My dad drove us kids 12 miles to the nearest McDonalds to us on his payday....going to McDonalds once or twice a month was a huge treat for a kid in the 1970’s...🙂
They were the best and they were so cheap too. Usually 2 for a dollar. They had this crispy cinnamon taste that you couldn’t get anywhere else. Then they changed them to be healthier which is so dumb, and they are $1.69 for 1 pie now 🤦🏽♂️ we used to always buy pies, not anymore.
I remember the fried apple pies, they were the best, but beware if you bit into one that was recently made, the molten lava apple filling would melt your mouth.
I recall our "local" McDonalds with no dining room. Once, as my Dad was coming home from work during a snow storm, he stopped there and they were closing early so they gave him BAGS of food free. We kids thought Heaven had come to earth!! 60 years ago. 😊
That’s awesome...my aunt worked at McDonald’s as a teen in like 76-78...she still lived in my grandmas house (that’s mine now),,and she would bring bags of cheeseburgers and reg hamburgers home and me and my brother were just kids(7&8) we loved it too...that McDonald’s is right around the corner but their food is gross now .
Such a blessing for y'all! Thanx for telling us the story; it's kinda like George Muller, but without the praying, and I'm not even Christian! I'm gonna get flack for stating my opinions and beliefs, but I hope you have a wonderful day!
If even teens getting their first job are making $15 an hour, prepare for the "value menu" prices to look a lot more like the regular menu does today, and the regular menu to rise to near fast casual/gourmet burger joint levels. Nothing isnt without consequence..
I'm wondering why people are answering you with replies about $15 an hour when the minimum wage hasn't even been raised yet. The prices have been going up without any minimum wage increase.
@John Doe Absolutely it will, and they know this. The people it will hurt the most are...wait for it...the ones making $15 per hour. Most of them wont have full time hours at that wage (closer to $18 hr the employer is paying) and even if they do..baseline prices will rise to meet the new pay baseline.
My first experience with McDonald's, was in Germany. During the early 1980's, my family did this as a special occasion maybe twice a year at most. I was a small child at the time and we would journey far, travelling some 2-3 hours to get there. But once we arrived, it was indeed the most rewarding experience as though we had reached the holy land filled with anticipation and crowded with lines extending well outside of the restaurant. Not unusual to wait in line upwards of an hour or more, just to place the order and obtain seating. I remember how it was a two-story building with what seemed like an amusement park style play place, a powerful incentive for a small child to redeem as the reward for good behavior and eating all of one's food. By the time we were done eating and had spent a little bit of time playing in the play place afterwards, the day would be over upon returning. I would always fall asleep on the way back home, a child intoxicated with what seemed like such enchanting feelings. Kids nowadays, have no idea how much appreciation they should really have for an establishment that's taken as all too commonly for granted. It's amazing how impressionable of an experience it all really was back then.
I lived in Kitzingen back in '85 to '89. It was 2+ hours to get to Pizza Hut. The nearest McDonalds was 30 minutes away. Just before we left, they built one just down the road over an old brewery. Now Germany has these fast food places everywhere. I bet that if you could time travel and get some of that early 80s German McDonald's food and compare it to the garbage they serve today, you'll realize the quality is not the same.
I worked at McDonald's in high school in 1979-81. It was during the company's Golden Years when they held the #1 spot in the industry. The food was great and the job was fun. Lots of good memories.
@@Jimbo898 hey, I'm curious, what do you think has been the biggest change? I've heard a lot of people say that the food was better in the past, but what was the difference exactly? I'm guessing materials were of higher quality and less processed but I don't know...
I grew up in the 70s and the quarter pounder was my favorite. I used to buy two and make my own double quarter pounder before it became a thing. I would also add fries between the two patties. I can't be the only that did this right?
Growing health concerns caused the fried apple pie to become baked. Immediately after, the McFlurry, literally ice cream and candy, is mega popular and still exists today. People pretending to care about health concerns when it comes to food is incredible.
Think of the time period though- at that point they were demonizing the helllllll out of fat/oil. Sugar was still totally fine in the publics eyes for a handful more years
McDonalds in the 1970s was SOOOOO GOOD The buns were all toasted on the spot, the meat was cooked on the spot, and it was so different than it is today In the 1980s they changed EVERYTHING, to make it cheaper, and it sucks now I wish they would go back to the old days, or even the 1980s When they had the styrofoam containers,. and the McDLT Wow, that was an awesome sandwhich
The bus always stopped at McDonald's on the way home from track meets when I was in high school in the 80s. A Big Mac, med fries & medium coke was $2.79 (there were no meal deals then) with tax, exactly $3. The exact same thing at a local McDonald's now is 9.29. If Ala Carte, it's more expensive. Federal minimum wage then was $3.35. Now it's 7:75. Inflation has risen more than wages.
