Some characters from McDonaldLand have long been forgotten.

Let's remember them now:
8)

Welcome to McDonaldLand!
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/mcdonaldland.jpg
The Hamburger Patch is part of the fictional city of McDonaldland where McDonald's hamburgers "grew" like fruit on plants from the Hamburger Patch. Even though hamburgers in McDonaldland were anthropomorphized and spoke, they were picked by characters such as Ronald McDonald and the Hamburglar for consumption. Advertisements featuring the Hamburger Patch were shown as evidence during the McLibel court case in the United Kingdom. During questioning by defendants, McDonald's Senior Vice President of Marketing David Green admitted that showing the reality of meat production "would not be very appetizing". The Hamburger Patch also featured in books and toys used to promote McDonald's. The characters were dropped during the streamlining of the characters in the '80s.

Ronald McDonald
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/ronaldmcdonaldspec.jpg

Mayor McCheese
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/mayormccheesespec.jpg
Mayor McCheese has an enormous cheeseburger for a head, and sports a top hat, a diplomat's sash, and a pair of pince-nez spectacles. He is portrayed as a giggly, bumbling, somewhat incompetent mayor with a wavering, high-pitched voice that is reminiscent to that of comic actor Ed Wynn. The character was dropped during the streamlining of the characters in the 1980s, He did, however, appear in a 1999 McDonaldland VHS entitled Have Time, Will Travel. He has also appeared in several episodes of the animated TV series Family Guy.

The Professor
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/madprofessor.jpg
The Professor, a mad scientist type character in a lab coat. He was introduced in 1971.

The Hamburgler
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/hamburglar.jpg
The Hamburglar character was a thief that dressed in a black-and-white hooped shirt and pants, a red cape, a wide-brimmed hat, and red gloves whose primary object of theft was hamburgers. The Hamburglar's early dialog was a continual muttering of "Robble, robble, robble." Later dialog included normal words in a child-like voice.

Grimace
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/grimace.jpg
Grimace is an anthropomorphic purple being. Originally, Grimace was the "Evil Grimace", with two pairs of arms with which to steal milkshakes. After that first campaign, the character was revised to be one of the "good guys", and his number of arms was reduced by two. Commercials and merchandise generally portrayed him as a well-meaning simpleton, whose clumsy antics provided a comic foil to Ronald McDonald. The character was initially developed due to complaints about no minorities being present in McDonaldland. The character was retained after the streamlining of the characters in the '80s.


Uncle O'Grimacey - comes once a year for the Month of March, along with his Shamrock Shakes
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/uncleogrimacey.jpg
Uncle O'Grimacey was created for an advertising narrative of the McDonald's fast food restaurant chain both in celebration of Saint Patrick's Day and to mark the annual appearance of the Shamrock Shake. O'Grimacey is the Irish uncle of the character Grimace and is a variant of the Grimace-design in that he is green instead of purple, sports a frock coat covered with several four-leaf clovers, and carries a shillelagh. His design motif is not unlike that of a stereotypical depiction of the Irish folkloric leprechaun, similar to the mascot of the football team for University of Notre Dame. O'Grimacey resides in his home country for eleven months of the year and visits his nephew Grimace in March, bringing with him his "incredibly delicious" shake. Uncle O'Grimacey is no longer used by the chain for its promotions of the shake.

"Gobblins" which later became Fry Guys, then Fry Kids
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/gobblins.jpg
Fry Kids are characters used to promote McDonald's french fries. When they first appeared, they were called Gobblins and liked to steal and gobble up the other characters' french fries. Accompanying them was the "Keep Your Eyes on Your Fries" jingle. Their name was later changed to the Fry Guys, then the Fry Kids, as female characters (the "Fry Girls") were introduced. They are differently-colored, shaggy, ball-like creatures with long legs and no arms, almost resembling a pom-pon with legs and eyes. Most of the time they are mute, but when they speak they talk in some sort of gibberish. In other commercials, they all talk very quickly at once. Their only facial features are bulbous eyes and thick, black eyebrows. The characters were retained after the streamlining of the characters in the '80s.Captain Crook - came with the introduction of The Filet-O'-Fish

