The "Faster" McRevolution of the 1950's

In the 1950’s, one of the words to help describe America was faster. Americans craved faster cars, faster music, and faster lives. This was the perfect time for Ray Kroc to contribute his groundbreaking ideas for the fast food industry. At first, Ray Kroc was just a salesman for the Multimixer shake machine, while McDonald’s was just a single, small hamburger stand in San Bernardino, California, that offered quick service. Kroc saw the potential of this small stand (to which he had sold 8 Multimixers) operated by Richard “Dick” McDonald, and his brother, Maurice “Mac” McDonald. He signed a 99-year contract with the brothers and quickly noticed the immense success derived from the genius concept of the speedy, consistent restaurant. By 1965, McDonald’s was a franchise with over 700 restaurants scattered throughout America, and Ray Kroc had become a successful entrepreneur (Mcd). With an abundance of restaurants found almost anywhere in the country, McDonald’s was a major influence on the nation. With the large amount of restaurants, the company, understandably, picked up a share of critics along the way. Although some may have a negative perception on the role of McDonald’s, the emergence of this major fast food restaurant positively affected the culture of the 1950’s, and the decades following. It changed aspects of the nation’s restaurant industry, the daily life of Americans, and diversity within the workforce.

McDonald’s ultimately transformed the restaurant industry in two ways. For example, new way to franchise restaurants was born within the walls of McDonald’s. Ray Kroc spearheaded a new way to franchise with a more “we are in this together” attitude. While most franchisers during that time made money from franchisees buy...

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...h the brilliant ideas created within McDonald’s is mimicked nearly everywhere. Finally, McDonald’s brought to America exactly what it wanted: speed, excitement, and joy.

Works Cited

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Gross, Daniel. "Ray Kroc, McDonald's, and the Fast-Food Industry." Forbes Greatest Business Stories of All Time. New York: J. Wiley & Sons, 1996. 176+. Print.

Harris, Patricia Sowell. None of Us Is as Good as All of Us: How McDonald's Prospers by Embracing Inclusion and Diversity. Hoboken, NJ: John Wiley & Sons, 2009. Print.

Kroc, Ray, and Robert Anderson. Grinding It Out: The Making of McDonald’s. New York: St. Martin’s, 1987. Print.

Love, John F. McDonald's: Behind the Arches. New York: Bantam, 1995. Print.

Mcd. n.d. Forgotten New England. Web. 2 March 2014.

The Multimedia Mixer. McDonald’s Corporation, 2002. CD.