Eating History Presents: History Daily "The First McDonald’s Opens"

Eating History

This episode of History Daily, presented by Eating History, explores the humble beginnings of McDonald's on May 15, 1940, when brothers Maur

Key takeaways

The original McDonald's was not a burger restaurant but a drive-in barbecue stand with carhops, emphasizing efficiency over comfort.
The McDonald brothers' vision of financial independence after their father's layoff drove them to innovate and scale their business model.

Main topics

Origins of McDonald's
Innovation in fast food service

Notable quotes

"This barbecue joint isn't like most others. There's nowhere for customers to sit and eat their food."

Conclusion

The opening of the first McDonald's on May 15, 1940, marked the beginning of a global food revolution.

Transcript preview

Speaker 1 (0:00) Hey, Eating History listeners, Adrienne and Stephen here. We're going to do something a little bit different today. If you've listened to the show before, you know that Stephen is a bit of a history obsessive. Guilty as charged. And one of my favorite history podcast hosts is Lindsey Graham. I've listened to a number of Lindsey's shows over the years, and he's incredibly talented at doing something we try to do here on Eating History. Take a story you think you know, and showing you there's a lot more to it. Speaker 1 (0:26) So when we had the opportunity to share an episode of his show, History Daily, with you, we jumped at it. Yes, and the episode that we picked could not be a better fit for Eating History because it tells the story of one of the most consequential restaurants in American history, McDonald's. The story begins on May 15, 1940, when Maurice and Richard McDonald opened McDonald's Barbecue in San Bernardino, California. And if that doesn't sound like McDonald's you know today, Speaker 1 (0:54) That's the whole point. The restaurant that eventually changed how much of the world eats looked very different when it first began. And the story also gives us the opportunity to give you another clue about what we'll be covering in Season 2 of Eating History. But this week, we're not giving you a riddle. The episode itself is the clue. Somewhere in the story you're about to hear is a connection to our Season 2 food. But we're not going to tell you. what it is or where to find that connection, you're going to have to figure that part out for yourself. Isn't that exciting? But here's one hint. Think bigger than McDonald's. That's all you get. Good luck. I see what I have to live with. Enjoy this episode. The first McDonald's opens from History Daily, hosted by Lindsey Graham. And we'll be back next week with another Eating History Pizza Bite. Speaker 1 (2:00) It's May 15, 1940 in San Bernardino, California, where 31-year-old Richard and 37-year-old Maurice McDonald are excited to open their brand new restaurant, McDonald's Barbecue. It's not an especially hot day, but the brothers, better known as Mac and Dick, are sweating as they pace anxiously in their empty parking lot. They have just minutes until their drive-up restaurant is set to open for the very first time. Unable to stand around waiting any longer, Dick hurries back into the kitchen, busying himself double, then triple-checking that they have everything they need. Clean plates, napkins, cutlery, and of course, the meat. Speaker 1 (2:38) Then he takes a trip back out to the barbecue pit, which is stocked with hickory chips imported from Arkansas. Satisfied that everything is as it should be, Dick returns to the parking lot, where the tantalizing smell of slow-cooking meats already fills the air. He grabs his brother Mac, and together, they brief their employees one final time to make sure everyone knows exactly what to do when customers arrive. This barbecue joint isn't like most others. There's nowhere for customers to sit and eat their food. Speaker 1 (3:06) save for a few stools at the counter. Instead, hungry visitors are encouraged to drive up, then stay in their car and wait for a McDonald's employee to come to them. These carhops, young women in short skirts and majorette boots, will take their orders, then return with the food once it's ready. It's not a completely revolutionary idea, but it's new enough for San Bernardino that the brothers are anxious to ensure that everything goes off without a hitch. The McDonald's brothers aren't new to the food service business. Speaker 1 (3:34) But this is their biggest venture yet, and they're feeling the pressure. The moment comes, and as they flip their open sign, a car pulls into the lot and parks. Dick gives a signal to the nearest car hop, and she leaps into action, hurrying over to the driver's window before they can open the door, her pen and notepad poised. As the driver then reels off his order, the brothers smile. Just maybe everything is going to turn out all right. Speaker 1 (4:03) For several years now, the McDonald brothers have been on a mission toward rock-solid financial stability. When they were younger, their father was unexpectedly laid off from his decades-long job at a shoe manufacturer. He was left with no pension, no severance, and not much of a future. That's when Mac and Dick vowed to