Captain Crook
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/captaincrook.jpg
Captain Crook was a pirate and is similar in appearance to the famed Captain Hook from Disney's 1953 movie Peter Pan. Unlike the Hamburglar, this villain spent his time trying to steal Filet-O-Fish sandwiches from citizens of McDonaldland while avoiding being caught by Big Mac, the Chief of police of McDonaldland. As part of the nautical theme of the character, Captain Crook used ships and waterways as means to escape being captured. In his final appearances, he was renamed simply "The Captain" and his character design made less sinister. The character was dropped during the streamlining of the characters in the '80s.

Officer Big Mac
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/officerbigmac.jpg
Officer Big Mac: In addition to McDonald's signature sandwich, Big Mac was the name of a character in McDonaldland. He was similar to Mayor McCheese in that he had a large Big Mac for a head, except he was the chief of police and as such he wore a constable uniform. As the main source of law and order in McDonaldland, he spent most of his time chasing the Hamburglar and Captain Crook. He was featured in several of the campaign's commercials throughout the late '70s and early '80s. The character was dropped during the streamlining of the characters in the '80s.

The Apple Pie Tree - where all the delicious apples come from for Apple Pies
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/applepietree2.jpg

The Happy Meal Gang
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/happymealgang.jpg

Birdie The Early Bird - came when breakfasts were introduced
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/birdietheearlybird.jpg
Birdie the Early Bird was the first identifiably female character, introduced in 1980 to promote the company's new breakfast items. She is a yellow bird wearing a pink jumpsuit and flight cap and scarf. In the ads she is frequently portrayed as a poor flyer, and somewhat clumsy in general. Birdie's origin is explained in one old commercial: a giant egg falls from the night sky into McDonaldland, and Ronald McDonald decides to show the egg love. When the egg hatches, Birdie was so happy that she had already made friends that she decided to stay in McDonaldland.

The McNugget Buddies
http://i186.photobucket.com/albums/x108/tmhaley32/mcnuggetbuddies.jpg

Iam Hungry
http://www.geocities.com/CapitolHill/3223/iamhungry.gif
Iam Hungry was a short-lived McDonaldland character. He was introduced in 1998 and dropped in the early 2000s. The character was a floating green fuzzball with orange arms and a monstrous face. He would often appear when Ronald was dining with kids and would constantly crave food; he would never leave them alone until he got fed.

CosMc
http://www.retrojunk.com/img/art-images/cosmc.jpg
CosMc was a temporary character from McDonaldland. He was featured in a series of McDonald's commercials in 1990 when the McDonaldland gang went to the moon. CosMc was an alien who wore a large space suit, and he talked like a surfer dude. CosMc was featured as a character in the video game, M.C. Kids.




wikipedia:

History

Cycle one of McDonaldland began in January 1971, about the same time McDonald's was replacing its drive-ins with mansard roofed restaurants. These early commercials were built on an upbeat, bubble-gum style tune, and featured a narrator; many had plots that involved various villains trying to steal a corresponding food item, foiled by Ronald.

McDonaldland itself, as it was depicted in the commercials, was a magical place where plants, foods, and inanimate objects were living, speaking characters. In addition to being the home to Ronald and the other core characters, McDonaldland boasted "Thick shake volcanoes", anthropomorphized "Apple pie trees", "The Hamburger Patch" (where McDonald's hamburgers grew out of the ground like plants), "Filet-O-Fish Lake", and many other fanciful features based around various McDonald's menu items. In the commercials, the various beings are played by puppets or costumed performers, very similar to those used in the popular H.R. Pufnstuf program.

Lawsuit

An ad agency vying for McDonald's advertising accounts had originally hoped Sid and Marty Krofft, the creators of H.R. Pufnstuf, would agree to license their characters for commercial promotions. After the McDonaldland promotion went forward, the Kroffts were dismissed without being credited.

