc jockey that led people on bimonthly tours of the gum alley gallery 7 As art EditProfessional artists Edit The Alley has inspired professional artists such as Matthew Hoffman On the east end of the alley up high on the north facing wall a giant self portrait of Hoffman titled Projectbubble Gum is created entirely with bubble gum The picture of the artist blowing a bubble required a tremendous amount of gum which he was able to get with the help of the community His theory is if an individual participates in their community they will earn an invested interest in their community The community chewed the bubblegum and many individuals felt as though they were a part of its creation This instills a sense of stewardship in one s community Even the robotics Team 1717 featured in the book The New Cool is depicted in neon blue gum 10 Poets Edit One Arroyo Grande poet who wishes to be known as M wrote in defense of the Gum Alley His poem was published in Don Pieper s article in the Telegram Tribune 30 Apr 1986 An Ode to Gum Alley Images Edit See also EditGum Wall in SeattleReferences Edit a b Local Links BubbleGum Alley Archived from the original on 2014 09 05 Retrieved 2007 05 07 CBC Radio As it Happens Entertainment Bubblegum maddness CBC News Archived from the original on 2007 05 23 Retrieved 2007 05 07 a b c Asked amp Answered New Times 11 18 Dec 1997 a b Asquith Shirley Gum Alley Tour Tolosa Times December 1997 a b Wardlaw Lee Bubble Mania Aladden Paperbacks 1997 MTV Call to Greatness Retrieved 2007 05 03 a b Hillinger Charles A Tacky Wall Los Angeles Times 17 June 79 Johnson John Los Angeles Times 10 Oct 2000 a b Lyons Silas Getting Stuck with the Cleaning Telegram Tribune 3 Aug 96 Yours Mine and Ours Archived from the original on 2007 05 20 Retrieved 2007 05 03 External links Edit Wikimedia Commons has media related to Bubblegum Alley YouTube clip of Bubblegum Alley BGA by Bazooka Joe Bubblegum Alley SLO Facebook page Wall of Gum German Coordinates 35 16 44 N 120 39 50 W 35 279026 N 120 66376 W 35 279026 120 66376 Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Bubblegum Alley amp oldid 1109959550, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
