Changes: Ronald McDonald

Revision as of 00:51, 27 March 2020

Ronald McDonald is a clown character used as the primary mascot of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. 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. In recent years, McDonaldland has been largely phased out, and Ronald is instead shown interacting with normal kids in their everyday lives.

Many people work full-time making appearances in the Ronald McDonald costume, visiting children in hospitals, and attending regular events. There are also Ronald McDonald Houses, where parents can stay overnight when visiting sick children in nearby chronic care facilities. Since August 2003, McDonald has been officially styled as the "Chief Happiness Officer" of the McDonald's Corporation.

History

Willard Scott

The origin of Ronald McDonald involves Willard Scott (at the time, 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.

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:

At the time, Bozo was the hottest children's show on the air. You could probably have sent Pluto the Dog or Dumbo the Elephant over and it would have been equally as successful. But I was there, and I was Bozo ... There was something about the combination of hamburgers and Bozo that was irresistible to kids ... That's why when Bozo went off the air a few years later, the local McDonald's people asked me to come up with a new character to take Bozo's place. So, I sat down and created Ronald McDonald.

McDonald's version

McDonald's does not mention Voorhis or claim that Willard Scott created Ronald in their statement:

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.

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.

Circus performer Coco the Clown (real name Michael Polakovs) was hired in 1966 to revamp Ronald's image, and it was he who created the now familiar costume and make-up.

In 2010, the Corporate Accountability International in Boston, Massachusetts suggested Ronald McDonald should retire due to childhood obesity, however McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner said there are no plans to retire Ronald McDonald.

In April 2011, McDonald's announced that Ronald McDonald will re-appear in their commercials. However, Ace Metrix says Ronald McDonald ads are no longer effective. On May 18, 2011, Corporate Accountability International renewed their call to retire Ronald McDonald, by running ads in major newspapers and launching several web pages dedicated to the retirement of the character. However McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner defended Ronald McDonald by saying that he is an ambassador for good and "it's all about choice". Shortly after McDonald's Website News Statements announced that Ronald McDonald is here to stay.

Actors

WillardScottRMD — Willard Scott as Ronald McDonald.

At any given time, there are dozens to 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.

Willard Scott (Washington, D.C. 1963–1965)
Bev Bergeron (Southern California, 1966–1968)
George Voorhis (Southern California, 1968–1988)
Fa'Nay Nay (1988-1975)
King Moody (1975–1984)
Pasi Viheraho (1984-1990)
Optimus Prime (1990-1995)
Joe Maggard (1995–2000)
David Hussey (2001-2011)
Brad Lennon (2012–present)

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.

McDonald's marketing designers and stylists changed elements of the Ronald McDonald character, persona, style, costume and clown face when they adopted the clown as a trademark.

Licensed works

Charlton Comics obtained the license to publish four issues of a Ronald comic sold on newsstands in 1970–1971. Also, over the years several giveaway comics have been produced starring the character.

Ronald (with Grimace) appears in the 1984 Little Golden Book Ronald McDonald and the Tale of the Talking Plant, written by John Albano and drawn by John Costanza.

He appears for a few seconds in Mac and Me, during a birthday scene set at a McDonald's.

Animated video series

The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald was a series of retail animated direct-to-video features produced by the ka-chew! division of Klasky-Csupo for the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. A total of six 40-minute tapes were produced, released at various times between 1998 and 2003.

Ronald McDonald is also the subject of a video game developed by Sega, and released in Japan in 1994.

International localization

In Thailand, Ronald McDonald greets people in the traditional Thai "wai" greeting gesture of both hands pressed together. The Thai version of the company mascot was created in 2002 by the local Thai franchise, McThai, as part of a "McThai in the Thai Spirit" campaign. The figure has also been exported to India and other countries where a similar gesture is used. In Japan, Ronald McDonald is called Donald McDonald due to a lack of a clear "r" sound in Japanese. A pair of McDonald's advertisements for the Tomato McGrand in Japan feature either a "sexy" male and female, both dressed in modern clothing with the Ronald McDonald color scheme.

