Mcdonald's

[starsky]

i took my 5 and 3 year old there for the first time and they loved it! i remember when the sno cone first came out back in the 80's... they were only 25 cents!!

[Corellian Corvette]

If you have an A&W anywhere near you, it's a real treat. Great burgers, and they have a similar apple pie to the old McDonalds one. I wish there was one closer it might be the best fast-food burger next to In-n-Out!

[HardyGirl]

Growing up in NYC, Mom didn't have a car and the nearest McD's was 10 blocks away. So since we had to walk, it really was a treat. But I was a pre-happy meal kid. I liked when McD's marketed their own characters and had those great McDonaldland commercials. (I have a bunch on tape). I remember when you could buy a large soda and get those great McD's glasses w/ Ronald and the gang, wrist coin holders, Hamburglar dolls, calendars w/ code breakers and coupons on every page, Happy Lids (mini frisbees), stickers, 50 cent gift certificates, Triple Ripple cones, (remember those?) and McDonaldland cookies and fried apple and cherry pies! I remember wishing for Ronald to come and visit, but since he only did the grand openings in the burbs, it wasn't meant to be. Too bad kids today will never know the magic of McD's in the 70s.

[jwyblejr]

Man,that was the best thing about class trips,being able to go eat there on your way back to school.

[toys2cool]

Thinking back, it is hard to believe that my parents thought it was a good idea to have us eat so much of that stuff! But man, did it taste good....and bringing the food home and eating in front of the tube or while playing atari 2600 or even the bally astrocade, with the grease helping the joystick action....

Anyone ever get close to winning the old mcdonalds monopoly game??? my brother and I had one letter missing each time! they only made like 10 of that one letter for the whole country....

The only thing i ever got out of the Monopoly game was winning free food and about 10lbs on my *** from super sizing everything

[Wee67]

Anyone ever get close to winning the old mcdonalds monopoly game??? my brother and I had one letter missing each time! they only made like 10 of that one letter for the whole country....

In middle school< i had a friend who worked at the local 'D' and we stole two shopping bags filled with those Monopoly game pieces. We spent a few hours peeling them open and we didn't win squat! We won a bunch of food, but not a single dime. It made me wonder if anyone could win.

On a more pleasant note, did you ever get those great McDonald's gift certificates for Christmas. I used to love the ads when the holidays rolled around. 50-cents a piece! And when you scored a $5 book!!!
YouTube - McDonalds Gift Certificates, 1978-12-17

[SeattleEd]

Do you guys actually remember when it was a real treat to get to go to McDonald's back in the day?

Yes, during summer it was a major treat. Going swimming in the pool, taking a break to hit McD's and then go swiming later into the summer evening.
Seemed magical especially with all those characters. The one near me would have Ronald and the crew show up on a weekend, usually Saturday and they would have free Ice Cream cones and balloons. Plus special prizes. Now the place is so corporate bland and no zest. The menus aren't colorful and elaborate. Just streamlined for efficiency to have you buy and move you out like slaughtered cattle.
I do miss the old Grimace, old Hamburglar, Professor, Mayor McCheese, Big Mac and Captain Crook.

Anyone remember Farrell's Ice Cream Parlour? That was awesome.

[Mawni]

Have you seen that movie called "Dick" that's about Richard Nixon? It was set in the 70s and the two main characters screw it up so that the rest of their class can't go to McDonald's after their field trip. Everyone on the school bus is super-****ed!

[megoscott]

I remember someone having a birthday party at McDonalds. We got a tour of the back and they showed us a movie about hamburger university where managers go to school. which was the coolest thing ever.

[HardyGirl]

On a more pleasant note, did you ever get those great McDonald's gift certificates for Christmas. I used to love the ads when the holidays rolled around. 50-cents a piece! And when you scored a $5 book!!!
YouTube - McDonalds Gift Certificates, 1978-12-17

I've been looking for that ad on You Tube! Thanks for posting it. I always wished for those certificates, but I didn't get one. But I did get the coupons in the calendars, though.