In 1973, the Kroffts successfully sued McDonald's, arguing that the entire McDonaldland premise was essentially a ripoff of their television show. Specifically, the Kroffts claimed that the character Mayor McCheese was a direct ripoff of their character, "H. R. Pufnstuf" (being a mayor himself). McDonald's initially was ordered to pay $50,000. The case was later remanded as to damages, and McDonald's was ordered to pay the Kroffts more than $1 million when the case was finally settled in 1977. As a result of the lawsuit, the concept of the "magical place" was all but phased out of the commercials, as were many of the original characters.

1980s to 2007

The characters that remained following the lawsuit were Ronald, Grimace, Hamburglar, and the Fry Kids. Birdie the Early Bird would join the fold soon after, representing the restaurant's new breakfast line in the early 1980s. From then on, the characters seemed to live in the real world and they interacted with real-life characters, but commercials still fell under the blanket of "McDonaldland". Soon after, the Happy Meal Gang and the McNugget Buddies were prominent features in the commercials (representing the restaurant's "Happy Meals" and "Chicken McNuggets" respectively, being the menu items that mainly appealed to kids) along with Ronald and the gang.

At one point, McDonald's released a video tape series which depicted Ronald, Grimace, Birdie, Hamburglar, and a few new characters like Ronald's dog. These videos would begin in live action, in what resembled a modern-day McDonaldland. Then when the characters would enter down a tube, or other means of travel, they would become animated. The video series had 7 parts and were available for purchase in McDonald's restaurants.

In recent years, the McDonaldland premise has largely been phased out of advertising campaigns, with modern commercials usually just depicting Ronald alone in "real world" situations with real children.


Late 2007

As obesity has become a growing problem in recent years, McDonald's and other fast food chains have been under increasing pressure to revamp their products and advertising with healthier alternatives. As part of this campaign, McDonald's has agreed to discontinue marketing to children under the age of twelve.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

So there you go! The lawsuit explains why not so many people remember or knew of the previous characters. Heck, I didn't even know The Professor!

As for McDonald's discontinuing marketing to children under 12.... I have yet to see that! ;D

That brings back so many childhood memories, and birthday parties at McDonalds.  Grimace was always my favorite.  :)

Anybody remember the awesome McDonaldland Play Equipment of my Youth????  Loved this stuff, and it would get sanitized by sun and weather extremes, KIDS WENT OUTSIDE TO PLAY.  Nothing like the puke and snot infested ball pits of today :P

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/97/236040902_61f2fceb22.jpg?v=0

http://www.retroland.com/files/forum_pics/mc5_3973.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2967072263_8e21a49405.jpg

An article on their Debut. Since they Debuted at the Illinois State Fair, maybe these were limited to the Illinois Area (my husband does not ever remember seeing them - IOWEGIAN ;D).  I loved going to birthday parties at McDonalds, they would have the cake and the party favors and everything (Orange drink :D)

http://www.lib.niu.edu/1972/ip721106.html
1972 was an awesome year too  ;D

Hamburglar was my favorite character.  ;D

I remember the Happy Meal gang creeped me out back when those commercials used to air!  :o  ;D

I still see Ronald McDonald.  He does commercials with Watertown sportscaster Mel Busler.  It's not the real Ronald, and not a very good likeness either LOL

YAY! 

obligatory post so I can find this tomorrow!  ;)

OMG...this thread is giving me the biggest warm fuzzies!! ;D

I loved having my birthday parties at McDonalds....one time when I was about 8 years old...we had the birthday party in this little caboose that they had out behind the restaurant..it was the coolest!

When I worked at the library, we had an "official" Ronald McDonald come in and do a "show" for the kids in the Summer Reading Club.  Naturally the actor first came in to talk to us without his make-up on and he was very nice and friendly (naturally), but it was amazing... Once he got his makeup on and came out, even I was very wistful and sort of star-struck.  Yeah I'm weird.  It was like meeting a celebrity.  lol

He said there are like 8 people that play the character in this country, they get trained extensively.  He was a really interesting guy.  I wish I'd talked to him longer.

