Cigar Men

Cigar-store Indians—those once-ubiquitous carved statues that advertised tobacco shops—began disappearing from U.S. sidewalks more than 50 years ago. But on my ramblings around San Francisco I’ve taken note of their 21st-century folk-art equivalent: cigar men. Not men with cigars: cigar-shaped men. They’re slightly surreal and completely wonderful.

Here’s a studious-looking specimen in front of International House of Wine (no website), in the theater district at 395 Geary Street:

 

 

There’s a Turkish-stereotype (or Shriner-stereotype) cigar man in front of Dean’s Fine Cigars at 715 Market Street.

 

 

And on the other side of the door there’s an endangered cigar-store Indian gazing skyward.

 

I think he’s saying, “Oy vey—it’s come to this?” On behalf of all European-American usurpers, I apologize.

I couldn’t help noticing that the skinny yet muscular arms of the fez-wearing cigar bear a strong resemblance to those of International House of Wine’s cigar man. The same artist, perhaps?

There’s a clue on the base of the Dean’s sign:

It turns out that Back to the Drawing Board has done a lot of inventive advertising art in San Francisco and Grass Valley. Until I checked out his (her? their?) website, I hadn’t realized that the non-cigar sidewalk sign in front of Creative Marketing Concepts, at 572 Market Street, came from Back to the Drawing Board.

 

Sometimes a cigar is not just a cigar. It’s a fountain pen!

The cigar men seem to have replaced a more realistic genre of street advertising, as seen in this photo I took in 2009 on Third Street near SFMOMA.

 

 

Here’s his weird yet worthy replacement, in front of Zain’s Liquor:

Well, helloooo, Mr. Disco Collar with the soulful eyes!

Are these artifacts unique to San Francisco, or do other cities have them, too?

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For other examples of folk-art advertising signs, see my post about muffler men.

Comments

[heydave]

I think I have figured out how to decorate that big, underused room in my house!

I also suspect that this would only last thru my current bachelorhood, although given my ongoing track record, that may prove long.

[Jonathan Bentz]

"Mr. Disco Collar" with the soulful eyes is actually an Al Pacino/Scarface knock off. In the film, one of Pacino's many quotables is "say hello... to my little friend!"

I assume you've never seen Scarface?

In the film, Scarface's "little friend" is an M16 with grenade launcher attached.

I guess Zain's champagne is similarly powerful?!

[Nancy Friedman]

Thanks, Jonathan! I'm embarrassed to admit I've never seen the Pacino "Scarface," only the 1932 version with Paul Muni. Must correct that oversight.