A Nugget of History

Original McDonald's Menu

This is a picture of the McDonald's menu from around 1956. Signs of Ray Kroc's marketing of the McDonald's franchise can be seen in the descriptions of each of the listed food options. One way Ray Kroc was able to use his marketing skills, gained in Kroc's years of experience as an entrepreneur, was in the McDonald's menu itself. By using descriptive adjectives while listing the menu items, McDonald's food gained more of an appeal in the eyes of customers. This also showcased Ray Kroc's

Hamburger University Diploma

This is a copy of the diploma from a graduate of Hamburger University. Hamburger University was a school started by Fred Turner, Ray Kroc's first grillman and former senior chairman, in the basement of a McDonald's franchise in Elk Grove Village, Illinois in 1961. There were 15 graduates from this makeshift school in its first year. With encouragement and publicity on Ray Kroc's part, there are now over 7,500 graduates a year from Hamburger University, and and almost 80,000 have graduated total.

McDonald's Franchise Ad

Expansion was key to dominating the world of fast food. By 1967, McDonald's had gone international and opened branches in countries all over the world. By 1978, the 5,00th branch of McDonald's had opened in Kanagawa, Japan.

On the Mike Douglas Show

Records show that Ray Kroc did indeed appear on the Mike Douglas show. This undoubtedly raised publicity and the number of customers McDonald's received.

McDonald's Boy

Figures such as the McDonald's Boy and the famous mascot of McDonald's, Ronald McDonald, made the restaurant more appealing to the so called "average Joe".

Original McDonald's Hamburger Bags

Original McDonald's Fry Bags

Original McDonald's Cups

Prince Castle Multi-Mixer

This image shows Ray Kroc demonstrating one of his Prince Castle Multi-Mixers to a potential customer. When the lower-priced Hamilton Beach products began to put him out of business, Ray Kroc visited the intriguing McDonald's Barbeque that had placed an order for 8 of his mixers and the McDonald's everyone knows today was born.