NEWS: I'm Sorry That I Got Fat: McDonald's Turns 50

CULTURE: I'm Sorry That I Got Fat: McDonald's Turns 50

50 years ago (from April 15th to be exact) McDonald's founder Ray Kroc started the first of his restaurants in Illinois. Now, five decades later, the golden arches have become a universal symbol of cheap fast greasy eats and/or the decadent excesses of hegemonic global capitalism.

We're increasing living in an age where fatter and fatter American kids live amidst a world of children who probably wish they had that problem. McDonald's, second only to the ubiquity of Coca Colonization, has become a weird symbol of Americanism and the sometimes less-than-voluntarily expansion of its globalist principles.

Closer to home, people like Morgan Spurlock have asked whether a McDiet is really such a good idea. While the makers of Bowling For Morgan have asked whether stuffing yourself with the worst fast food possible in order to prove a dubious point is really such a good idea.

And maybe a McJob is the worst possible job you can have. Or maybe, as Jeff Jarvis points out, it's the "best first job a young person could have because every job that follows will be easier and pay better."

So happy 50th, McD's. I still get both a shiver of dread and a slight twinge of relief when I see your arches up ahead. Knowing, if all else fails, I can always put on 60lbs. if a major Hollywood blockbuster featuring me calls for it.

Noone should eat from McDonalds. Ever.

the last time i checked, ronald mcdonald wasn't putting a gun to anybody's head to make them eat his food

morgan spurlock's next documentary should be about how, if you drink enough bleach, you will die

Roy Kroc didn't open the first McDonalds.

Wait, are you saying that eating McDonalds is not healthy for me?

If so... thats news to me...

I wonder if they will bring out McSushi then I might be interested har har

Damn nitpickers. Ok.

He opened the first McDonald's franchise. Not restaurant itself. As for who did that. fuckifIknow

Mad props for the Wesley Willis reference in the title.

The first Kroc/McDonalds is in my hometown of Des Plaines, Illinois. It was an operating McD's (known as Store #1) until they built a new place right across the street, christened it Store #1, tore down the original, and then rebuilt a new replica (now the museum) in its place.

The original building footprint and sign was a little too close to a still-operating SRO hotel next door, so the rebuilt ones were moved a bit on the site.

I'm surprised I haven't seen any posters of James Dean, Elvis, Marilyn Monroe, Bogart and Brando sitting in a pink Cadillac out front of the McDonald's Museum titled "Lost In The '50s Tonight".

If I were king I'd seize all the McDonalds restaurants and start giving the food away for free. It's gotta be cheaper than food stamps . . .

I'd have to agree. Those lawsuits against McD's are pretty much bupkus. Bad food makes ME gain weight, but you don't see ME suing. I just eat fruit and veggies. Plus the occasional baby.

-TM

[Edited on Apr 16, 2005 11:46AM]

i haven't eaten mickey d's in 3 years, but being a fan of greasy spoons and burgers, i bet those first mcdonalds burgers and fries were fucking delicious.

I'm not so sure about that. I'm pretty sure the secret sauce is made from the blood of the underclasses, and contains MSG.

bowling for morgan is the stupidest thing ever.

From what I've read, they stopped frying the fries on beef tallow years ago - about the same time they discontinued the old-school fried cherry pies.

I think that's when they stopped tasting so good.

Never forget the role of the public in McDonald's success. It's easy to blame them for making us fat, but come on, we can exercise our own choices and take responsibility for our decisions.

As they say, charity begins at home.

I still like to eat breakfast at McDonald's every now and then.

i thought the first McD was in San Bernadino. Thats what it says in Fast Food Nation anway.

i like there bacon roles but don't eat anything else from them

I'm going to have that Wesley Willis song stuck in my head all day now -- thanks!

I loved the fried cherry pies and the fries that were made in beef tallow. They tasted great! They used to toast the hamburger buns, too.

Ironically enough, I might still eat at McDonald's once in a while if they still did the pies, fries and buns the older, less-healthy way since they tasted so good.

Now their stuff tastes like crap, so why would anyone who remembers how it used to be even bother going there anymore?

Before I got fat, I was slim.

baby casserole..hmmmmmmmm

I will slim down.

That was this time when I was eating McDonalds
I kept eating McDonald's for five years from 1987...
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