Little Irvy
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Little Irvy was a traveling sideshow attraction in the United States from late 1967 until the mid-1990s. The body of the 20-ton sperm whale was hauled around the country by trucker Jerry "Tyrone" Malone in Old Blue, a refrigerated tractor-trailer.[1]
The whale was purchased in 1967 for $6,000 from the Del-Monte Fishing Company, which had captured the whale off the coast of Santa Barbara, California, with plans to sell the carcass for dog food.[2] After the whale was harpooned, it was frozen by pumping 40 tons of liquid nitrogen pumped throughout the carcass.[3]: 333 It was then kept in a glass tank in the refrigerated truck, with a sign reading "This Exhibit Is Dedicated to the Preservation of Whales".[3]: 333 Despite the name, Irvy was a female whale specimen.[4]
On July 9, 1967, the frozen whale made its debut at San Francisco's Fisherman's Wharf, and traveled the state fair and roadside attraction circuit for over 25 years.[2]
After Malone's death in 1997, Little Irvy was buried in Tulare, California.[4]
