The Burger Chef Reliquary

Breakfast of Champions

by Kurt Vonnegut

  ISBN 0-385-33420-6

A Burger Chef franchisee is on the brink of insanity!  Only one person can help him, a science-fiction writer named Kilgore Trout.

What separates this novel from all others is that it doubles as a Burger Chef coloring book!

Stay within the lines! Mmm...this will make one hell of a Super Shef!

Vonnegut's artful detail leaves one to wonder whether he chose Burger Chef because it was created in Indianapolis, like himself, or by coincidence.

Update from The Mailbag:

"My choice of Burger Chef was random...." -- Kurt Vonnegut

"Star Wars" Funmeal Boxes

The complete set of seven Star Wars Funmeal boxes from 1978.

  C-3PO Puppet

  R2-D2 Puppet

  Darth Vader Card Game

  Land Speeder

  Flight Spinner Game

  Tie Fighter

  X-Wing Fighter

Collector has a thing for Burger Chef

Article by Kevin Riordan

Courier-Post, October 17, 2005, Page 1-B

This article spotlights John Flack and his Burger Chef collection.  John's site, JSF's Burger Chef Page, inspired the creation of The Reliquary. Owning a collection is one thing, but posting it on the web to share with others is even more fulfilling.  It's wonderful to see a fellow collector receive such recognition.

You can read the full text of this article here in the Courier-Post's archives.

Empire Strikes Back Posters

Set of three Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back posters:

   

I thought Burger King had a monopoly on Star Wars promotions after A New Hope, but sure enough Burger Chef had a small role in promoting the first Star Wars sequel.  This poster set appears in a 1980 Burger Chef commercial. 

I asked the artist, Boris Vallejo about the history of this series and he said, "The posters were actually done originally as a promotional campaign for the Coca Cola Company, to be given away at movie theaters that showed "The Empire Strikes Back". Subsequently they found other avenues."

So these posters were not exclusive to Burger Chef and therefor do not contain the Burger Chef mark like the original 1977 Star Wars posters.  Similarly, the King Kong collectible glasses distributed by Burger Chef (another Coca Cola promotion) do not bear a Burger Chef mark.

Burger Chef "$20 Book of Value"

Coupon book, most coupons expire in 1975.  Inside is an offer for a Burger Chef and Jeff wristwatch.

 

"Circus Wagon" Funmeals

The Elephant, copyright 1981, includes punch-out parts to create your own elephant.

   

 

  Bottom flap

    Base, top & bottom

The Tiger, copyright 1982, includes punch-out parts to create your own tiger.

 

  Bottom flap

    Base, top & bottom

RE: Hornito

"I can't believe you found that reference!  I am so psyched!

Thank you for including me on your site...

We had a Burger Chef in Springfield...and I just remember the façade...it attached itself to my kiddie memory...I remember it being very cartoony which was of course so seductive to me... I know the chef mascot...but wasn’t there some little burger mascot with eyes too?

I have a new novel out as well...it's called The Underminer...it's about an evil, super successful best friend who makes you feel totally suicidal about yourself...where Hornito was about the 70s and 80s, this novel is more about the 90’s...the chaotic ride from recession to dot com boom, bust, and our bizarre new world of terrorism, overpriced coffee bars and bloated real estate value....

All the best to you!" --Mike Albo

Dear Mike,

     Thanks so much for your response.  The Burger Chef mascot you're remembering is known as The Funburger, you'll find him on a lot of the packaging from the 1970s (and hiding throughout the various categories linked to on the right.)

     Best of luck with The Underminer.  My gripe with coffee bars is the dirty looks you get from the clerk when you force them to translate your order into Italian, Esperanto or whatever that language is.  When I'm really feeling cocky I'll order a "Biggie."

Sincerely,

R.T.

Burger Chef Locations

Whether you worked at Burger Chef or just enjoyed eating there, this is the place to reminisce!  Just leave a comment below (be sure to name your Burger Chef's location!)and it will be added.  Even if your Burger Chef is already on the list, don't hesitate to add to it! 

If you have pictures of a particular location, feel free to email them to me and I'll post them.  It's the Burger Chef Reliquary's policy not to steal from other Burger Chef sites, so in cases where other sites may have additional information or photos I'll link to them.

Click here to visit Burger Chef Locations! 

RE: Turning Bones

"Thanks so much for putting my book, Turning Bones, on your web site. And what a great site it is. Deb and I took a trip down memory lane last night as we navigated the various links.....I'm glad you liked the book; you might enjoy my new novel, The Bright Forever, set in a small Indiana town in 1972. No Burger Chefs, I'm afraid, but a courthouse square with a restaurant called the Coach Light and a tavern called the Top Hat Inn.

A quick update on the Burger Chef where Deb and I met. It became a Hardees and then went through various independent owners, the last calling it The Main Street Grille. It burned down a couple of years ago, and now I jokingly tell Deb that when the place you first met is no longer there, the marriage is null and void!"  --Lee

Turning Bones

by Lee Martin

   ISBN 0-8032-3231-4

Unlike most memoirs that tell only the intimate tales of the author, Lee Martin extends his story, through historical fiction, to include generations of family preceding him.  Having traced his family through plats, deed records, and wills in the vaults of countless Midwestern courthouses, Martin imagines what their lives must have been like between census recordings.  He recreates scenarios in which his grandfathers and grandmothers met, young sweethearts whose fathers' own neighboring farms.  Despite how artfully Martin crafts these stories of courtship, none match that of his own:  A young man in the mid-1970s placing an order at Burger Chef comes up a penny short.  The girl at the register selflessly pulls one from her apron and assures him it's alright. 

Update from the Mailbag:

"Thanks so much for putting my book, Turning Bones, on your web site. And what a great site it is. Deb and I took a trip down memory lane last night as we navigated the various links.....I'm glad you liked the book; you might enjoy my new novel, The Bright Forever, set in a small Indiana town in 1972. No Burger Chefs, I'm afraid, but a courthouse square with a restaurant called the Coach Light and a tavern called the Top Hat Inn.

A quick update on the Burger Chef where Deb and I met. It became a Hardees and then went through various independent owners, the last calling it The Main Street Grille. It burned down a couple of years ago, and now I jokingly tell Deb that when the place you first met is no longer there, the marriage is null and void!"  --Lee

Track down a copy of Turning Bones for yourself at abebooks.com and support independent booksellers.