Talk:Richard and Maurice McDonald

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Article needs work[edit]

i wouldn't attempt to edit this article myself, but there are things in here that i don't think are correct. for example the article states that the book called "The Complete Hamburger" is out of print and being reprinted as the book called "Ronald Mcdonald's International Burger Book" and yet here they BOTH are available for purchase on Ronald Mcdonald's website: [1]

the article also states that the first mcdonald's brothers restaurant was opened in 1940 but on Ronald Mcdonald's website there is a picture described as being the first mcdonald's opened by the brothers in 1948 before they were using the arches, here: [2]

i hope that someone will be able to check into this and correct any mistakes. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Secrativegirl (talkcontribs) 14:50, 15 April 2006 (UTC)[reply]

While this article needs work, this particular detail is not a mistake; the brothers started their (barbecue) restaurant in 1940, but converted it into the streamlined fast-food hamburger format (that McD's is still based on today) in 1948. BTW, please sign your name with four tildes (~~~~).  ProhibitOnions  (T) 15:18, 24 July 2006 (UTC)[reply]
I’m sure this will not be read by the proper person but I hope you will pass it along to someone who might be able to help this situation. I am an 87 year old lady who is addicted to your frappe’ and hot caramel mochas when I feel cold. I go by one of the three in my area every single day to purchance one or the other. Today, I had to pay $4.39 for a medium frappe’. It is highly frustrating when I can’t get the code! I realize the code can only be used once a day, but half the time there is a reason the code doesn’t work, I don’t attempt to use it more than ONCE a day ,, please try to correct this. Thank you,
Loretta Joyce 2601:5C6:C200:B840:F579:A229:C268:3B99 (talk) 20:55, 27 October 2023 (UTC)[reply]

Almonds?[edit]

I removed the "McDonald's put almonds in the beef" story, because on the face of it it is rather hard to believe. If it's true, please cite a source and add more details (where, when). Robaato 11:24, 30 October 2006 (UTC)[reply]

"During the writing of the book, Dick and Mac requested use of archive photos from the McDonald's Corporation. " That's supposed to have been in 1998. According to the article. But Mac had been dead for 27 years already. Ronald instead? Most likely, but neither would I attempt to change anything in this confusing article. KVVK —Preceding unsigned comment added by 87.110.178.74 (talk) 15:08, August 25, 2007 (UTC)

WP:FOOD Tagging[edit]

This article talk page was automatically added with {{WikiProject Food and drink}} banner as it falls under Category:Restaurants or one of its subcategories. If you find this addition an error, Kindly undo the changes and update the inappropriate categories if needed. You can find the related request for tagging here -- TinucherianBot (talk) 09:06, 2 July 2008 (UTC)[reply]

Is "Neil Fox" referred therein also "Dave" then referred to?[edit]

In the article, "Dave" suddenly appears where the preceding statement refers to and implies "Neil Fox". ¿Qué? —Preceding unsigned comment added by 84.92.40.167 (talk) 18:55, 11 July 2009 (UTC)[reply]

Archibald Campbell[edit]

Please do not revert the edit I made (accidentally as 71.104.206.216) to Deaths. That is my great-great-grandfather and I think the public should know about this. I am very sensitive about it so please don't revert it. BriMaster2 (talk) 05:24, 17 November 2009 (UTC)[reply]

McDonald's first franchised restaurant[edit]

To see pictures of McDonald's first franchised restaurant (1955) go to Google > Images and search: McDonald's Phoenix 1953. The restaurant was located at 4050 N. Central Avenue, Phoenix, Arizona. 22 April 2012 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.22.236.166 (talk) 20:58, 22 April 2012 (UTC)[reply]

Ancestry[edit]

The claim to Irish ancestry badly needs citation. It is all very well an author writing that they have seen copies of census records but this isn't good enough for other articles therefore not good enough for this one. — Preceding unsigned comment added by Mrspy (talkcontribs) 21:15, 9 September 2013 (UTC)[reply]

I've removed it since the whole thing was unsourced. From what I've seen (vaguely) they were actually of Scots stock.--English Bobby (talk) 17:34, 11 December 2013 (UTC)[reply]
It was not unsourced [1] and [2] and the Surname 'MC Donald' is Irish the Scottish version is 'MAC Donald'. I put their ancestry back in. — Preceding unsigned comment added by EddieQuist81 (talkcontribs) 02:52, 6 December 2014 (UTC)[reply]

The name McDonald is NOT Irish -- the McDonalds were just another branch of the MacDonald clan. The same applies to other Highland clans, such as the McLeods and Mcleans. — Preceding unsigned comment added by 89.242.90.138 (talk) 19:01, 11 April 2018 (UTC)[reply]

