REMEMBER WHEN? GOLDEN ARCHES LOCATION TURNS 50.Byline: Kristopher Hanson Staff Writer DOWNEY - The time was August of 1953. ``Dragnet'' was king of television, Dean Martin's ``That's Amore'' ruled the pop charts, and Brooklyn Dodgers great Roy Campanella It was also the same month that two Downey entrepreneurs helped plant the seeds of a fast-food revolution by opening one of the world's first McDonald's restaurants There are more than 30,000 McDonald's restaurants in 119 countries. Restaurants The first McDonald's was not a restaurant at all, but it was a sit-in stand. The company's early franchises were built to a standard pattern that did not offer seating; this was in part to prevent , at the corner of Florence Avenue and Lakewood Boulevard in Downey. Customers were drawn to the new fast-food joint by the giant 60-foot neon sign neon sign n → enseigne (lumineuse) au néon neon sign neon n → Neonreklame f neon sign n → outside that featured the company's original mascot, a cherubic cher·ub n. 1. pl. cher·u·bim a. A winged celestial being. b. cherubim Christianity The second of the nine orders of angels in medieval angelology. 2. pl. , smiling chef named Speedee. At the front window, hungry patrons would shell out 15 cents for hamburgers and 10 cents each for french fries and sodas. Order-takers wore white shirts, paper hats and bolo ties. Fast forward to August 2003 and the place remains much the same as it was the day it opened for business during the height of the hula-hoop craze. On Monday, the classic ``Speedee'' McDonald's - the oldest continuously operating McDonald's franchise in the world - celebrated its 50th birthday with rolled-back prices, a free concert and a vintage car vintage car Noun a car built between 1919 and 1930 vintage car n → coche m antiguo or de época vintage car vintage n show. Thousands showed up for the daylong event, some waiting in line more than an hour to purchase hamburgers, fries and sodas at vintage 1953 prices. ``I had a bunch of kids come over to the house today, so I figured we'd come out here and take advantage of the prices,'' said Bettyann Ramos, who lives within walking distance of the restaurant and came with five friends and their children. ``We come by here a lot anyway. We love this McDonald's.'' Owner Rod Piazza Rod Piazza (born November 18, 1947 in Riverside, California) is a blues harmonica player, singer and band leader. He has been the driving force behind Rod Piazza and the Mighty Flyers said operating the Speedee restaurant, which doesn't have a drive-through window or indoor restaurant, reminds him of the time he worked as a McDonald's fry cook at a franchise in Lakewood. ``It takes you back to that era, and I think people really enjoy that,'' Piazza said while standing beneath the giant golden arches The Golden Arches are the famous symbol of McDonald's, a fast-food hamburger chain based in Oak Brook, Illinois, USA. They were introduced in 1953, when Dick and Mac McDonald began franchising their company, as part of the standard building design: a pair of stylized arches, one gracing the post- modern structure. ``It's really nostalgic. I remember mixing shakes when I was 15 years old and serving them up much in the same way it's done here now.'' The day's events included a concert by 1950s-tribute band Sha Na Na Sha Na Na is a rock and roll revivalist/comedy group from New York City, who perform covers of doo wop hits from the 1950s, simultaneously reviving and sending up the music, as well as 1950s New York street culture, in their performances. and a vintage car show featuring classic cruisers from the Eisenhower era. Customers also toured the McDonald's museum next door, which features classic McDonald's equipment, advertisements, photographs and other memorabilia. ``I remember those drive-up restaurants and those old cars well,'' said Sue Ramon, who brought grandson Andre Rojas for a hamburger and fries. ``But what really attracted me were the prices, which is why we came down here today.'' Kristopher Hanson can be reached at (562) 499-1466. CAPTION(S): 2 photos Photo: (1) ``Speedee'' McDonald's - the oldest continuously operating McDonald's franchise - marked its 50th year Monday. (2) Marcus Harris, 9, ponders what to order at the ``Speedee'' McDonald's in Downey, where food prices were rolled back to celebrate its 50th year. Mason Poole/Staff Photographer |
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