Similar Heroes

Smiley Face (Wal-Mart) - Both are official mascots of their respective companies, while Smiley is official mascot of Wal-Mart, Ronald McDonald is official mascot of McDonald's.
Mickey Mouse - His countepart as official mascot of McDonald's, while Mickey is official mascot of The Walt Disney Company.
Krusty the Clown (The Simpsons) - Both are Clowns.
Willy Wonka (Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory) - His counterpart from the movie.

@@ Line 1: / Line 1: @@
 [[File:Ronald-mcdonald.jpg|thumb|250px|Ronald McDonald is one of the most recognizable characters in the world, along with [[Santa Claus]].]]
-'''Ronald McDonald''' is a [[clown]] character used as the primary mascot of the [[McDonald's]] [[fast-food restaurant]] chain. In [[television commercial]]s, 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. In recent years, [[McDonaldland]] has been largely phased out, and Ronald is instead shown interacting with normal kids in their everyday lives.
+'''''Ronald McDonald''''' is a clown character used as the primary mascot of the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. 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]]. In recent years, McDonaldland has been largely phased out, and Ronald is instead shown interacting with normal kids in their everyday lives.
-Many people work full-time making appearances in the Ronald McDonald costume, visiting children in hospitals. There are also [[Ronald McDonald House]]s, where parents can stay overnight when visiting sick children in nearby [[chronic care]] facilities. Since August 2003, McDonald has been officially styled as the "Chief Happiness Officer" of the McDonald's Corporation.{{Citation needed|date=May 2010}}
+Many people work full-time making appearances in the Ronald McDonald costume, visiting children in hospitals, and attending regular events. There are also Ronald McDonald Houses, where parents can stay overnight when visiting sick children in nearby chronic care facilities. Since August 2003, McDonald has been officially styled as the "Chief Happiness Officer" of the McDonald's Corporation.
 ==History==
-===Willard Scott===
+==='''Willard Scott'''===
-The origin of Ronald McDonald 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.<ref name=heavyweights>{{cite episode | url=http://www.foodnetwork.com/food/show_iz/episode/0,3195,FOOD_31138_56604,00.html | title=Big Burger Business: McDonald's and Burger King | series=Heavyweights | network=Food Network | airdate=2008-04-21 | season=2 | number=3}}</ref>
+The origin of Ronald McDonald involves Willard Scott (at the time, 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.
-Scott, who went on to become [[NBC|NBC-TV]]'s ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today Show]]'' weatherman, claims to have "created Ronald McDonald" according to the following excerpt from his book ''Joy of Living'':
+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'':
-:At the time, [[Bozo the Clown|Bozo]] was the hottest children's show on the air. You could probably have sent [[Pluto (dog)|Pluto the Dog]] or [[Dumbo|Dumbo the Elephant]] over and it would have been equally as successful. But I was there, and I was Bozo&nbsp;... There was something about the combination of [[hamburger]]s and Bozo that was irresistible to kids&nbsp;... That's why when Bozo went off the air a few years later, the local McDonald's people asked me to come up with a new character to take Bozo's place. So, I sat down and created Ronald McDonald.<ref name=heavyweights/>
+:At the time, [[Bozo the Clown|Bozo]] was the hottest children's show on the air. You could probably have sent Pluto the Dog or [[Dumbo|Dumbo the Elephant]] over and it would have been equally as successful. But I was there, and I was Bozo&nbsp;... There was something about the combination of hamburgers and Bozo that was irresistible to kids&nbsp;... That's why when Bozo went off the air a few years later, the local McDonald's people asked me to come up with a new character to take Bozo's place. So, I sat down and created Ronald McDonald.
+==='''McDonald's version'''===