McDonald's has said, I don't know if it's true, that their original price of 15 cents for a hamburger is more expensive than it is now adjusted for inflation.
The menu when I worked there had the chicken fajita on it. I absolutely LOVED them, and wish they'd bring them back. The only thing that remains from them are the breakfast burritos, which were released at the same time. I was also there when the McFlurry was introduced.
The fajitas were the best. Simple and tasty. Chicken, bell peppers/onions and picante sauce. Ironically enough, their "Mexican" dish was better than anything on the Taco Bell menu! (except for their Mexican Pizza...That was epic)
Last year, I paid $5.87 for an egg McMuffin, hash browns and a large orange juice at the McDonald's restaurant in town. Last month, I paid $8.75 for the same meal. Last week, I paid $9.20 for the same meal. Farewell, McDonald's. It's been fun.
I miss how it all tasted in the 70's. It's basically all crap now. Not just McDonald's but all of them. Burger King actually cooked burgers by flame in front of you. Smelled and tasted so much better. They changed everything to make it "healthier " but it's actually worse than ever.
@@Mike1614b ...as the world developed more synthetic forms of material and textiles... It also formed other materials into our food.... Simply put...today's foods are more harmful than ever before because guess what...40 year ago, we didnt have a population capable of doing global harm, therefore obviously our food was grown naturally as guess what!??! 80 percent of the land was FARM LAND!!!...what are ya, a Millenial?...😒
*Fun fact!* The McDonald's brothers opened the first McDonald's in 1940. But when it was taken over by Ray Kroc in April of 1955, it became an all new company from scratch. It became a Chicago based company ever since then. The 1st McDonald's built under the new corporate McDonald's was in Des Plaines Illinois. (A Chicago suburb) Today McDonald's World Headquarters is located on the former Harpo Studios property where the Opera Winfrey Show was taped. McDonald's moved into this brand new 400,000+ sq,ft. building in 2018. There now 3rd location since 1955 in the Chicago area. It even has a fully functional McDonald's restaurant and is home to Hamburger University. Plus a few blocks away their is a 19,000 sq,ft. McDonald's restaurant that is the same size as the Orlando McDonald's which often boasts of it being the largest entertainment McDonald's. (Also 19,000 sq,ft.) The Chicago location however is built on the former "Rock n Roll" McDonald's site. Technically that makes the World Headquarters (Global Headquarters) the largest McDonald's on Earth. Followed by the Orlando and Chicago dedicated restaurants at 19,000 sq,ft. As the largest dedicated restaurant's. Note: Chicago is also home to the world's largest Starbucks on the Magnificent Mile too just south of the John Hancock Center. (875 N Michigan Ave) 🙂
Yep! Big mac, mc DLT, a quarter pounder with some cheese, fillet of fish, a hamburger, a cheeseburger, a happy meal, mc nuggets tasty golden fries, ok I'm done
My step mommy used to get McDonalds for my brother and I in the late 60's 5 days per week. The other 2 days it was peanut butter on saltines for dinner. We ate breakfast and lunch at school during the week. On weekends, breakfast was one piece of toast with no topping and there was no lunch. The weekly McDonalds dinner was a .15 hamburger (never the .20 cheeseburger), a small fry, and a cup of water. We subsisted on this menu for nearly 4 years until my step mommy hit Pappy on the head with a pan and left us. We made it better after that.
Big Mac, Filet o fish, quarter pounder ,French fries, icy Coke, thick shakes, sundaes, and apple pies. I honestly remember that without looking it up on RU-vid. That commercial got planted in my head decades ago.
In 1979, I came home from summer camp. My mom and aunt picked me up. I was hungry, so before we got home, my mom went to a Mickey Dee's drive-thru and got me a Happy Meal. I LOVED it! I was so happy, so I guess it worked, lol.
I have to watch RU-vid videos to see inside a McDonalds. None of the Michigan locations re-opened the dining room since Covid shut them over a year and a half ago. Now they claim staffing shortages are preventing them from opening.
Micky D's was at it's best when they had a limited simple menu, cooked the burgers on the grill, had the food under heat lamps (so the service was fast), fried the apple pies, and used natural beef tallow to cook the fries. Sticking to simple is what In-and-Out does and that place is loved. McDonalds is just meh.
