For decades — thanks in large part to Ernie Anderson's beloved late-night Ghoulardi character — Parma was the butt of jokes. During his "Parma Place" skits, Ghoulardi and Chuck Schodowski would play stereotypical ethnic Parma residents in a parody of the then-popular prime-time soap opera Peyton Place, mocking pink flamingos, white socks, polka music, and chrome ball lawn ornaments, staples of the fast-growing, middle-class suburb.
The pink flamingos really stuck, becoming a ubiquitous symbol of the Parma community, much to the dismay of city officials. The lighthearted jabs might have stuck, but in recent years, Parma has really leaned into the quirky nature of it all, allowing the pink flamingo to truly become the city's legitimate mascot.
The History of the Pink Flamingo Lawn Ornament
What's with all those pink flamingos you'd see on lawns, anyway? Artist Don Featherstone, who had never actually seen a flamingo, created the plastic version in 1958 for Union Products, basing the sculpture molds on photos from National Geographic.
Sales of the plastic pink flamingo took off from there (in Parma, that included Kal's Nursery on Ridge Rd.), sweeping across American suburbs almost immediately after its introduction. That bright pink flamingo became a staple of American suburban life, and in Parma, it became a symbol of the city's heritage, right alongside white socks, chrome balls, kielbasa, pierogi, and polka (at least, if you ask Ghoulardi).
Parma's Pink Embrace
Over the years, the pink flamingo especially would morph into something of a civic symbol, and has recently been inducted into Parma's official ethos, some lighthearted fun and jabbing that the city has turned into local pride.
In 2013, Polish Village held the city's first art festival known as Flamingo Fever. Businesses display flamingos decorated by local artists, sports teams don the flamingo name. A giant pink flamingo statue even came to town to help raise support for breast cancer awareness.
And perhaps in the most fitting conclusion, Parma City Council passed a resolution naming the pink flamingo the city's official mascot. And as the city now celebrates its bicentennial, even Cleveland's Terminal Tower will be lit up in pink to honor the occasion.
What began as poking fun at Parma's ethnic roots in the midst of a huge population boom has evolved into true civic pride.
"We are embracing the flamingo. It's no longer a joke. It's a symbol of Parma pride," said Carolyn Kovach, spokesperson for the City of Parma.
While many cities would try to squash that reputation, Parma has turned a kitschy bit of Americana into true community pride and broader local interest. Parma has been gifted organic quirky branding, something most cities could only dream of.
No word yet, though, on whether Parma will rebrand to Ghoulardi's preferred "Amrap" variation.