NationMaster - Encyclopedia: Ronald McDonald

Ronald McDonald is a clown who is the primary mascot of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. According to the book Fast Food Nation (2001), 96% of school children in the United States can identify Ronald McDonald, making him the United States' most recognized fast food advertising icon. Only Santa Claus was more commonly recognized. In television commercials, the clown inhabits a fantasy world called McDonaldland, and has adventures with his friends Mayor McCheese, the Hamburglar, Grimace, Birdie the Early Bird, and The Fry Kids. The McDonald's Corporation has also characterized Ronald McDonald as being able to speak 31 different languages including Mandarin, Dutch, Tagalog, and Hindi.^[1] In recent years, the "childish" McDonaldland has been largely phased out, and Ronald is instead shown interacting with normal kids in their everyday lives. He was originally created by Willard Scott. Image File history File links Mergefrom. ... The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald was a series of retail animated video features produced by Klasky-Csupo for the McDonalds hamburger chain. ... Image File history File links Ronald_McDonald. ... In comic books, first appearance refers to first comic book to feature a character. ... An animator is one who is involved in the process of animation. ... Willard Herman Scott, Jr. ... â€œClowningâ€ redirects here. ... McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants, primarily selling hamburgers, chicken, french fries, milkshakes and soft drinks. ... A fast-food restaurant is a restaurant characterized both by food which is supplied quickly after ordering, and by minimal service. ... For the film, see Fast Food Nation (film). ... Fast food advertising is the promotion of fast food products and ventures through a variety of media. ... A typical depiction of Santa Claus. ... The examples and perspective in this article or section may not represent a worldwide view. ... From left to right: Hamburglar, Ronald McDonald, Grimace, and Birdie the Early Bird (as they appeared in a series of commercials for McDonalds). ... Map of eastern China and Taiwan, showing the historic distribution of Mandarin Chinese in light brown. ... Tagalog (pronunciation: ) is one of the major languages of the Republic of the Philippines. ... Hindi (à¤¹à¤¿à¤¨à¥à¤¦à¥€) is a language spoken mainly in North and Central India. ... From left to right: Hamburglar, Ronald McDonald, Grimace, and Birdie the Early Bird (as they appeared in a series of commercials for McDonalds). ... Willard Herman Scott, Jr. ...

Many people work full-time making appearances in the Ronald McDonald costume, visiting children in hospitals. There are also Ronald McDonald Houses, where parents can stay overnight when visiting sick children in nearby chronic care facilities. Due to the controversy over fast food, critics have likened McDonald to Joe Camel, the former mascot of Camel cigarettes.^[2] Since August 2003, McDonald has been officially recognized as the "Chief Happiness Officer" of the McDonald's Corporation. Parker Anderson-Stanley, four, visits with Olympic gold-medalist Cassie Campbell at Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta in Calgary on Saturday, 2006-01-14. ... Chronic care refers to medical care which addresses preexisting or long term illness, as opposed to acute care which is concerned with short term or severe illness of brief duration. ... Fast food is food prepared and served quickly at a fast-food restaurant or shop at low cost. ... This article or section does not cite any references or sources. ... Camel is a brand of cigarettes introduced by R.J. Reynolds Tobacco (RJR) in 1913. ... 2003 : January - February - March - April - May - June - July - August - September - October - November - December A timeline of events in the news for August, 2003. ... McDonalds Corporation (NYSE: MCD) is the worlds largest chain of fast-food restaurants[1]. Although McDonalds did not invent the hamburger or fast food, its name has become nearly synonymous with both. ...