@@zzdoodzz The beef tallow fries were certainly very tasty, the change to vegetable oil wasn't welcome. The simplest thing they do now is really the only thing I eat there, sausage, cheese, english muffin. Done. The new chicken sandwich is horrible, and in my "independent testing" at four locations was uniformly overcooked, dry and generally tasteless. The pickles? Meh also. Disappointment on a bun with mayo. I'd love to see an In-and-Out near me soon.
@@djgrandprix The Big Mac is still mostly the same. Fries are almost a throw away in my opinion, I know there are people that say they are the best but I remember when they really were better. I had a fried pie (coconut) when I was in Hawaii, that brought back some memories. I agree the chicken sandwich is on the same level as an elementary school free lunch. Best chicken sandwich (from fast food) is either Chick-fil-a or Popeyes, both are damn good.
In 1967 when I was eight years old my family moved away from a rural area where there were no McDonald's to a suburb bordering Boston Ma where there were plenty of stores including a McDonald's only walking distance away from home. Being a little kid I had no money back then and the smell of McDonald's was so good it was torture. Back then the McDonald's made their own french fries. The store had a machine that peeled and washed whole potatoes and another machine that cut the potatoes into fries. The Filet O Fish was my favorite....but being a little kid I had no money and so I had to wait until my parents took me there to eat.
They made their own fries? That's awesome ngl I'm from the UK and we've only had McDonald's in the country since '74. Though I'm only 21, so I won't be able to remember what British McDonald's was like circa 2005 sadly. One thing that I do know though is that McDonald's killed off the Wimpy brand here in the UK. The South African/American chain really caught on here and was all the rage back in the 60s/70s. They used to serve the most incredible stuff, like coca cola and vanilla ice cream in a glass etc.
BIG MAC SAUCE 1/2 cup mayo 2 tbls French dressing 4tsp sweet relish 1 tbls minced onion 1 tsp white vinegar 1 tsp white sugar I place all ingredients in a bullet blender ACCEPT THE SWEET RELISH. I blend it for a minute, stir it relish by hand then refrigerate for at least 1 hour.
@@stevensenlacere1619 Tried thousand islands and my wife and agreed that it is wrong. But we agree with this recipe which was from a web site that had the sauce chemically analyzed (reverse engineered). But if that dressing suits you.
I get so irritated when customers are like "gimme a hamburger". Did your grandmother not teach you manners? Service workers are ppl too. Gimme a baseball bat.
@@memyself898 yo, the key to automation is to automate everything. Even your job. Whether it be fast food, trucking, shipping, manufacturing, etc. You just laughing at yourself
I still don't understand why some people don't consider fish, meat. And it's not a secret. It's equal parts thousand island dressing, mayo, ketchup and relish.
I remember walking up to the McDonald's window, placing our order and eating at picnic tables. Hamburgers, cheeseburgers (cheese cost a whole 5 cens extra), soft drink and shakes. And we liked it.
Turns out that Beef Tallow is actually more healthier for you than vegetable oil. Of course the vegetarians and vegans ruined the French fry. Go to Europe and see that beef tallow is still used for Pomme Frite in Belgium (birthplace of fries) and fish and chips in the UK.
Egg McMuffin came out in about 1973. When I started at McDonald's in January, 1974, the Egg McMuffin was served open-faced in a cardboard box, with a small container of grape jelly, and a plastic knife.
The first ever big mac I bought in the U.K. back in 1982 was probably the most disapointing experience of my life .As I opened the small styrofoam box it belched feted steam in my face and I thought someone had already eaten it.
You gotta love how people in the 70s thought eating healthier meant eliminating red meat and eating deep fried battered chicken, (or whatever that stuff is), instead.
Bring back fried apple AND cherry pies and McDonaldland cookies. While they're at it, they should bring back the Arch Deluxe for a limited time they were delicious. McDonald's needs to start frying their fries in beef tallow again too.
It sounds like a more sophisticated text to speech program. Its unsettling to think of because the technology could likely put many voiceover artists out of work in the future.
Yep..you're watching it all unfold..Even Narrators and Hosts are going to be falling victim to the infamous AI..and to think it all started with people going into the Self-Checkout lanes, because people wait for nothing in good ol' Merica!..
4:38 incorrect. The Big Mac sauce has not been a secret for many years, It's mayonnaise, sweet pickle relish, yellow mustard, onion powder, garlic powder, and paprika.
I remember watching The Dinah Shore show back in the mid 1970's, and one of her guests was John Amos, from the show Good TImes. John had worked as a manager at a McDonalds before starting an acting career. At the time, the Big Mac jingle was very popular, and Dinah asked John what the "secret sauce" was. John told her it was thousand island dressing.