This silly practice of fighting over the ancestry of every prominent American with a Scottish-sounding name is getting tiresome. The irony here is that the surname McDonald is listed as having both an Irish and Scottish origin, and there are plenty of examples of Irish and Irish-American McDonalds who are listed as such in reliable sources. One of them is William Joseph McDonald, the Irish-born auxiliary bishop of the Catholic Archdiocese of San Francisco during the late 60s. I haven't seen any editors claiming an "Ulster Scots" heritage for this individual, for obvious reasons.
In any event, assigning ethnicities or ancestries to individuals based on the origins of their surnames is a dubious practice to begin with. I searched all the sources that mention the ancestry of the McDonalds of fast food fame, and I can't find one that says anything about them being "Ulster Scots", "Scots-Irish", or Scots anything. They are described as the sons of Irish immigrants, and that's what the article should stick to.Jonathan f1 (talk) 04:06, 22 June 2020 (UTC)[reply]

In census records they are Irish. The father Patrick McDonald was born in Co Kerry. Also having the name Patrick would be unusual for Scots at that time. The mother is a Curran and was also born in Co Kerry. When are Census records not indicative of someone's ancestry? Also the actual link in the main article also states they were Irish. — Preceding unsigned comment added by MairiC (talkcontribs) 07:57, 28 August 2022 (UTC)[reply]

References

Precursor to McDonalds San Bernadino[edit]

See historical information on their 1937-1940 food and drink facility in Monrovia, California article. 3 July 2014 — Preceding unsigned comment added by 92.22.169.230 (talk) 00:16, 3 July 2014 (UTC)[reply]

Uncited material in need of citations[edit]

I am moving the following uncited material here until it can be properly supported with inline citations of reliable, secondary sources, per WP:V, WP:CS, WP:IRS, WP:PSTS, WP:BLP, WP:NOR, et al. This diff shows where it was in the article. Nightscream (talk) 02:03, 27 May 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Extended content

Careers[edit]

In 1937, the McDonald brothers opened a hot dog stand in Monrovia, California, inspired by a local hot dog stand that seemed to be the only profitable business in town, and which primarily served patrons at a local racetrack. However, the stand had few customers after racing season ended.[citation needed]

Maurice decided to open a bigger hot dog stand in San Bernardino, a large working-class town approximately 50 miles (80 km) eastward, with a population of approximately 100,000 people. After several banks declined to lend them the money needed for this venture, Bank of America finally approved, and in 1940, with $5,000 in capital, they opened a drive-in restaurant on the corner of 1398 North E Street and West 14th Street (34°07′32″N 117°17′41″W / 34.1255°N 117.2946°W / 34.1255; -117.2946).

The new restaurant proved a success and the brothers were soon making $40,000 a year. Most customers were teenage or young adult males in their 20s who came primarily to flirt with the carhop young women, or young working families looking for a cheap meal. The McDonald brothers decided that the latter were the customers they wanted to attract.[citation needed]

After a couple years, the brothers began making plans to renovate their business model based on the lessons they had learned. One of these involved finding a more efficient way to service customers than the carhop young women, whom they considered slow, unreliable workers who spent too much time flirting with customers to increase their tips. Another was that hamburgers accounted for a large proportion of total sales. The griddles were much easier to clean than grills and burgers were faster to assemble than sandwiches.[citation needed]

While this new "McDonald's," situated at the same address, was still premised on most customers arriving by car, its design was unique due to a combination of factors:

  • Like the brothers' previous food stands, the design deliberately omitted an interior dining area.
  • There was no waiting staff; orders were taken in person at the front counter, where the food was also delivered.
  • The brothers designed the kitchen area themselves, integrating their acquired knowledge into an assembly line–style layout that maximized efficiency and output.
  • The burgers were pre-cooked and kept warm.[citation needed]

At first they only franchised the system, rather than the name of their restaurant. Later, the brothers started franchising the entire concept, with restaurants in the googie architecture style built to a standard design, created by Fontana, California, architect Stanley Clark Meston, and featuring Richard's suggestion of the paired Golden Arches, which formed an M when viewed from an angle.[citation needed] The brothers wished to maintain only a small number of restaurants, which conflicted with Kroc's goals. Ray Kroc eventually bought them out in 1961.[citation needed]

Death and legacy[edit]

He was buried at Desert Memorial Park, in Cathedral City, California.[citation needed]

His wife Dorothy died January 10, 1999. She is buried at his side.

Dates of birth[edit]

They're missing from the article. -- Jack of Oz [pleasantries] 22:23, 19 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

If you have reliable, published sources for them, then feel free to add them. Nightscream (talk) 21:37, 20 July 2021 (UTC)[reply]

Images Requested[edit]