Plastic pink flamingo named Madison's bird
MADISON, Wis. (AP) — One of the greatest college pranks ever has inspired Madison leaders to name the plastic pink flamingo the city's official bird.
The Madison City Council voted 15-4 on Tuesday to give the plastic bird the distinction.
The reason dates to the classic 1979 prank orchestrated by leaders of the Pail and Shovel Party, which were in charge of student government at the University of Wisconsin at the time. They organized the surprise placement of more than 1,000 pink plastic flamingos on Bascom Hill, the steep incline that leads to the dean's office.
Resolution sponsor Alderwoman Marsha Rummel says that event "signifies something that makes us a very special place" is "captured in our imaginations forever."
Sep 2, 2009 at 10:24 p.m.
Suggest removal
Too FUNNY. I was hoping that they would vote PINK plastic flamingos the city bird of Madison.... Laughing again. Glad some people can still have fun and not be a prude. Life is short, laugh and have fun while you can....
Sep 2, 2009 at 7:22 p.m.
Suggest removal
I guess the city council has nothing better to do than waste time on stupid stuff like this?
Sep 2, 2009 at 3:34 p.m.
Suggest removal
Oops! I meant to type "glimpse" in my previous comment.
Sep 2, 2009 at 3:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
Hey, I was there when all those plastic flamingos were blown in by some hurricane (the name of which is lost somewhere in my memory). I will never forget that morning in 1979 when I walked down State Street from my apartment toward campus and caught first glimse of those birds. I laughed louder and louder as I got closer to Bascom Hill. The birds covered that hill! Of course, I grabbed one to haul around campus all day and then place proudly in the front window of my apartment. By late afternoon, the thousands of birds had all been "adopted" by us students. I also remember the Pail and Shovel leaders holding a huge Easter egg hunt on the Hill. I often wonder if students today have any idea of what real fun is ... I wish I could go back in time, even if for only 10 minutes. Live on, pink flamingos, live on!
Sep 2, 2009 at 3:20 p.m.
Suggest removal
The hate for Madison is despite the voting demographics of Janesville and Rock County, the people that post comments here are more right-wing politically than not. And Madison represents what the right-wing hates.
Sep 2, 2009 at 2:08 p.m.
Suggest removal
yes, it's a silly thing, and i thought it sounded more like a headline from "the onion", but what's with all the hate for madison? sheesh!
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:59 p.m.
Suggest removal
Is everyone sure that they were not voting on the 1972 John Water's movie?
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:37 p.m.
Suggest removal
Unimpressive and infantile. I expect that from college kids (actually funny), not city council members. Maybe a jackass should be the city council mascot.
Sep 2, 2009 at 1:29 p.m.
Suggest removal
I nominate the Pink Elephant as the official Aminal for the state of Wisconsin. With all of the bars and breweries, I think this would be a great idea. We could sell memorabilia on the web and the proceeds could pay our Governors salary. what do you think?
Sep 2, 2009 at 12:04 p.m.
Suggest removal
Madison's official city animal should be the unicorn because they are truely in another world up there.
Sep 2, 2009 at 11:53 a.m.
Suggest removal
I guess technically it IS news. However...
Sep 2, 2009 at 11:45 a.m.
Suggest removal
Why is everyone so negative about this?
Sep 2, 2009 at 11:31 a.m.
Suggest removal
Only in MADISON!
Sep 2, 2009 at 11:12 a.m.
Suggest removal
Do your cute, funny little things on your own time.
Sep 2, 2009 at 11:01 a.m.
Suggest removal
That was second only to the Statute of Liberty in Lake Mendota. What a fantastic, ridiculous idea.
http://www.michaelkienitz.com/gallery/ma...
Sep 2, 2009 at 10:43 a.m.
Suggest removal
Yeah, those nutty stupid Madison people, with their fancy colleges and degrees and low unemployment. What idiots!
Sep 2, 2009 at 10:33 a.m.
Suggest removal
THAT'S WHY THEY CALL IT "MAD" TOWN
Sep 2, 2009 at 10:13 a.m.
Suggest removal
there must be something in the water in Madison
Before you post a comment, consider this:
Note: GazetteXtra.com does not condone or review every comment. Read more in our User Policy AgreementPost Comment
Commenting requires registration.