He’s the larger than life monster who resembles a gorilla who has captured imaginations around the world since first appearing on cinema screens more than 90 years ago.
King Kong, sometimes referred to simply as Kong and the Eighth Wonder of the World, wowed audiences with his enormous presence and giant roar from his home on Skull Island.
And such was the massive influence of the famous primate that he was honoured with his own statue in Birmingham erected in the 1970s. King Kong was only in the city centre for a few months, but his influence in Brum still prevalent today.
Let’s take a look at King Kong’s nine key appearances in Birmingham:
1. King Kong statue arrives at Manzoni Gardens next to the Bull Ring in Birmingham in 1972
King Kong made his first appearance in Brum 52 years ago - back in 1972 - when renowned sculptor Nicholas Monro created a statue in his image which was put on display in the then Manzoni Gardens next to the Bull Ring. The giant black painted fibreglass model attracted huge attention. It was commissioned by the Peter Stuyvesant Foundation for Public Places Scheme in partnership with the Arts Council and was due to be displayed for four months. Two months in, it was ‘occupied’ by ‘flying pickets’ who were protesting about low wages in the building industry. They sat on the shoulders of the King Kong statue and hung a banner from its neck reading: “King Kong says nothing less than £30 for 35 hours and up your T.P.I.” Birmingham City Council was offered an opportunity to buy the statue at a reduced rate of £2,000 - but declined.
2. King Kong replica statue at Wolverhampton Art Gallery in 1973
The King Kong statue made such an impact that comedian Victoria Wood wrote a song about it in 1973 while she was studying at the University of Birmingham. Meanwhile Wolverhampton Art Gallery bought a scaled-down version of the giant King Kong statue that had been on display in Birmingham, by Nicholas Munro. The photograph shows curator David Rodgers with the mini King Kong.
3. King Kong of the used cars on Stratford Road 1974
The statue was then sold to local used car dealer Mike Shanley for £3,000. He changed the name of his dealership on the Stratford Road to King Kong Car Co. While it was there it was dressed up as Father Christmas and survived a fire in June 1974. (screenshot from Gangsters TV series in 1970s)
4. A symbol of the future in 1975
In 1975 the King Kong statue was loaned to Birmingham School of Architecture as a symbol for the City of the future symposium which took part on the Gosta Green campus.