I remember all the characters from the commercials, I just didn't know their names.  I was a little confused about Mayor McCheese and Officier Big Mac in another thread, but Tam put me straight.  lol

The Goblin Fries were my favourite! Happy days! I also remember when they launched McNuggets for the very first time. 6 nuggets used to fill me up good n proper.  ;D

According to this commercial Bic Mac and Mc Cheese were lovers  ;)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jboOxvOmgAc

apparently grimace used to be evil
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GP6WSOS0rUc&feature=related


http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=97YXbNaAyzA

;D

How the Hamburglar got his stripes http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AU1iq9rqYJ0&feature=related

cripes i'm friggin hungry

cripes i'm friggin hungry


me too  ;D

Anybody remember the awesome McDonaldland Play Equipment of my Youth????  Loved this stuff, and it would get sanitized by sun and weather extremes, KIDS WENT OUTSIDE TO PLAY.  Nothing like the puke and snot infested ball pits of today :P

http://farm1.static.flickr.com/97/236040902_61f2fceb22.jpg?v=0

http://www.retroland.com/files/forum_pics/mc5_3973.jpg

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3034/2967072263_8e21a49405.jpg

An article on their Debut. Since they Debuted at the Illinois State Fair, maybe these were limited to the Illinois Area (my husband does not ever remember seeing them - IOWEGIAN ;D).  I loved going to birthday parties at McDonalds, they would have the cake and the party favors and everything (Orange drink :D)

http://www.lib.niu.edu/1972/ip721106.html
1972 was an awesome year too  ;D


Every year my family would go back to this place called Ohio.  We stopped for lunch and dinner at Micky D's.  Mom would have to forcefully pry me away from the playground so I would eat.  That orange drink was great. :)

Every year my family would go back to this place called Ohio.  We stopped for lunch and dinner at Micky D's.  Mom would have to forcefully pry me away from the playground so I would eat.  That orange drink was great. :)


She fails to mention that the last time this occured was 2007.

She fails to mention that the last time this occured was 2007.



damn I wish I 'd said that!  ;D

She fails to mention that the last time this occured was 2007.


Last time I was in Ohio was for my Grandpa's funeral.  They do have a Micky D's there but no playground.  However, I did kinda play on the one in Clarksburg West Virgina.  Found out I'm too big for most of the stuff. >:(

When I worked at the library, we had an "official" Ronald McDonald come in and do a "show" for the kids in the Summer Reading Club.  Naturally the actor first came in to talk to us without his make-up on and he was very nice and friendly (naturally), but it was amazing... Once he got his makeup on and came out, even I was very wistful and sort of star-struck.  Yeah I'm weird.  It was like meeting a celebrity.  lol

He said there are like 8 people that play the character in this country, they get trained extensively.  He was a really interesting guy.  I wish I'd talked to him longer.

I remember all the characters from the commercials, I just didn't know their names.  I was a little confused about Mayor McCheese and Officier Big Mac in another thread, but Tam put me straight.  lol



I just remembered.....Ronald McDonald once came to my old elementary school and put on quite a show. The multi-purpose room was located very close to my classroom, and the bursts of laughter from the kids was so strong it literally shook our desks!  ;D He did two performances....one in the morning and one in the afternoon (we went to the afternoon show). Actually, when Ronald came onstage and started talking, I was like, "Hey! That's not the Ronald McDonald I know from the TV commercials!"  ;D  ;D Anyway, regardless, it was a lot of fun.  :)

http://photos1.blogger.com/blogger/5977/1136/320/pic1.jpg

I want a Shamrock McShake!

I want a Shamrock McShake!


I had one last night!
OMG it was soooooo good!!

