The First Ever McDonald's & What It Was Like To Eat There

No golden arches, a horrifying clown, and meals for a buck? Let's head back in time to the very first McDonald's. Cheeseburger fans, welcome to the Promised Land! This is a look at the first ever McDonald's and what it was like to eat there.

#McDonalds #FastFood #History

It was in San Bernardino, California | 0:00
The founders worked hard | 1:25
You might have eaten barbecue | 1:59
McDonald's efficiency | 2:57
The walk-up window | 4:04
The meal cost less than a dollar | 5:09
Ray Kroc's milkshake machines | 5:58
Ronald McDonald was not the first mascot | 7:10
No golden arches | 8:34

[MashedFood]

What would your order be if you went back in time to eat at the first ever McDonald's?

[RonaldReaganRocks]

So, the brothers were named Dick and Mac. I can see why they named it the "Big Mac, " and not the "Big Dick."

[margaret]

I may have said this before, but I worked at the first McDonald's in Toledo, OH, back in late summer of 1959. Yes, the hamburgers were 15 cents, cheeseburgers and fries were 19 cents and shakes were very cheap as well. I was the bun man, which means I prepared the
buns for the burgers. After working a 4 hour shift, we got free food, and that almost better than the hourly pay to me.

[voodookitchenmama]

I remember 15 cent burgers and a walk up window. The golden arches were outside of the building. Mom treated us to a meal after grocery shopping every two weeks. We all had the same thing. Burgers, fries, and a small drink. It was a huge thing for us to get such a treat.

[steveemail]

The genius of Ray Kroc and the McDonald's corporation, is that the Corporation owns all of the land Franchises sit on. If you want to own a McDonalds' you have to lease the land from McDonal's Corporation. They are one of the largest real estate holders in the world. They make as much money (if not more) from their land lease deals as they do from sales of the restaurants.

[williamborges]

When I was a small child in the early 1950s my parents would occasionally pass through San Bernardino during Sunday drives. A cheap lunch at the original McDonald's was a sure thing. The menu was simple, really simple . . . burgers, cheeseburgers and doubles. Most memorable were the terrible, limp and peel-festooned store-made fries and slobby patrons who dumped their trash out of their car windows onto the parking lot. A poor white-uniformed teenager was always on duty to sweep up the mess. Ah! The good ol' days!

[edjarrett]

I remember early 60’s standing in line with my Dad. It was at least four lines of patrons, and burgers were $.50 each. The deal was also that you got a discount or order free if they couldn’t deliver in 2 minutes. I didn’t understand business as a toddler, but thought this was an amazing business. That outlook hasn’t changed today.

[avexp]

We used to to McDoanld's for dinner on Sundays when they opened a restaurant in South Bend, Indiana back in the mid-60s. If you're old enough to remember the original, red-and-white tiled hamburger stand McDonald's, that's what it was. You went inside and placed your order, and once you had your food, you either ate it in the car or took it home. There were small benches molded into each side of the building, but that was it. No seating inside. Hamburgers were 15 cents. Frankly, I thought their fries were greasy, but their vanilla shakes were great. After eating, we'd go on a Sunday drive

[mizfrenchtwist]

wow, i remember as a youngster, our town had a mcdonald's, and the building actually had big lighted golden arches . they started at the front bottoms of both sides of the building, arched up at the top and went down both sides of the back bottom, it's no longer there, what a loss.☹☹☹☹. great share, great memories, thank you, for

[michaelplanchunas]

In the mid 1980s my wife was the secretary to Bert Murray of Murray Restaurant Supply, a wholesaler, in Colton Ca. Mr Murray told her how Ray Croc was introduced to the McDonald brothers. One of the supply salesmen who called on him was Ray Kroc. Kroc complained that he couldn't get in to see the brothers to sell them the new Hamilton Beach Multimixers. Mr Murray said "get your hat, and I'll drive". That is how Kroc met the McDonald brothers. In 1987 Murry's 50th year in business invitations went out to his customers and friends for a celebration. Soon after, the phone rang, my wife answered, and it was Richard McDonald calling from Bar Harbor Maine. He wasn't able to make the dinner having just undergone eye surgery and was calling to offer his apologies for not making the dinner and asked for a call back from Mr Murray. Thirty-five years later, there aren't many people around who can say they spoke with a world-wide legend.

[cindystrachan]

It seems weird now but when we were on road trips back in the 60’s we loved looking at the McDonald’s signs counting the number of burgers sold. And when I was 16 you could get a burger, fries and a drink for 1.50. Since fast food was still fairly rare the trip itself was an adventure.

[rockerbob]

I was born in Downey California and they have the oldest standing McDonald’s. My parents ate there and my grandparents took us there as kids. I believe it’s the only McDonald’s with 1 arch at each end of the building

[tete]

I went to the McDonald's museum there a few years ago and I really liked it, it was quite interesting. They do have an old location in Downey, CA that's pretty cool. They have a little museum and that location still sells the fried apple pies!

[tonyweinzatl]

1955 - The First McDonald’s Opens
Kroc opens his first McDonald's in Des Plaines, Illinois on April 15. The attention getting red and white tiled building with the Golden Arches was designed by architect Stanley Meston in 1953. First day sales are $366.12.

[melvinsimcox]

An added attraction was that if your receipt had a star on it the order was free in the early 1950's! Ate many a meal at the San Bernardino location in the 1950's. In those days the French Fries were exceptional. Potatoes were ordered about a week ahead of time and stored in a shed behind the store where they would lose some moisture in the dry semi-arid climate which was perfect for good tasting fries.

[markkrauklis]

In 1967 I worked at a McDonalds that looked almost identical. Western Ave. and Rte. 30, Lincoln Hwy., Chicago Heights, IL. Hamburger 15 cents, Cheeseburger 20 cents, fries 15 cents. My wage; 90 cents/hr. and I was GLAD to have the job!!!!🥰🤩😍

[allanjones]

I'm getting a bit tired of people saying Ronald McDonald was a horrifying clown....i grew up in the 70's at the height of Ronald's popularity and not once did I my siblings or any or of our friends ever think of Ronald McDonald as horrifying....in fact we looked forward to him visiting our local Mcdonald's every

[homegrownson]

As a Kid born in 1955 in late 60' to perhaps even early 70s, you could order a Burger, Fries and a Small Drink for $1

[anythingandeverythingwithjp]

My grandma lived in San Bernardino and went to that McDonalds, pretty cool!

[journeyquest]

My mother who just died, worked at the 1st McDonalds in San Bernaghetto. I still live in the Inland Empire.