I'm shocked that Mashed stooped to clickbait. A new low!! Where are the menus for each year? I'm surprised you didn't try to sell us all extended warranties for our cars, too!
I was born in 1948 when burgers were 15 cents, but I never saw a McDonalds until the 70's since I grew up in small towns in Texas, New Mexico, and Arizona. I was in the US Navy stationed on the east coast in the 80's when I first tasted their burgers.
I was born in central Ohio, in 1970. I remember in 1980, they introduced McChicken, which was completely removed from the menu in only a few months. It wasn't until '83 that Chicken McNuggets appeared and finally the McChicken came back to stay. The item I miss the most was "Cheddar Melt" from around 1990. There was a McD in the basement of the building where I worked and I would get Cheddar Melts sometimes more than once per day. I loved that!
@@tenaciousone4721 it was a burger that had onions on it that mixed with this medium thick cheese sauce they put on it and the onions were cooked but still had sone crunch to them.
@@tenaciousone4721 actually the grilled onions were more grilled than i thought. The commercial for how they make it is on RU-vid. I was surprised i found it.
11:15 "We see you are considered with your health. So our pies are baked now, not fired" "In other news, you like ice cream? How about ice cream and candy put together? In a cup!"
I remember the first time I went to a McDonald’s in 1965 when I was a kid, one of the first in the San Fernando valley in California. All glass building with 2 large Golden Arches down the sides. Menu was way smaller back then. Served thousands per year back then.
I remember going to the McDonalds on Main street in Jacksonville FL in 1965 or so. I remember it clear as day as they had the "Batmobile" on display and i watched Batman on TV twice a week. I was so disappointed when it wasn't the "real" batmobile but some junker painted in batmobile colors.
I remember when McDonalds first opened near me, a cheeseburger was $.025 and fries were $0.15. On Friday night we would go to a movie, ($0.50) and afterwards go to McDonalds for fries and a coke.
The first McD's I was ever at. Was the old style with stand up only 'shelf' and no seating at all. The deep fried apple pies and the old fries where way better tasting being cooked with beef tallow.
Not a massive Maccies fan but I can safely say with confidence The Big Tasty was the greatest burger they ever came up with had the best sauce as well remember as a kid trying the largest one they did and it was insanely good.
I love it when you ask for certain things like mcChicken sauce or ketchup when placing your order at the drive thru then they always forget em and you don’t notice til you’re down the road, ima start asking for them as they hand the bag over then you will get them at least😋
Not to bad, spicy mcchicken or mcdouble and small fries for 3$ any size fountain soda for 1$ 4$ for those 3 items, who pays 7$ for a quarter pound combo?
i remember the big mac when it was actually big. the mc rib is a joke, everytime it comes back the patty is smaller, less sauce and fits like a hotdog on a bun at least 1.5 inches on each side is nothing but bread. filet o fish in the early days you got a WHOLE slice of cheese, now its a third of a slice and i wouldn't have even noticed had they even remotely tried to put the patty in the center of the bun and they hang it off the edge to trick you!, the big n' tasty what a deal that didn't last long i miss the burger wars of 2000 when EVERYONE had their flagship burger for a dollar. remember big mac two for two dollars? now dont even think of leaviing ANY fast food joint feeling satisfied unless you drop at least $20!
The reason I found out why they use a smaller slice of cheese on the Filet o fish is because the cheese would over power the flavor of the fish since pollock is very mild. I don’t care, I still ask for a full slice
I remember when McDonald's use to have cooks making your food fresh. I remember McDonald's breakfast was made fresh with cracked eggs, buttermilk pancakes was made on the griddle, and the sausage was cooked. I remember when McDonald's use to serve their orange juice in a plastic 8oz cup made by Tropicana. And yes, the Big Mac use to be the biggest burger on their menu.
Biggest crime against humanity was when the apple pie went from fried in beef tallow to baked. There is NO comparison. Hear you can still get them this way over in the UK.
So is my grandmother but it took her getting gangrene in her Gail latter which the only thing that could have been the reason was the artificial sugar. She quit the diet coke and picked up an ice tea habbit
The straw is the key. Allows more CO2 to reach your nose. Most taste is smell. A bigger straw, is the secret. Also they have a special blend with Coca, -Cola.