It had been forever since I had one. They never came to Texas when we were there, so when we pulled into the drive thru last night I got so excited, James thought my head was going to explode! And it was amazing! However, I didn't realize how expensive a flippin milkshake is! $2.79!!! I know it doesn't sound like much but Holy Crap! ;D

When I worked at the library, we had an "official" Ronald McDonald come in and do a "show" for the kids in the Summer Reading Club.  Naturally the actor first came in to talk to us without his make-up on and he was very nice and friendly (naturally), but it was amazing... Once he got his makeup on and came out, even I was very wistful and sort of star-struck.  Yeah I'm weird.  It was like meeting a celebrity.  lol

He said there are like 8 people that play the character in this country, they get trained extensively.  He was a really interesting guy.  I wish I'd talked to him longer.

I remember all the characters from the commercials, I just didn't know their names.  I was a little confused about Mayor McCheese and Officier Big Mac in another thread, but Tam put me straight.  lol





I just remembered.....Ronald McDonald once came to my old elementary school and put on quite a show. The multi-purpose room was located very close to my classroom, and the bursts of laughter from the kids was so strong it literally shook our desks!  ;D He did two performances....one in the morning and one in the afternoon (we went to the afternoon show). Actually, when Ronald came onstage and started talking, I was like, "Hey! That's not the Ronald McDonald I know from the TV commercials!"  ;D  ;D Anyway, regardless, it was a lot of fun.  :)



I have told this story several times but it is one of my favorites to tell (yeah, I like to repeat a lot of my stories-must be getting old, huh?  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D  )

When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a show. I was "volunteered" to participate in it. I did a "Vanna White" type thing-revealing letters/words. I was getting into it and really hamming it up. R.M. made a comment about me getting into it and then he said, "We should go get coffee sometime". Now I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one took the cake!




Cat

I have told this story several times but it is one of my favorites to tell (yeah, I like to repeat a lot of my stories-must be getting old, huh?  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D  )

When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a show. I was "volunteered" to participate in it. I did a "Vanna White" type thing-revealing letters/words. I was getting into it and really hamming it up. R.M. made a comment about me getting into it and then he said, "We should go get coffee sometime". Now I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one took the cake!




Cat



Aw man think of the babies.  :D

I have told this story several times but it is one of my favorites to tell (yeah, I like to repeat a lot of my stories-must be getting old, huh?  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D  )

When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a show. I was "volunteered" to participate in it. I did a "Vanna White" type thing-revealing letters/words. I was getting into it and really hamming it up. R.M. made a comment about me getting into it and then he said, "We should go get coffee sometime". Now I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one took the cake!




Cat


:D How funny!  ;D

I want a Shamrock McShake!



Me too.  I haven't seen them advertised yet...I will have to hit Mickey D's and see if they are around here this year.

I've never had a Shamrock Shake...what flavor are they?

I've never had a Shamrock Shake...what flavor are they?


it's basically a vanilla shake with mint flavoring....thus turning it green.

I've never had a Shamrock Shake...what flavor are they?


Just like Erin says... but think of it more like Mint Chocolate Chip ice cream.... delicious!!! 8)

Grimace is Barney's Down Syndrome son.

I have told this story several times but it is one of my favorites to tell (yeah, I like to repeat a lot of my stories-must be getting old, huh?  ;) :D ;D ;D ;D  )

When I was student teaching, Ronald McDonald came to the school to do a show. I was "volunteered" to participate in it. I did a "Vanna White" type thing-revealing letters/words. I was getting into it and really hamming it up. R.M. made a comment about me getting into it and then he said, "We should go get coffee sometime". Now I have been asked out by a bunch of clowns before but this one took the cake!

Cat


  Get coffee sometime?  Where, Mc Donalds?  Why he didn't just ask what your sign is..?

OMG...this thread is giving me the biggest warm fuzzies!! ;D

I loved having my birthday parties at McDonalds....one time when I was about 8 years old...we had the birthday party in this little caboose that they had out behind the restaurant..it was the coolest!


Did you have lots of birthday parties there, too? I remember when I was in the second and third grade, kids in my class had their birthdays at McDonald's all the time! It was always at the same one. It had this huge McDonaldland playground with slides and swings and a playhouse with ladders you could climb up. And they'd give us these plastic figurines of the McDonaldland characters as well as colouring place mats featuring the characters. Boy, this thread brings back memories!

