Bubblegums are like an all-time acquaintance of people in western countries. But the litter produced by these chewing gums is a very big problem there. Talking about the statistics of a study conducted in 2005, on an average, an American chew 160-180 pieces or about 180 gms of Bubble gums each year. It results in adding up to 250,000 tons to the entire waste generated every time. Now, for processing these chewing gum waste, it again costs millions of dollar annually. However, everything has two aspects on either side – a bad and a good. This Bubblegum, due to its stickiness and wide colors, has ended up in an inspiring art. These inspiring arts are the stickiest attractions of America and are better known as ‘The Bubble Gum Walls’.
Let’s have a look at these gross attractions in various part of the United States.
Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo, California
The Bubblegum Alley is located in downtown San Luis Obispo, California. 15-foot high and 70-foot long, The Alley is entirely filled up with chewing gums left by the visitors and the passers-by. It accounts for about 20 meters of total length of gum, including it from either side of the alley. Talking about the history of the wall like who actually started it, is a bit scrappy. Some historians say that it had been started after the World War II when a high school prank was played between the students of San Luis Obispo and Cal Poly. The prank was to check who amongst can stick more gums on the wall, which ultimately ended into the creation of Bubblegum Alley.
It was by the year 1970, that this Bubblegum Alley was a popular attraction among the locals. But due to some complaints made by the local shop owners, this Alley underwent two full cleanings in the 70’s. Although, the effort of cleaning proved to be worthless.
Gum Wall in Seattle
Located in downtown Seattle, in Post Alley under Pike Place Market, The Market Theatre Gum Wall is same as that of Bubblegum Alley in San Luis Obispo. A thick layer of chewing gum is covering this wall but in an even more artistic manner. The tradition of sticking gums in the market wall began around 1993. It was when the customers waiting in queue to enter the theatre stuck gums on the wall, besides placing coins into the gum blobs. As the time passed, the coins disappeared leaving behind only the gums. There appeared a variety of miniature artworks, as the wall grew.
Gum Wall in Greenville, Ohio
Located in Greenville, Ohio, The third gum wall forms the outer wall of Maid RiteSandwich Shop. This is a drive-in restaurant serving the patrons with some of the tastiest sandwiches in Greenville. The entire periphery of the Shop is covered with blobs of gross Bubblegums. Although these gums fills the drive-in window too, the sandwich-lovers still don’t get distracted by the appetite-killing sticky smell.
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