+McDonald's does not mention Voorhis or claim that Willard Scott created Ronald in their statement:
-===George Voorhis/Terry Teene===
-[[George Voorhis]] was a late 20th-century American performer who performed under various monikers as a clown. He claims to have been the original Ronald McDonald. A 1963 newspaper clipping from the Valley News (a San Fernando Valley newspaper) identifies George Voorhis as Ronald McDonald at a "local McDonald's restaurant".{{Citation needed|date=July 2008}} According to George Voorhis and [[Terry Teene]], in the early part of 1963, the pair created the original character and design of American advertising icon Ronald McDonald, including costume (featuring "French-fry bag pockets") and facial design, for a hired performance at a local Los Angeles, California area McDonald's restaurant.
-=== McDonald's version ===
-[[File:Iglesias Ronald.jpg|thumb|Ronald McDonald with musician [[Enrique Iglesias]], 1999]]
-[[File:RonaldMcDonald-trademarkia-originaltrademark1967.jpg‎|thumb|250px|left|The original Ronald McDonald as pictured on the United States trademark application filed in 1967]] McDonald's does not mention Voorhis or claim that Willard Scott created Ronald in their statement:
-{{imagequote|110|"The smile known around the world," Ronald McDonald is second only to Santa Claus in terms of recognition. (According to one survey, 96% of all school kids in the United States of America recognize Ronald (stunning-stuff.com)). In his first TV appearance in 1963, the happy clown was portrayed by none other than Willard Scott.}}
 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''.
-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&nbsp;years. Aye Jaye was responsible for the hiring of hundreds of past field Ronalds.
+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&nbsp;years. Aye Jaye was responsible for the hiring of hundreds of past field Ronalds.
-Circus performer Coco the Clown (real name [[Michael Polakovs]]) was hired in 1966 to revamp Ronald's image, and it was he who created the now familiar costume and make-up.<ref name=TimesObit>{{citation |title=Michael Polakovs: Circus Clown |date=28&nbsp;December 2009 |url=http://www.timesonline.co.uk/tol/comment/obituaries/article6968955.ece |newspaper=The Times |accessdate=2&nbsp;August 2010}}</ref>
+Circus performer Coco the Clown '''('''''real name Michael Polakovs''''')''' was hired in 1966 to revamp Ronald's image, and it was he who created the now familiar costume and make-up.
-In 2010, the [[Corporate Accountability International]] in [[Boston, Massachusetts]] suggested Ronald McDonald should retire due to childhood obesity,<ref>http://wbztv.com/local/ronald.mcdonald.retirement.2.1605159.html</ref> however McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner said there are no plans to retire Ronald McDonald.<ref>{{citation |title=McDonald's says no way Ronald will retire |url=http://finance.yahoo.com/news/McDonalds-says-no-way-Ronald-apf-1794463468.html?x=0 |publisher=Yahoo! |accessdate=2&nbsp;August 2010}}</ref>
+In 2010, the Corporate Accountability International in Boston, Massachusetts suggested Ronald McDonald should retire due to childhood obesity, however McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner said there are no plans to retire Ronald McDonald.
-In April, 2011, McDonald's announced that Ronald McDonald will re-appear in their commercials.<ref>{{citation |title=McDonald's Puts Ronald Back to Work |url=http://online.wsj.com/article/SB10001424052748704101604576247121216914168.html?mod=googlenews_wsj?x=0 |publisher=Wall Steet Journal |accessdate=2&nbsp;April 2011}}</ref>  However, [[Ace Metrix]] says Ronald McDonald ads are no longer effective. On May 18, 2011, Corporate Accountability International renewed their call to retire Ronald McDonald, by running ads in major newspapers and launching several web pages dedicated to the retirement of the character.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.thesunnews.com/2011/05/19/2166917/midlife-crisis-for-ronald-mcdonald.html|title=Midlife crisis for Ronald McDonald?