1. 1948
McDonald’s Timeline
1954
1955
1956
1957
1958
1959
1960
1961
1962
1963
1964
1965
1966
1967
1968
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2. 1948
In December, Dick and Mac McDonald open the first McDonald’s drive-thru restaurant in San Bernardino, California.
A little hamburger man called "Speedee" becomes the company symbol.
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3. 1954 Ray Kroc becomes franchising agent for the McDonald’s brothers.
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4. 1955
On April 15, Ray Kroc opens his first McDonald’s in Des Plaines, Illinois.
In July, Ray Kroc opens his second McDonald’s in Fresno, California.
Total sales for the company are $193,772.
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5. 1956
McDonald’s Corporation adds 12 restaurants including Chicago, Skokie, Waukegan, Joliet, and Urbana, Illinois; Hammond, Indiana; Los Angeles, Torrence, and Reseda, California; and Dallas, Texas.
Ray Kroc hires Fred Turner as a grillman in his #1 store in Des Plaines.
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6. 1957
McDonald’s becomes known for the motto "QSC" for Quality, Service, and Cleanliness.
Ray Kroc personally delivers free hamburgers to Salvation Army workers in Chicago at Christmas.
At year end, sales for McDonald’s 40 restaurants totaled $3,841,327.
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7. 1958 McDonald’s sells its 100 millionth hamburger.
Fred Turner becomes Vice President of the company.
McDonald’s annual sales skyrocket 151% over the previous year to $10,896,163.
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8. 1959 100th restaurant opens in Fond Du Lac, Wisconsin.
In total, a record 66 restaurants open.
McDonald’s begins billboard advertising.
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9. 1960 "Look for the Golden Arches," was McDonald’s first jingle.
The company celebrates its 5th anniversary, selling its 400 millionth hamburger.
Ad campaign cheers on the "All American Meal" - a hamburger, fries, and milk shake.
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10. 1961 Ray Kroc buys out the McDonald brothers for $2.7 million.
Hamburger University confers Bachelor of Hamburgerology degrees to the first graduating class.
The Golden Arches - a modernistic M - replaces "Speedee" as the company’s logo.
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11. 1962
"Go for Goodness at McDonald’s," a new advertising logo slogan is introduced.
McDonald’s sells its 700 millionth hamburger.
Magazine advertising is placed nationally for the first time in Life magazine in the October 5th issue.
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12. 1963 Hamburger University graduates its 500th student.
The one billionth McDonald’s hamburger is served by Ray Kroc on the Art Linkletter Show.
Ronald McDonald makes his debut in Washington, D.C.
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13. 1964 At year end, there are 657 restaurants.
The company’s gross sales hit $130 million.
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14. 1965
McDonald’s celebrates its 10th anniversary with the first public stock offering at $22.50 per share.
Ronald McDonald makes his first appearance in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade.
Television network advertising begins.
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15. 1966
Ronald McDonald appears in his first national television commercial.
In March, McDonald’s stock splits for the first time (3-for-2).
McDonald’s exceeds $200 million in sales, and sells its two billionth hamburger.
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16. 1967 McDonald’s All-American High School band is organized.
The first international McDonald’s restaurants open in Canada and Puerto Rico.
Operator’s National Advertising Fund (OPNAD) begins operation.
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17. 1968 The Big Mac and Hot Apple Pie are added to the menu.
The 1,000th store opens in Des Plaines, Illinois.
McDonald’s opens in Hawaii.
Average annual sales for McDonald’s restaurants open at least 13 months are $333,000.
Timeline