Origin

The first version of Ronald McDonald's origins involves Willard Scott (a local radio personality who also played Bozo the Clown on WRC-TV in Washington, D.C. from 1959 until 1962), who performed using the moniker "Ronald McDonald, the Hamburger-Happy Clown" in 1963 on three separate television spots. These were the first three television ads featuring the character, whose later appearance was substantially similar to George Voorhees' prior appearance as Ronald Mcdonald (spelt with a lower-case "d") as shown in the Valley News and Green Sheet, a San Fernando Valley newspaper of the time. Image File history File links Willard Scott as the original Ronald McDonald - screencap from a 1963 commercial as used at the site http://www. ... Willard Herman Scott, Jr. ... A television advertisement, advert or commercial is a form of advertising in which goods, services, organizations, ideas, etc. ... Willard Herman Scott, Jr. ... Pinto Colvig, the original Bozo the Clown (circa 1948) Bozo the Clown (also known as Bozo), is the name of a clown whose widespread franchising in early television made him the best-known clown character in the United States. ... WRC-TVs studios and tower (1962) WRC-TV NBC4 is a television station in Washington, D.C. NBC owned and operated, the station broadcasts its analog signal on channel 4 and its digital television signal on channel 48. ... For other uses, see Washington, D.C. (disambiguation). ... Year 1959 (MCMLIX) was a common year starting on Thursday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 1962 (MCMLXII) was a common year starting on Monday (the link is to a full 1962 calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... A moniker (or monicker) is a pseudonym, or cognomen, which one gives to oneself. ... Year 1963 (MCMLXIII) was a common year starting on Tuesday (link will display full calendar) of the Gregorian calendar. ... San Fernando Valley from its southwestern edge. ...

Scott, who went on to become NBC-TV's "Today" show weatherman, claims to have "created Ronald McDonald" according to the following excerpt from his book Joy of Living:

McDonald's does not mention Voorhees or claim that Willard Scott "created Ronald" in their statement: Pinto Colvig, the original Bozo the Clown (circa 1948) Bozo the Clown (also known as Bozo), is the name of a clown whose widespread franchising in early television made him the best-known clown character in the United States. ... Pluto Pluto is a fictional character made famous in a series of Disney short cartoons. ... Dumbo is a 1941 animated feature film produced by Walt Disney and first released on October 23, 1941 by RKO Radio Pictures. ...

On March 28, 2000, Henry Gonzalez, McDonald's Northeast Division President, thanked Scott for creating Ronald McDonald, during a taped tribute to Scott on the "Today" show. is the 87th day of the year (88th in leap years) in the Gregorian calendar. ... Year 2000 (MM) was a leap year starting on Saturday (link will display full 2000 Gregorian calendar). ...

In 1965, Roy Burgold assigned Aye Jaye as Boss Clown worldwide in charge of hiring, writing, creating shows, media handling, training, and major events such as The White House appearances, Macy Days, etc., and finally opening Ronald worldwide for 35 years. Aye Jaye was responsible for the hiring of hundreds of past field Ronalds, including the current David Hussey. But the original creator is Willard Scott. Willard Herman Scott, Jr. ...

Actors

At any given time, there are dozens, or possibly hundreds, of actors retained by McDonald's to appear as Ronald McDonald in restaurants and events. It is assumed, however, that the company uses only one actor at a time to play the character in national television commercials. Following is a list of such primary Ronald actors.

Various forms of the name "Ronald McDonald" as well as costume clown face persona, etc. are registered trademarks of McDonald's. McDonald's trains performers to portray Ronald using identical mannerisms and costume, to contribute to the illusion that they are one character. Willard Herman Scott, Jr. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... Actor, best known for playing Ronald McDonald in commericals in the 1970s. ... Joe Maggard was born Dec. ... The terms clown face and clownface can refer to any of the following specifically, the design and facial characteristics unique to a given clown generally, the make-up and costuming of a clown, as in Bubbles arrived first, in clownface, and ready to greet the crowd rarely, the term clownface...

