He’s no Chicken…
I’ve seen the man behind the beak. Few people have seen his face, yet he’s world famous. Tonight, I met the man who suits up in more than 100 ballparks a year as the San Diego Chicken.
His name’s Ted Giannoulas—-a man of more than 55 years old who sports glasses and stands maybe 5’5’‘. I walk into his dressing room—-he’s in a denim shirt and jeans signing autographed glossy pictures of himself in costume as the Chicken. He’s remarkably friendly and makes a point to remember your name (he likes to call you by name when speaking to you). He’s performed for more than 70 million people in his 35 years in costume, yet his act tonight in Huntington Park is all that matters. He seems genuinely excited to get the crowd laughing.
His assistant helps pull his chicken costume on him piece by piece and walks him out to the groundskeepers entrance. There, a man who’s performed for Presidents and kings waits for his turn to take the field while standing on a Toro tractor. These are the not-so glamorous moments you never see… but Ted’s done this thousands of times.
He’s a clever guy, who’s act at the Clippers game included an eye chart in the umpire’s face, a bikini-clad woman’s poster used to distract the Rochester pitcher, and his constant “hexing” of the Clippers’ opponents.
He’s the man to whom all other men who are wear oversized animal feet bow. Ted took the job for $2 an hour back in 1974 as a radio station promotion. He became the first full-time costumed team mascot, and his comedic work between innings is the standard by which all other mascots have aimed to match ever since.
To watch Ted work a crowd is to watch a consummate professional, just like the players in the game itself. He’s worn more than 70 different versions of the chicken suit…and it suits him well.