|last=Rexrode|first=Christina|work=[[The Sun News]]|agency=[[Associated Press]]|date=2011-05-19|accessdate=2011-05-19}}</ref> However McDonald's CEO [[Jim Skinner]] defended Ronald McDonald by saying that he is an ambassador for good and it's all about choice. Shortly after McDonald's Website News Statements announced that Ronald McDonald is here to stay. <ref>{{citation |title=McDonald's Says Ronald is Here to Stay |url=http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center/recent_news/media_press_releases/ronald_mcdonald.html?DCSext.destination=http://www.aboutmcdonalds.com/mcd/media_center/recent_news/media_press_releases/ronald_mcdonald.html|publisher=McDonalds.com |accessdate=18&nbsp;May 2011}}</ref>
+In April 2011, McDonald's announced that Ronald McDonald will re-appear in their commercials. However, Ace Metrix says Ronald McDonald ads are no longer effective. On May 18, 2011, Corporate Accountability International renewed their call to retire Ronald McDonald, by running ads in major newspapers and launching several web pages dedicated to the retirement of the character. However McDonald's CEO Jim Skinner defended Ronald McDonald by saying that he is an ambassador for good and "it's all about choice". Shortly after McDonald's Website News Statements announced that Ronald McDonald is here to stay.
+==Actors==
+[[File:WillardScottRMD.jpg|thumb|right|250px|Willard Scott as Ronald McDonald.]]
-== Actors ==
-[[Image:Originalronaldmcdonald.jpg|framed|right|[[Willard Scott]] as Ronald McDonald, from the first of three pre-recorded [[television advertisement]]s to feature Ronald.]]
 At any given time, there are dozens to 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.
-*[[Willard Scott]] (Washington, D.C. 1963–1965)
+*Willard Scott (Washington, D.C. 1963–1965)
-*[[Bev Bergeron]] (Southern California, 1966–1968)
+*Bev Bergeron (Southern California, 1966–1968)
-*[[George Voorhis]] (Southern California, 1968–1988)
+*George Voorhis (Southern California, 1968–1988)
+*Fa'Nay Nay (1988-1975)
-*[[Ray Rayner]] (1968–1969)
+*King Moody (1975–1984)
-*Bob Brandon (1970–1975)
+*Pasi Viheraho (1984-1990)
-*[[King Moody]] (1975–1984)
+*Optimus Prime (1990-1995)
-*[[Squire Fridell]] (1984–1991)
+*Joe Maggard (1995–2000)
-*Jack Doepke (1990–1995)
+*David Hussey (2001-2011)
-*Viv Weekes
+*Brad Lennon (2012–present)
-*David Hussey
-*[[Joe Maggard]] (1995–2007)
-*[[Brad Lennon]] (2007–present)
-Various forms of the name "Ronald McDonald" as well as costume [[clown|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.
+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.
 McDonald's marketing designers and stylists changed elements of the Ronald McDonald character, persona, style, costume and clown face when they adopted the clown as a trademark.
-== Licensed works ==
+==Licensed works==
+Charlton Comics obtained the license to publish four issues of a Ronald comic sold on newsstands in 1970–1971. Also, over the years several giveaway comics have been produced starring the character.
+Ronald '''('''''with [[Grimace]]''''')''' appears in the 1984 Little Golden Book ''Ronald McDonald and the Tale of the Talking Plant'', written by John Albano and drawn by John Costanza.
-[[Charlton Comics]] obtained the license to publish four issues of a Ronald comic sold on newsstands in 1970–1971.<ref>[http://www.oddballcomics.com/article.php?story=2009-07-20&query=ronald%2Bmcdonald Ronald McDonald Vol. 2, No. 3]</ref> Also, over the years several giveaway comics have been produced starring the character.<ref>[http://www.theimaginaryworld.com/foot21.jpg ''Ronald McDonald and the Fries Farmers'']</ref>
+He appears for a few seconds in ''Mac and Me'', during a birthday scene set at a McDonald's.
-Ronald (with [[Grimace_(character)#Characters|Grimace]]) appears in the 1984 [[Little Golden Books|Little Golden Book]] ''Ronald McDonald And The Tale of the Talking Plant'', written by [[John Albano]] and drawn by [[John Costanza]].<ref>[http://comics.gearlive.com/comix411/article/q308-john-albano-jonah-hex-and-ronald-mcdonald/ JOHN ALBANO: JONAH HEX and RONALD McDONALD!]</ref>
+==='''Animated video series'''===