McDonald's marketing designers and stylists changed elements of the Ronald McDonald's character, persona, style, costume and clown face when they adopted the clown as a trademark, possibly in deference to "The Code", the tradition of clowns to scrupulously avoid copying other clowns' appearance or performance style. The terms clown face and clownface can refer to any of the following specifically, the design and facial characteristics unique to a given clown generally, the make-up and costuming of a clown, as in Bubbles arrived first, in clownface, and ready to greet the crowd rarely, the term clownface... The Code of non-infringement (or The Code) refers to the accepted business practice and custom among certain performance artists, particularly clowns, that an artists unique performance attributes are proprietary and cannot be used or claimed by another. ... â€œClowningâ€ redirects here. ...

In other countries

In Thailand, Ronald McDonald greets people in the traditional Thai "wai" greeting gesture of hands together. The Thai greeting referred to as the wai (Thai: à¹„à¸«à¸§à¹‰) Or in Lao as Kub consists of a slight bow, with the palms pressed together in a prayer-like fashion. ...

In Japan, Ronald McDonald is called ドナルド・マクドナルド - Donald McDonald - apparently because this is easier for the Japanese to pronounce.

References

External links

Categories: Articles to be merged since October 2007 | American clowns | Corporate mascots | McDonald's characters The McDonalds Deluxe line was a series of sandwiches introduce by McDonalds in the mid-1990s. ... This article does not cite any references or sources. ... The McDonalds Premium line is a group of products introduced by McDonalds in the early 2000s. ... Deli Choices is a line of sandwiches containing different fillings. ... McDonalds has for decades maintained an extensive advertising campaign. ... Mac Tonight was a mascot introduced by McDonalds restaraunts in 1983. ... Image:McDonalds Logo. ... The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald was a series of retail animated video features produced by Klasky-Csupo for the McDonalds hamburger chain. ... M.C. Kids is the title of a video game released for the Nintendo Entertainment System by Virgin Interactive during 1991 in Europe (where it was called McDonald Land), and in February of 1992 in the United States. ... Global Gladiators (or alternatively Mick and Mack: Global Gladiators) is a platform game released for the Sega Master System and Sega Genesis. ... The McDonalds Monopoly game is a sweepstakes advertising promotion of McDonalds and Hasbro that has been offered in the United States, Canada, UK and Australia. ... Supersize was a trademark that referred to the largest portion size available in meals offered by McDonalds. ... There are many urban legends about McDonalds, the global United States-based fast food chain. ... McDonalds Treasureland Adventure is an obscure Platform game created by Treasure Co. ... This is a timeline of the history of McDonalds. ... McDonalds has been involved in a number of lawsuits and other legal cases in the course of the fast food chains 66-year history. ... Countries with McDonalds stores McDonalds is one of the most successful restaurant franchisers in the world, with locations in over 100 countries and territories. ... The McDonalds Museum is located near the site of the former McDonalds restaurant in Des Plaines, Illinois opened by Ray Kroc in 1955, which the company usually refers to as The Original McDonalds. ... Parker Anderson-Stanley, four, visits with Olympic gold-medalist Cassie Campbell at Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta in Calgary on Saturday, 2006-01-14. ... The campus of Hamburger University. ... from 7th fl. ... McDonalds, like any multinational corporation or high profile company, is protective of their trademarks. ... The introduction to this article provides insufficient context for those unfamiliar with the subject matter. ... // This is a list of the toys that McDonalds has given out with its Happy Meals. ... For the film, see Fast Food Nation (film). ... McDonalds has been involved in a number of lawsuits and other legal cases in the course of the fast food chains 66-year history. ... McDonaldization is a term used by sociologist George Ritzer in his book The McDonaldization of Society. ... McJob is slang for a low-paying, low-prestige job that requires few skills and offers very little chance of intracompany advancement. ... Super Size Me is an Academy Award-nominated 2004 documentary film, directed by and starring Morgan Spurlock, an American independent filmmaker. ... Image File history File links No higher resolution available. ... USD redirects here. ... The New York Stock Exchange (NYSE), nicknamed the Big Board, is a New York City-based stock exchange. ...

Contents

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Actors

In other countries

References

External links

Origin