1950s

Original McDonalds Ronald Clown, 1963

 
Voice actor Dick Beals with a statue of “Speedy”

Dr. Medicine Company, makers of Aka-Seltzer, introduced the
"Speedy" character in 1951. He was originally conceived by
Creative Director George Pal of the Wade Ad Agency and
designed by illustrator Wally Wood. Originally named Sparky,
the name was changed to Speedy to align with that year’s
promotional theme, "Speedy Relief." He appeared in over
200 TV commercials between 1954 and 1964, voiced by
Dick Beals (shown above).

 
1959

Carl Karcher, left, with daughter Anne Marie, and one of his
company’s first employees at “The Blimp,” his first hot dog
stand in Los Angeles.

 
Carl’s Drive-In

Carl N. Karcher and his wife, Margaret, made a leap of faith in 1941 when they
borrowed $311 on their Plymouth automobile, added $15 in savings and bought 
a hot dog stand. In less than five years, Carl’s Drive-In Barbecue (above) opened
with hamburgers on the menu. Later, smaller versions of this restaurant called
”Carl’s Jr.” opened. Prior to the restaurant business, Karcher had worked as a
delivery boy for a bakery based in Anaheim.

Carl Nicholas Karcher (January 16, 1917 – January 11, 2008)

Carl Karcher behind a hot dog cart in front of his headquarters in Anaheim, California, 1981.

The original location of the famous family steak house at S.E.103 & Stark St.

From left: Art and Dick Sayler

 
Early facility at 105th and S.E. Stark St.

Art and Dick Sayler began operating the original Old Country Kitchen at 103rd
and Southeast Stark. With only 60 seats and four employees they served 17,000
dinners in that first year! The soon ran out of seating capacity, so they moved to
a larger facility at the present location of 105th and Southeast Stark in 1951.