Art Institute commissions new helmets for famous lions

January 22, 2007 (WLS) -- History is about to be repeated outside the Art Institute of Chicago. Those famous lions will once again don Bears helmets like they did in 1986.

The lions are a popular sight in Chicago. During the recent World Series they sported White Sox hats. The two giant Chicago Bears helmets that rested on the lions at the entrance of the Art Institute for the 1985 team were auctioned off years ago. One Hanover Park businessman who owns one of those helmets brought it out of storage to celebrate the Bears return to the Super Bowl.

In 1990, Jim Wilson's best friend purchased the famous 1985 bears Helmet for $50 in an auction and surprised him by placing it on his front lawn. It was in storage until he and his son-in-law decided to put it in the entrance to their business, Wilson Pet Supply.

The two giant Chicago Bears helmets made to salute the 1985 Super Bowl team were originally placed on the two lions outside the entrance of the Art Institute.

"I have been a Bears fan since I was a young boy. It is special to me. I never forgot about it," said Jim Wilson, Wilson Pet Supply.

The Art Institute commissioned a sculptor to make the oversized Bears helmets to fit the stone lions. One helmet was stolen by thieves. It was later recovered, and then sent on to the Super Bowl.

"We decided to clean it up and put it on display. It is good karma," said Larry Robinson, Wilson Pet Supply.

Wilson and his son-in law have offered to give the helmet back to the museum. The Art Institute of Chicago released a statement: "We appreciate the spirit, but we auctioned the helmets and benefited from the sale. We'd like you to keep them. We are making new helmets."

"I still think this might be a luckier piece then a brand new one," Wilson said.

Tony Vialpando of the design company Chicago Scenic Studios is in charge of making the new helmets . They will be made of fiberglass and look different from the old ones.

"What we decided to do is go with the newer Chicago Bears helmet. Both lions are so different that each helmet has to be fitted per lion. We've decided to simplify the grill. We're going with more of a kicker's style grill with two bars coming across," said Tony Vialpando, Chicago Scenic Studios.

The Wilson family is enjoying having the helmet on display at the warehouse.

Chicago Scenic Studios will be working through the weekend and next week to have the new helmets ready to go for The Art Institute lions to wear by the end of the week.

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