Welcome to my Thursday Thirteen. On January 15th I stopped by this McDonald’s to take some photos and gather at least 13 facts about the oldest-operating McDonald’s. I don’t have the facts numbered but I’m sure there are at least 13! Enjoy…
Roger Williams co-owner of the McDonald’s Restaurant at Lakewood and Florence Blvd., stands by the 64-foot neon sign that may be the only one left of its kind in the United States. William and Bud Landon opened the McDonald’s in 1953, and the business still remains under the original franchise agreement with the McDonald brothers.
The 1953 McDonald’s restaurant at 10207 Lakewood Blvd. (at Florence Ave.) is the oldest operating McDonald’s.
It was listed on the National Trust for Historic Preservations 1994 list of the 11 Most Endangered Historic Places.
It was one of the first restaurants franchised by Dick and Mac McDonald, prior to the involvement of Ray Kroc in the company, and it still has the original “Golden arches” and a 60-foot animated neon “Speedee” sign.
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Photobucket is holding all my photos I stored with them from 2007-2015 hostage. They have blacked out all those photos on my blog posts. OH BOTHER! I’m slowly cleaning up my posts.
The Happy Wonderer ~ ellen b. 
I guess you deserve a break today! Music supplied by Barry Manilow!
Great list!
SJR
The Pink Flamingo
These photos are like perfect little time capsules! I especially like Speedee’s wink. (Thanks for visiting my TT)
Well, how cool is that? I had no clue. Excellent job. All the work that you did really shows. Have a great TT. 🙂
I grew up just outside Des Plaines Illinois. I remember McDonalds when they looked like this and the 15 cent hamburger! It was a “treat” to get to eat there. Thanks for the info, it was very interesting!
Now that was cool! Way to go on the post – LOVE history 🙂
Very interesting. I never knew Ray Kroc was a salesman though I knew he was behind the huge success of McDonalds.
The Professor remembers this McDonald’s as he grew up near there and drove past Florence and Lakewood on occasion.
Hi!This is awesome!
A taste of some history.
I’ve driven by there many times but never eaten there. I don’t really like McDonald’s food. Happy TT and thanks for stopping by.
I love McDonald’s. I love that garbage can. I love all of these pictures. Thanks for the fun!
That was really cool! 🙂 Happy TT!
I know I’m not supposed to but . ..I love Big Macs .. .always have and I suspect always will. Now I’m hungry for one.
A little piece of history!
What super pictures! Takes me back that’s for sure.
I would love to have you stop by to check out 13 Phrases & their Origins. Also you may want to submit a recipe to win a programable slow cooker (shipping included in continental U.S.) for the contest I am offering for National Soup Month. Happy TT! Blessings, Cricket
Sigh. I love Big Macs. Love them. Every one of them. In fact…. (claudia drives off to McDonald’s for a Big Mac.) 😉
Happy TT!
That was great! I remember seeing the one Ray Kroc built in the middle 50’s in DesPlaines Illinois — I’m not sure if it’s still there or not??
Great pictures — what a trip down memory lane!
Happy TT!
Wow….you’ve totally made me hungry for a Big Mac!! Happy TT and thanks for stopping by:) Great pics.
That’s pretty cool, a piece of American history for sure. Although, not a healthy piece. Lol!
What a fun list. I think I’ve seen some of these pictures and history on the history channel.
I have been to this McDonalds with the little museum. Downey California is famous for this piece of history and being the hometown of Richard and Karen Carpenter. Happy TT.
That’s very interesting.
Thanks for stopping by.
That was great! Great piece of history!
Very interesting. We live close to the very first Wendy’s. It was an icon — and sadly, it is now CLOSED. Should have been a museum.
What a great idea. I loved the pictures.
This is totally cool,Ellen! Btw, you aren’t old enough to be my Mom:) hehe Mom married at 17 yrs old and 18 when she had me;) She’s 48 next month!
That’s interesting ! I thought Mc Donald was older. The best once I found on Cape Cod where they served lobster burgers !
Cool TT! What appeals to me especially is that here in Lodi we also have an old-style McDonald’s with the big arches like that.
You might also enjoy my last week’s TT at Markeroni (history, you see):
http://www.markeroni.com/blog/
My this-week TT is up too.:)
I remember when McDonald’s looked like that! Thanks for the memories.
I love history and I love McD, so this is a great TT!
Thanks for visiting my 13 books TT.
Wow, this is awesome!
Hi! I have not done my TT post.But this is great!I love Mcdo too!
Thanks for the visit at my blog.
Wow, ellen! Great TT post! Great pix! So much work to bring us the story of the first McDonald’s. I really appreciate it! And thanks for stopping by my TT post!
Oh wow that is cool—Fun Nostalgia- i worked at M in the 70’s I have a Mcdonald’s on my TT today too
Very interesting! Happy TT!
Fascinating! Now I want some fries!
Look at the arches going right through the building. You don’t see that anymore.
Oh, how cool! Thanks for sharing this with us!
I really do remember when a family of 4 could dine at McDonald’s for under $10 — it doesn’t seem that long ago. Very interesting TT!
He looks like he is going to fall off that arch. Really fun shots.
This is the second 13 that’s made me crave fast food!
Interesting TT – I’ve learned something new – I always thought McDonalds was established by Ronald McDonald. You can tell I’m a Brit, can’t you, LOL! Happy TT.
Wow! I’ll have to stop by and visit this cultural icon the next time I’m down south. I never knew about Speedee.
Happy TT!
We have one of the “classic” McDonald’s in our town and it makes me look twice every time I see the single arch…
Great list, Ellen!
My brother Jim worked in the very first McDonald’s in our area in the South Shore of Boston Mass. I remember when they posted the count of how many burgers they sold.
I must be getting old…I remember when all McDonald’s looked like that!
Very interesting TT!
Wow! We have a very old one in Panama City—but not as old as that one! (It has it’s original arches too—but not the same as those!) What a treat for you! Thanks for sharing this piece of history!
I love nostalgic stuff like this, there’s a retro McD’s here in S.Jersey but I hear they want to modernize it – silly aren’t they.
great photos! you should post them at invisiblebeautiful.com
Very nice!
I enjoy McDonald’s… every once in awhile. 🙂
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Nice! I want to know who made the serigraph matted in the yellow & red.
Thanks for that!! We lived in Downey in ’53 when that store opened. My Mom and I used to walk there for lunch, so it was quite close, within range of a three-year-old. It was a marvel of the time. People would come by just to look at it. Imagine, placing your order and getting your food within seconds. Much has changed since then and I wondered if that place still existed. Thanks again!
ilive down theblockformeits just a mcdonalds on wenesday there are always volkswagons there beetels
i love buffalo sauce!!
and i love the big and tasty!
and the crispy chiken sanwich
We drive by quite often . . . . and take it for granted!