Did you have lots of birthday parties there, too? I remember when I was in the second and third grade, kids in my class had their birthdays at McDonald's all the time! It was always at the same one. It had this huge McDonaldland playground with slides and swings and a playhouse with ladders you could climb up. And they'd give us these plastic figurines of the McDonaldland characters as well as colouring place mats featuring the characters. Boy, this thread brings back memories!


Yes! I loved McDonald's birthday parties! I think I had a few of them there. My favorite was the one that took place in the McDonald's Caboose...that was so neato!

remember the plates?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/2237908528_731663e9d7.jpg?v=0

remember the plates?
http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2004/2237908528_731663e9d7.jpg?v=0
My mom still probably has these somewhere.  Along with the matching cups
http://www.marys-antiques.com/images/5738.jpg

My mom still probably has these somewhere.  Along with the matching cups



oh yeah... I had all the glasses... I broke em all too playing basketball. Why oh why did my mom let me take all my cool cartoon glasses outside?  I broke my mcDonalds, the super heroes and the looney tunes glasses....  :\'(

oh yeah... I had all the glasses... I broke em all too playing basketball. Why oh why did my mom let me take all my cool cartoon glasses outside?  I broke my mcDonalds, the super heroes and the looney tunes glasses....  :\'(
I still have a full set of Smurf glasses from Hardees (I know not mcD's)
http://i1.iofferphoto.com/img/item/421/480/11/o_Picture_009.jpg

But I wish I still had Peanuts and Muppets from McD's - I loved them too much and HAD to use them :\'(



My mom just sent the Disney 100 years of magic glasses (from McD's) home with me for the girls to use

http://www.fastfoodtoys.net/mcdonalds%20disney%20glasses.jpg

crap... I'm a little jealous. Character glasses are one of my favorite things from my childhood...well favorite memories because as I said before.. I broke them all...

I want a Shamrock McShake!


ME TOO!!!!
I went to mine today to get one and they just said "We don't have that." I was like, WHAT? Do you know it's March? Do you know it's on your menu? They said they ran out yesterday. I gave the girl one of these  ??? and walked away. Don't they know they should have that stuff endlessly through March? Maybe I'll try again tomorrow.....  ::)

ME TOO!!!!
I went to mine today to get one and they just said "We don't have that." I was like, WHAT? Do you know it's March? Do you know it's on your menu? They said they ran out yesterday. I gave the girl one of these  ??? and walked away. Don't they know they should have that stuff endlessly through March? Maybe I'll try again tomorrow.....  ::)


So is anyone gonna tell me what flavor shamrock is?

Of corse I know Ronald, hamburgler, grimace, Fri Guys/Kids, Birdie,  I use to have nugget buddies from happymeals,   

I use to play at a Mc D's in Tracy that had the hamburger jail climber and a fish thing you sit on and shake.  There also was a tree statue.

So is anyone gonna tell me what flavor shamrock is?
Mint, Creme de' Menthe.......

crap... I'm a little jealous. Character glasses are one of my favorite things from my childhood...well favorite memories because as I said before.. I broke them all...
I love character glasses too, why do they not make them anymore - Loved the jelly ones too

I got a Garfield mug at McDonald's, one time. I thought it was so cool!

http://i10.ebayimg.com/06/i/001/34/eb/5952_1.JPG


http://cgi.ebay.com/MCDONALDS-GARFIELD-MUGS-SET-OF-4_W0QQitemZ260370609682QQcmdZViewItemQQptZLH_DefaultDomain_0?hash=item260370609682&_trksid=p3286.c0.m14&_trkparms=72%3A1205|66%3A2|65%3A12|39%3A1|240%3A1318|301%3A1|293%3A1|294%3A50

Thanks for making this into a thread, OP!

I use to love the McDonaldland characters. My favorite was Early Bird followed by Grimace.

Back in the 80s, most of the McDonald's in Ontario seemed to have indoor playrooms and my favorite thing to do was climb up in Officer Big Mac and crawl around inside the burger (lol!). Why don't they make things that innovative anymore?