[Boomer]

Originally Posted by Talk Host

The Soviet Union story is big and long. Much too long to tell here.

But the clown story is this: In about 1975, McDonald's Corporation wanted to experiment with "McDonald's Family Night At The Circus." The idea was to promote McDonald's on every opening night of Ringling Brothers Circus. So they signed a deal with the circus to give it a try in conjunction with the company's 20th anniversary.

I was hired by McDonald's to be the "ring master" (ring announcer) for the first event. I welcomed everybody ( 6 or 8 thousand people) to McDonald' Family night at the circus, then introduced "EVERYBODY'S FAVORITE CLOWN.....................RONALD McDONALD." At that point, Ronald ran out to center ring with a birthday cake with 20 sparklers on it.

The sparklers were suppose to be lit, but they weren't. So, I said to Ronald, "why aren't the candles lit." He said something, I don't remember what it was, but it was only a couple of words.

That's when the **** hit the fan. It seems that Ringling Brothers Clowns are "Non Speaking Clowns" and they have (or had) a union to that effect. The union had agreed to allow Ronald to appear at the circus under the condition that he "DID NOT SPEAK."

Well, good old Jan fixed that in a hurry. I thought nothing of my conversation with Ronald until the next Monday when I got a call from McDonald's main office with instructions to appear before the top brass.

When I got into the meeting, I think it was somewhere in Illinois, I sat down in front of a bunch of ****ed off people. The first thing they said to me was, "Where in your script did it say you were suppose to ask Ronald about ******** sparklers.?"

The only thing I said was, "Ahhhhhh" before they told me to "shut up."

That's when they told me about the grievance and that the circus has decided to "NOT" work with them on "McDonald's Family Night at The Circus."

It was explained to me, in a rather forthright manner, that when one works for McDonald's, one does exactly what one is told and nothing more.

I was then allowed to slink out of the conference room. I sure am glad I had a day job.

But, TH, what happened to Ronald? I bet that was his day job.

What's the rest of the story?

Boomer Harvey

[Talk Host]

Originally Posted by Boomer

But, TH, what happened to Ronald? I bet that was his day job.

What's the rest of the story?

Boomer Harvey

I don't know what was said to him. They didn't confide in me.

Robert "King" Moody (December 6, 1929 - February 7, 2001) was an American actor, best known for playing Ronald McDonald in commercials in the 1970s. He also played Shtarker in the television series Get Smart, spaceship captain in Teenagers From Outer Space and other roles in some 40 movies and television episodes including Bonanza, Chips, Combat, The Man From U.N.C.L.E., Dragnet and Sea Hunt.

He was born on December 6, 1929 in New York City. Moody died February 7, 2001 in Tarzana, California.

[Boomer]

Ronald was in contract violation big time that day. He should have stayed in character no matter what you did. My guess is he was history.

Please steer clear of those guards at Buckingham Palace, OK?

Boomer

[K9-Lovers]

PAGE 2 . . . . very interesting story! Thanks!

[Sparky-30]

Willard Scott as Ronald McDonald
Added July 7! We now have the first three Ronald McDonald commercials in video format!

In the early 1960s, in addition to his radio work, Willard Scott played Bozo the Clown on a local children's TV show. Children love clowns and hamburgers, so it was only natural for Bozo the Clown to make an appearance when the first McDonald's hamburger stand opened in Alexandria, Virginia. Willard tells the story in his book, The Joy Of Living:

At the time, Bozo was the hottest children's show on the air. You could probably have sent Pluto the Dog or Dumbo the Elephant over and it would have been equally as successful. But I was there, and I was Bozo... There was something about the combination of hamburgers and Bozo that was irresistable to kids... That's why when Bozo went off the air a few years later, the local McDonald's people asked me to come up with a new character to take Bozo's place. So, I sat down and created Ronald McDonald.


So Ronald McDonald was born, wearing a paper cup on his nose and a cardboard carry-out tray on his head. (Notice the milk shake, hamburger, and fries on top of the tray.)

McDonald's corporate web site credits Willard as being the first Ronald McDonald. Unfortunately, McDonald's chose another actor when they took the character into a nationwide ad campaign.


Willard started playing Ronald in 1963, while the Joy Boys were going strong on WRC. The first Ronald McDonald commercials were filmed that year, with Willard on camera, and Joy Boys partner Ed Walker doing the voice-over announcements. We have three of those commercials here, in audio clips with still frame images. Or, click here for video clips instead!

