bloodrayne
05-01-2005, 02:20 PM
Jingle And Whistles, All Part Of Funeral For 'Little Oscar' Character
Merrillville, Indiana - The big, cheery hot-dog shaped vehicle that George Molchan drove in life stood parked at his grave side Saturday, eliciting smiles from the dozens of friends and family there to say goodbye to the former Oscar Mayer Co. spokesman.
Molchan was laid to rest to the accompaniment of solemn prayers delivered in Slovenian by clergy from St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church.
But not before the 50 or so people at the Calumet Park Cemetery grave site broke into a chorus of the company theme song, "I'd love to a be an Oscar Mayer wiener," followed by a few quick blasts on miniature, hot-dog shaped whistles handed out to the crowd.
Not your typical burial, but Molchan would've loved it, a bystander said.
The 82-year-old Hobart man died Tuesday, a veteran of 36 years with Oscar Mayer. He portrayed company mascot Little Oscar, often at the wheel of the hot-dog shaped Wienermobile.
A one-time bookkeeper for the Pepsi Cola Co. in Gary, Molchan broke into the entertainment business at the urging of Wizard of Oz munchkin and fellow Little Oscar actor Meinhardt Raabe, Molchan's brother Elmer Molchan said.
He had gotten to know Raabe, and when the actor came to Gary he suggested Molchan try out for a role as Little Oscar, the character Oscar Mayer Co. created in the 1930s to help market its products, Elmer Molchan said.
George Molchan made the most of his role, especially when it came to children, said his sister, Lillian Martin.
"Children were his joy and his passion," she said.
"He was just a terrific guy," said Bruno Lis, a Valparaiso resident whose wife Kathy is Molchan's niece. "He's the uncle you always wanted."
Merrillville, Indiana - The big, cheery hot-dog shaped vehicle that George Molchan drove in life stood parked at his grave side Saturday, eliciting smiles from the dozens of friends and family there to say goodbye to the former Oscar Mayer Co. spokesman.
Molchan was laid to rest to the accompaniment of solemn prayers delivered in Slovenian by clergy from St. Michael Byzantine Catholic Church.
But not before the 50 or so people at the Calumet Park Cemetery grave site broke into a chorus of the company theme song, "I'd love to a be an Oscar Mayer wiener," followed by a few quick blasts on miniature, hot-dog shaped whistles handed out to the crowd.
Not your typical burial, but Molchan would've loved it, a bystander said.
The 82-year-old Hobart man died Tuesday, a veteran of 36 years with Oscar Mayer. He portrayed company mascot Little Oscar, often at the wheel of the hot-dog shaped Wienermobile.
A one-time bookkeeper for the Pepsi Cola Co. in Gary, Molchan broke into the entertainment business at the urging of Wizard of Oz munchkin and fellow Little Oscar actor Meinhardt Raabe, Molchan's brother Elmer Molchan said.
He had gotten to know Raabe, and when the actor came to Gary he suggested Molchan try out for a role as Little Oscar, the character Oscar Mayer Co. created in the 1930s to help market its products, Elmer Molchan said.
George Molchan made the most of his role, especially when it came to children, said his sister, Lillian Martin.
"Children were his joy and his passion," she said.
"He was just a terrific guy," said Bruno Lis, a Valparaiso resident whose wife Kathy is Molchan's niece. "He's the uncle you always wanted."