+'''''The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald''''' was a series of retail animated direct-to-video features produced by the ka-chew! division of Klasky-Csupo for the McDonald's fast-food restaurant chain. A total of six 40-minute tapes were produced, released at various times between 1998 and 2003.
-He appears for a few seconds in ''[[Mac and Me]]'', during a birthday scene set at a McDonalds.
-===Animated video series===
-{{main|Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald}}
-'''''The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald''''' was a series of retail [[animation|animated]] [[direct-to-video]] features produced by the ka-chew! division of [[Klasky-Csupo]] for the [[McDonald's]] [[fast-food restaurant]] chain. A total of six forty-minute tapes were produced, released at various times between 1998 and 2003.
-Ronald McDonald is also the subject of a video game developed by Sega, and released in Japan in 1994.<ref>[http://www.gamefaqs.com/portable/gamegear/home/570340.html ''Ronald McDonald in Magical World''] gamefaqs.com September 20, 2009</ref>
+Ronald McDonald is also the subject of a video game developed by Sega, and released in Japan in 1994.
 ==International localization==
+In Thailand, Ronald McDonald greets people in the traditional Thai "wai" greeting gesture of both hands pressed together. The Thai version of the company mascot was created in 2002 by the local Thai franchise, McThai, as part of a "McThai in the Thai Spirit" campaign. The figure has also been exported to India and other countries where a similar gesture is used. In Japan, Ronald McDonald is called Donald McDonald due to a lack of a clear "r" sound in Japanese. A pair of McDonald's advertisements for the Tomato McGrand in Japan feature either a "sexy" male and female, both dressed in modern clothing with the Ronald McDonald color scheme.
-[[File:SouthwestAsiaRonnie.jpg|thumb|left|Ronald McDonald at a military base in [[Southwest Asia]].]]
-[[File:Ronald mcdonald thailand.jpg|thumb|A Thailand version of Ronald McDonald, performing the Thai "[[Thai greeting|wai]]" gesture of greeting.]]
-In [[Thailand]], Ronald McDonald greets people in the traditional Thai "[[Thai greeting|wai]]" greeting gesture of both hands pressed together. The Thai version of the company mascot was created in 2002 by the local Thai franchise, McThai, as part of a "McThai in the Thai Spirit" campaign. The figure has also been exported to India and other countries where a similar gesture is used.<ref>Rungfapaisarn, Kwanchai. "Ronald's 'wai' to hit the States." ''The Nation'' (Thailand), September 18, 2002</ref> In [[Japan]], Ronald McDonald is called Donald McDonald due to a lack of a clear "r" sound in [[Japanese language|Japanese]].<ref>"Ronald and Donald McDonald keep their cultural identities". ''Seattle Post-Intelligencer'', December 17, 1996</ref> A pair of McDonald's advertisements for the Tomato McGrand in Japan feature either a "sexy" male and female, both dressed in modern clothing with the Ronald McDonald color scheme.
-{{-}}
+== Similar Heroes ==
-==References==
+* [[Smiley Face (Wal-Mart)]] - Both are official mascots of their respective companies, while Smiley is official mascot of Wal-Mart, Ronald McDonald is official mascot of McDonald's.
-{{reflist|colwidth=30em}}
+* [[Mickey Mouse]] - His countepart as official mascot of McDonald's, while Mickey is official mascot of The Walt Disney Company.
+* [[Krusty the Clown]] (''The Simpsons'') - Both are Clowns.
+* [[Willy Wonka]] ''(Willy Wonka & The Chocolate Factory)'' - His counterpart from the movie.
 [[Category:Clowns]]
 [[Category:Mascots]]
+[[Category:Male]]
+[[Category:Commercial Characters]]
+[[Category:McDonalds characters]]
+[[Category:Verified Character]]
+[[Category:Red Hair]]
+[[Category:Heroes]]
+[[Category:Iconic characters]]
+[[Category:Famous characters]]
+[[Category:Video game characters]]
+[[Category:Ginger Red Hair]]
+[[Category:The Wacky Adventures of Ronald McDonald characters]]
+[[Category:Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade Characters]]
+[[Category:1960s Characters]]
+[[Category:1963 Characters Debuts]]