McDonald's spot #1 - meet the kids

McDonald's spot #2 - never talk to strangers

McDonald's spot #3 - to the moon, Ronald!



If 1963 doesn't take you back far enough, you can listen to this clip from the Joy Boys 1961 New Year's show (MP3, 275K) in which they read a live spot for McDonald's... now with eight restaurants in the Washington DC area!

[BogeyBoy]

Speaking of McDonalds, I knew the inventor of the Egg McMuffin - Herb Peterson. Died a couple of years ago. He owned the McDonalds franchise in Santa Barbara.

[graciegirl]

I thought my mom invented the egg mcmuffin.

[Pturner]

There once was a clown named Ronald
'Twas the "Golden Arch"-Duke of McDonalds
TH gave him critique
Prompting Ronald to speak
And to top brass were both of them herald

[BogeyBoy]

Originally Posted by graciegirl

I thought my mom invented the egg mcmuffin.

Did she know Herb? He took all the credit.

[swrinfla]

I'm impressed/amazed/amused/whatever by all these tales! How can I compete when one of my most exciting/interesting moments was briefing a four-star general, essentially unprepared, as a brand-new captain? Ages and ages ago!

Some 40 years later, I am still somewhat tongue-tied when I encounter a flag officer, but I must admit to NOT being intimidated any more! After all, he/she puts on his/her pants just the same way I do! Or, so they tell me!

SWR

[Boomer]

When MCD went public in 1965, a hundred shares would have cost $2250. Lots of splits since then. Those 100 shares are now 74,360 shares, according to the investors' section of MCD's website.

They started paying a dividend in 1976. At today's price per share, the dividend is a little over 3%. Beats a CD huh?

But (sigh) I do not own any of this one. I gave it a look when it was in the 50's not too long ago, but I did not buy. Just kept clowning around with the idea. It's closing above 70 now. But.....maybe next time. (At least, kicking myself is good exercise I guess.)

http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/in...formation.html

What was this thread about again? ----- Oh yeah, stuff we did.....I flew on the Concorde. New York to Heathrow, 3 hours, 18 minutes. Nope, I am not a rock star, nor do I have 74,360 shares of MCD. I found a really good deal that was on in the 90's to promote the QEII. -- That was our ride back home.

Mach 2 Boomer

[bestmickey]

When a youngster, walking to grade school in the morning, I met Fats Domino and others in his band. They were filling their car up with gas at a station I had to walk past. Got their autograph (have since lost it). Didn't realize it at the time, but they had played in Albany the night before and had just left an "after party".

[bkcunningham1]

Originally Posted by bestmickey

When a youngster, walking to grade school in the morning, I met Fats Domino and others in his band. They were filling their car up with gas at a station I had to walk past. Got their autograph (have since lost it). Didn't realize it at the time, but they had played in Albany the night before and had just left an "after party".

Nuh-uh!!??

[bestmickey]

Yup! I even remember that being so young, Fats was quite surprised that I knew who he was. I knew because I had many older siblings, so I was pretty advanced in the type of music I liked at such a young age.

[bandsdavis]

This reminded me of another unique incident I expereinced. In the late 70's, I worked in the HR department of Brookstone Co when they were just beginning to open stores. I spent a week in Philadelphia interviewing prospective employees in a hotel conference room all day and into the evening for the store to be opened in the Center City part of Philly. I got to the hotel Sunday night around 7 PM, and decided to get some kind of TV magazine, since I was going to be there all week and wouldn't have any energy in the evenings to do much. Went to the front desk, asked for a TV listing of some kind, and was told the "black man standing over there just got the last one." OK, no big deal, but before I could leave, the " black man" and his 3 buddies came over to me, and he said that they were only going to be at the hotel for 2 nights and would be pretty busy, and they had seen all they needed to in the TV listing, so he gave it to me. Well, I thought that was a pretty nice gesture. I remember thinking he looked familiar, but couldn't place him. Got up to my room, turned on the TV, and an ad came on for a big Soul show the next night, starring Smokey Robinson and the Miracles. Yup, it was Smokey himself who gave me the last TV magazine! And I wasn't even sharp to ask him to autograph it for me!

B.