CREEPY CLASSICS presents...

Above photo by Janice Adams. Pictured - Tami, Tom, and Ron Adams.

The Sinclair Gas & Oil Company had a dinosaur trademark. Using that as a promotional vehicle they creatured awe-inspiring life-size dinosaur models that were at the World's Fair in New York City in the 1960s...then, they went on a traveling roadshow across the country on flat bed trucks. In 1966, I saw them in Ohio. Below are people's memories of this traveling show that inspired many imaginations and kids across the USA. -Ron Adams

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Sinclair Dinos on Tour

I got to see this dispay set-up in Ohio back in the 1960s. My parents have pictures on me with them. They were lifesize and just an experience that made an incredible impression on me. Did anyone else see this traveling display back in the 1960s? Thanks to Joe Vento for sending this newspaper clipping. -Ron

I remember when they took over half of the parking lot at Eastpoint shopping center, which is now Eastpoint Mall, in East Baltimore. I actually had a few of the toy models but alas they too are now extinct ;-(
-Steve Wrzesien

Steve, I had some of those wax dinosaus. I remember you put coins in and a they were poured and made in a vending machine. They came out still warm. Wow! I loved those. My sister and I also had inflatable green brontos that were about three feet long. My dad found someone making replicas and gave me a smaller version that hangs behind me in the office. -Ron

I never got any of these but back in the early 70's while at
busch gardens they had two injection molding machines.
put your coins in and you might get a gorilla and I don't
remember what the other animal was but they had a sign
that said try at own risk. sometimes it came out deformed
or was all melted from being too hot.
-Tom

Hey Ron!! I came across this amazing shot, and im wondering if this is where you saw them on tour as a kid. I think this is 66 or 67 at a shopping center.."Woolco"
This is a classic design of Tyrannosaur by the Jonas Studios in upstate n.y. and to all us monsterkids growing up at the "tail end" of the sixties, this is how they'll always be!!
All the best Ron,
-Joey V., Haunted Barn

Hi Joey, that is how I saw them, on flatbeds. I believe it was in Ohio. I'll ask my parents if they remember more about the location. -Ron

Hi Ron, this is where those Sinclair dinos went. This is the free program you got when you visited their pavilion at the '64 NY World's Fair....Great memories!!!!
-Frank Nicoletti

Hi Frank, I got on of those when I saw the touring display. They must have had extras that they sold, or gave away at the tour sites. I'll never forget the nasty expression on that T-Rex fave o the cover. I remember tryimg to draw it and studying it intensely. -Ron

Above is a picture sent to me by my dad. I don't remember seeing this one before! It's the Brotosaurus on a flatbed. That's my dad in a white shirt, with my sister and me by him. My guess is that my sister is three and I'm eight here. Which would date the visit at 1967. That sounds about right. It could be 1966 possibly. -Ron

RON,
I remember the SINCLAIR DINOSAURS and their tour very well. The Dinosaurs were left over exhibits from the 1964 New York World's Fair sent out as being one of the few successful ventures of that event.
My Brother and I saw it at the Randhurst Shopping Mall in Mount Prospect, Illinois, circa 1966. This was the first such enclosed Mall in the area and largest fully air-conditioned Mall in the Country.
The exhibit was very popular. They had a dispenser machine which you could purchase wax replicas of the Dinosaurs on exhibit. Though from a modern interpretation the Dinosaurs were size-wise correct their stances and how they appeared have been much revised. At that time they were still thought of as just big scale Lizards and Reptiles rather then the independent species which they are now.
ROBERT

Hey Ron ,

I figured that you would like to see this shot of
my brother Mike and I at
Sinclair dinosaur exhibit road show they did a few years after The
world's fair. Enjoy!
We'll keep in touch.

-Yours , Larry R.

I saw the Sinclair dinosaurs when they were at Eastpoint in Baltimore as
well. We got some of the injection mold figures.
I now live in Orlando FL,
Glenn

My parents, sisters and I went to see the display near Cincinnati. I cannot remember precisely where it took place, but remember the day quite well. I was incredibly impressed at how closely the dinosaurs looked to the ones I saw in various junior science books. We take that sort of thing for granted today but it was pretty rare back then. We had an allosaurus model at the Natural History Museum and either a skull or reproduction skull but a whole display of various dinosaurs in real size? No.
I got the models, too. I remember someone saying they were made of a special material something between wax and plastic, I would guess. Maybe some combination. They were more durable than wax but less than hard plastic. I was a bit of a dinosaur fanatic as a kid. I remember that Frito's also carried little dinosaur models in multiple pack boxes.
-Mike Manor
Cincinnati

I watched the history channel last night and two men were going around the
usa looking for anything that might be worth something they could buy then
sell for a profit. they came across a old rusted desto car sitting next to
a old gas pump. they went inside the building next to it and on the shelf
was old cans of oil. the last two cans had dinosaurs on them and said
sinclair oil.

-tom

Here are some photos, including a shot of a then missing triceratops{which sits in a Washington D.C. Park now i believe} and a recent shot of the Tyrannosaur and Brontosaur as they are today at their home in Glen Rose, Texas.
Enjoy my friend and can't wait to see you at MonsterBash!!
                                            
                                                                          Best to ya Ron,
                                                                                                   Joey V.

I discovered your site not long after finding the pictures from 1969, when the dinosaurs were touring the US.
This is at the East Hills Shopping Center in St. Joseph, Missouri.
Thanks,
Michael

I don't think thise puny fences are going to hold these big boys. Like me, do you remember the touring Sinclair Dinosaurs of the 1960s? This recent photo, courtesy of Brian Nichols, depicts a resting place for some of those great beasts! -Ron

P.S. - Thank you Brian!!!

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