In 2000, Milwaukee lost an icon.
Dick Bacon was a fixture on the city's lakefront with his large foil reflectors arranged around a lawn chair cooking up his famous tan...even on many winter days! The nude beach advocate and former Mr Nude America and Mr Nude Galaxy, even marketed his own tanning cream called Bacon Grease.
Even his pickup line was famous..."The name's Dick Bacon...wanna strip?"
After his death, a local gallery had an exhibit featuring photos and paintings of Bacon. He was a nude model for every art school in Milwaukee, so there was an extensive collection of images to choose from. A local coffee company even features him in a strongman pose on one of their coffee bags.
I remember when I first moved to Milwaukee and asked about the "crazy guy on the beach with the reflectors." I was quickly reprimanded...that was the beloved Dick Bacon. It seemed everyone loved him...and they still speak fondly of him...and everyone agrees, he was eccentric, but NOT crazy.
http://www2.jsonline.com/news/metro/aug ... 82400a.asp