My older brother took me to McDonald's for the first time when I was 8 years old in his brand new black 62 Chevy Impala SS. He bought me a hamburger, fries, and coke for 45 cents. 68 years old now and still eat at McDonalds from time to time
I worked at McDonald's in 1972, my first real job. Back then the majority of employees were like me, high school kids excited to have gotten a job and eager to make a good impression! When we put together a Big Mac for example we put a cardboard ring around the assembled burger, put it in a box and served it that way. We smiled and worked hard even if it was cleaning the parking lot or restrooms. Today, the adults who work there full time don't have that same level of pride and attention to their customers. As a result the sloppy way you get a burger looks like the result of a "ring toss" game where they throw the ingredients towards the bun from across the room. Not to put all the blame on the workers though, management needs to be trained to create an environment of pride and teamwork and ensure their workers are well-trained for their positions.
Today, most of what passes for the staff at fast food places act like they've either stoned, got a gun to their head or they're on furlough from the penitentiary.
Ok so right around the oj trial I worked at mcDs and we had an old video of breakfast training featuring OJ getting pissed bc he's late for work, and McDonald's opened late. We used to scream at the screen... DON'T LET HIM IN!
The problem was, you got there a year to late. The year before he was fun lovable and goofy Naked Gun OJ! You got murdered two people with a kitchen knife OJ. A bit less fun and goofy
I liked the pizza, but I liked taco bells version also. If u asked for salt & pepper it made the Mc Lean taste better. I like the chicken nuggets, and the quarter pounder 🍔🍕🍦🍟
I really liked the Arch Deluxe. I worked at McDonald's in the summers of 1994-1996 (the McPizza was there initially, but phased out). I remember the introduction of Barq's Root Beer and Minute Maid Lemonade to the repertoire. I had pins on my hat lol.
@@boxychubbo6922 i dont eat McDonald's burgers plus i been skinny my whole life gave birth to 4 boys and still skinny what does weight have to do with this
Mcdonalds in the 1970 is actually "5 Guys" today. The old school, fresh and cooked on the spot never disappeared. McDonald's business strategy of making everything cheaper and faster made them $160 Billion, while "5 Guys" is only $400 Million. Safe to say Quality doesn't always win. Mcdonalds is only 30 yrs older than "5 Guys" but their business decision clearly proves their better.
In the Seattle area, Dick's Drive-In is a dead ringer for the original McDonald's of the late 1950s. Very limited menu just like the original McDonald's I recall as a kid. Fries are hand-peeled, everything feels fresh and juicy. People will drive from miles around to dine in their car at the six Dick's locations.
McRibb is a season item now. I would love if the brought back the McDLT. Since they got rid of it due to the Styrofoam box it came in they could use cardboard like they do for the Big Mac, and other items. And I want Fried Pies back.
I think the breakfast plates are still served in styrofoam if I'm not mistaken. Also they need to bring back that Arch Deluxe. Mmm that was a tasty burger.
Arch Deluxe and fried cherry pie! Two of the things I miss the most ever from a fast food joint. Especially the fried cherry pie. All hot and fresh from the fryer, those little crispy flakes on the outside as hot cherry sauce is oozing out the pores. I always bought at least two. They were so amazing! I have found nothing comparable ever.
I miss the taste of the old McDonald's French fries, despite their being unhealthy. Lard definitely made all the difference in the world, and I wish they had kept it on the menu as an optional item, allowing the customer to choose. I don't think I ever tried the McLean burger or their Adult burger because of what I heard from second-hand comments from others about them, but I never liked their burgers much, anyway. I usually got the Big Macs or, once in awhile, the quarter pounder with cheese when I was in the mood for their burgers. I regret ever eating the McRib sandwich, after having learned of its contents later. The best items on their menu, I think, are some of the breakfast items, the chicken breast sandwiches, and the vanilla ice cream cones. I used to get their salads, which I found to be decent, and I miss the chocolate double-dip cones. Looking forward for their comeback.
In 1967, the conversion to frozen French fries was made after a trial period. An Idaho company provided boxed, flash-frozen, pre-blanched and julienned potatoes that only needed to be dropped into 450 degree oil (60% lard, 40% vegetable oil) for the final cooking to a crisp golden brown. Prior to this, the preparation of raw Idaho Baker #1 potatoes was an extremely laborious process - I know because I worked as a "fry man" in the mid-1960s. When consumed freshly made, there are none better, IMHO.
I e been reading through all these and remember something about the fries no one has mentioned. They were made fresh, from real potatoes. They had a hand operated machine. Put the potato in the top, pull a big handle down and sliced French fries would come out of the bottom. I went to our first one in Midwest in the early 1960’s. A burger, 15c, fries, 10c, drink, 10c. = quick meal 35c. Of course my dad would eat three burgers. So 65c. LOL.
By the 1970's though, they fries were frozen. And most people remember the fries from the 70's up to 1990. The old days when they peeled them in that machine that looked like an old dishwasher didn't last very long. The fries were more crispy in the 1960's.
