‘American Pickers’ Friends Plan Bizarre Frank Fritz Memorial
American Pickers fans recently saw the tragic loss of Frank Fritz this past September. Since then, his friends have planned a memorial in his honor. However, news has come out that Fritz’s friends will pay tribute to him in a surprising way.
Frank Fritz Was Part of American Pickers At The Very Start
Frank Fritz first came to prominence on History’s American Pickers. Appearing as early as the first episode, Fritz and co-host Mike Wolfe traveled around the United States looking for antiques, all in the search of treasure. Just as Wolfe was known for his business, Antique Archaeology, Fritz was also known for his own shop, Frank Fritz Finds, in which he would sell acquisitions.
Fritz stopped appearing on the show around 2021. Tragically, he passed away on September 30, 2024, at the age of 60. This happened two years after he suffered a stroke.
As noted by The U.S. Sun, Fritz’s friends have planned a memorial in honor of the late American Pickers star. Some of the details are what has been planned have since come out.
Reportedly, Fritz’s friends will have someone impersonate Fritz in a skit during the proceedings. Reportedly, the impersonator will pretend to be “standing in a jail cell,” with a skit inspired by the Popeye cartoon character. Jerry Gendreau, a friend of Fritz’s and owner of his store, Frank Fritz Finds, will even use a 1960s jail cell for the skit.
Gendreau explained, “I need someone to play Frank of that stature. We’re going to put Frank’s head on top. I got our friend, who we call Popeye, in there. They’re going to be in the jail cell. We have Olive Oil outside the jail cell with a big cartoon caption, ‘I told you boys to be good!’ Frank would laugh.” He added that the dedication will “showcase what his life really was.”
Gendreau also shared some details on what the dedication will look like. He shared, “We’re having multiple bands that weekend. These were bands that Frank knew and loved.” Chris Davis, who was Frank’s guardianship during a conservatorship, is also set to play with his band to honor Fritz.
In addition, Jerry plans on opening a bar called “Man Cave.” The place will be dedicated to Fritz. It will feature a theater in the back that will run clips of Fritz. His personal motorcycles and photographs will also be on display.
Jerry Gendreau Also Shared On What He Missed Most About His Friend
Gendreau added, “The theater will or could showcase him in a very good light. Some of the comedic things he has said. It’s going to be a movie gallery. It’ll show clips of Frank.”
“The motorcycles he bought. Some of the motorcycles there were Frank’s at one point. I bought a motorcycle and sign from Frank probably 10-12 years ago when they were first doing the show. It was on the show when he bought that.”
“All of our lives are pretty short on the earth. His was cut real short. We’re going to make that space dedicated to Frank. He’d like that. It will be there as long as I still own it.”
Gendreau also took note of what he missed the most about his late friend. As he shared, “I miss some of the dumb things he would do. He would come through the door and he was just fun. If you ever had a friend that when they left you had a smile on your face, then you know they’re somebody you want to be around.”
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